Changes in this year’s Fall Orchestra Concert brought on a different atmosphere to what has been viewed in the past.

“Overall, the Fall Concert was definitely stronger than it has been in the past,” says Orchestra Director Tobin Langridge. “The was stronger relationship building and preparation prior to the concert which made everything sound more full and put together.”

With a more prominent parent volunteer presence and the added position of the Hawkestra Student Leadership Team, the concert and prior workshop with the Eisenhower eighth graders both benefited and was made a more enjoyable experience.

“The presence of the Hawkestra Leadership Team made for a more exciting concert and workshop,” said Langridge. “ When we have the help of student input, we can create a more enjoyable and exciting experience for the Eisenhower Junior High students, and for the Hoffman students.”

The before concert workshop with the Symphony members and the Eisenhower 8th graders, which was coordinated by the newly formed Hawkestra Leadership Team showed itself to be very different than years past.

Filled with an instructional and comedic video about how to wear your uniform, pizza, a group scavenger hunt, trivia, and other icebreaker bonding activities, both the high school and junior high students were all beaming and laughing with excitement.

With the concert ranging in all types of playing levels and ages, the students and the audience go to see many different skill levels in the orchestras’ playing abilities.

The concert, starting with the Eisenhower Junior High orchestra, and going from there to Hoffman’s Concert, Philharmonic, and Symphony orchestra’s, the audience was showed steps up in playing level. The concert ended with the Symphony Orchestra and the Eisenhower Orchestra playing a piece together, giving the Symphony Orchestra more experience playing with a younger group, and giving the Eisenhower Orchestra experience playing with a more
experienced orchestra, both groups were undoubtedly given a new learning experience.

“The concert was really amazing this year,” said Sophomore Philharmonic Member Safa Dawood. “You could see how everyone played and see how different your playing level was compared to the other groups. You got to see how you’ve progressed in your playing, and where you have to go next.”