It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year for our strings and orchestra students—Fall Orchestra Concert time! On Thursday, November 30, our musicians gathered in Brauer Auditorium to wow their families and friends as they showcased what they learned this semester on the violin, viola, cello, and bass—and what a fabulous concert it was!
Students from third through 12th grade participate in our strings program guided by MICDS Orchestra Director and JK-12 Arts Department Chair Jo Nardolillo, Upper School Orchestra Teacher Erin Hamill, and Director of MICDS Strings and Middle School Orchestra Teacher Nicole Kovaluk. “The musicians are more than just strings: we have piano (technically a percussion instrument), percussion, guitar, and flute in our ensembles. There was even a melodica performance and a singer!” said Dr. Nardolillo. Last Thursday’s concert was full of joy as each student demonstrated their growth as a member of the strings and orchestra program.
The audience was delighted to hear music performed from the following MICDS music programs and ensembles:
- Intro to Violin – The after-school program, which includes third through fifth graders and one faculty member
- Intro to String Ensemble – The after-school program, which includes third through seventh graders
- Fiddle Club – The after-school program for Middle Schoolers
- Sixth Grade Orchestra – The sixth-grade ensemble, which is a regular class
- Seventh Grade Orchestra – The seventh-grade ensemble, which is a regular class
- Concert Orchestra – The new auditioned eighth-grade ensemble, which is a regular class
- Upper School Orchestra – The Upper School ensemble, which is a regular class
- Virtuosi – Upper School – The student-led ensemble in Upper School that performs in the conductorless chamber orchestra model and is a regular class
- MICDS Festival Orchestra – All of our strings and orchestra students together
The ensembles performed a variety of masterpieces, including music from The Avengers, Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute, Turkey in the Straw, The Russian Music Box, Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann, Spartacus, and a winter medley with such holiday favorites as Jingle Bells and Dreidel. There were also several guest artists.
After working with the Upper School Virtuosi as a guest artist who offered helpful feedback earlier in the month, Guru Prasanna Kasthuri played the Mrudangam (Indian drum) while Saivi Gadi ’25 sang as the vocal soloist for the Virtuosi’s performance of Raghuvamsa Sudha. Students also performed works by Georges Bizet, Wolfgang Mozart, Don Brubaker, Antonio Vivaldi, and Soon Hee Newbold, who visited our Upper Schoolers over Zoom in the spring. Some students had solos, and one student, Emmaus Tzeng ’28, conducted the final number, Inverno: Scenes from Vivaldi’s Winter, where all of the musicians performed together as the MICDS Festival Orchestra.
The fall concert brought not only students, friends, and their families together but also brought out the artistic talents of some of our faculty and staff. Additional special MICDS guests who joined the stage included Middle School Dean Eric Taylor on the violin and JK-12 Science Department Chair and Upper School Science Teacher Paul Zahller on a drum set.
Upon conclusion of the program, all were invited to a festive reception in the Hearth Room provided by the Parents Association Arts Boosters.
A standing ovation goes to our strings and orchestra students and Dr. Nardolillo, Ms. Hamill, and Ms. Kovaluk for overseeing such a beautiful night of music! For more information, please view the Strings (3rd and 4th graders) and Orchestra (6th-12th grades) Concert programs here!