In this lively spring season, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Orchestra took the stage for its annual Spring Concert, featuring four AHS ensembles alongside First Avenue and Foothills Middle School Orchestras. The event, held on Tuesday, Mar. 24, at the Performing Arts Center (PAC), transformed months of rehearsal into a miraculous experience for the audience. The performance was uniquely structured, showcasing each orchestra to perform its signature piece before joining forces to play alongside other orchestras.

Orchestra Director Mrs. Pin Chen shared some challenges in the selected pieces. All the musicians worked diligently to stay together, in tune, and remain organized. One example Mrs. Chen highlighted was the piece “As You Fly” by Ruth Brittin; it featured many free play sections and rapidly changed meters and tones to mimic the movement of a butterfly, symbolizing moments of rebirth. The Concert-Symphony Orchestra specifically practiced on the scattered entrances in “Masques et Bergamasques” by Gabriel Fauré. This preparation allows the musicians to execute complex transitions smoothly. 

“Since the Winter Concert, the students have improved their listening skills,” Mrs. Chen said. “Orchestra aims to develop as an ensemble…they have been much more aware of their surroundings. Especially with the tempo changes, where you have to keep together during acceleration and deceleration. You don’t just play your own part; you have to stay together despite the ups and downs of the music.”

Freshman Juleen Lu, fourth chair in the first violin section of the String Orchestra, described the stronger bonds in the orchestra community. While Ms. Chen focuses on the technical aspects, the students felt the gains of their hard work on a personal level; the transition from the Winter performance to the Spring concert was a shift from individual practice to a unified team dynamic.

“Since the Fall Concert, people have gotten closer, and more people are talking to each other after class…the members are more engaged,” said Lu.

As the performance drew near, the atmosphere during rehearsals had become a blend of tension and anticipation. For the members, this was more than an opportunity to showcase their skills, but also a process of mutual learning. “Mrs. Chen always has something to improve on,” Lu said. “Like our orchestra is not perfect and we always have something to improve on.”

During the concert, the graduating seniors shared their goodbyes in their final performance at AHS. The moment was touching as the seniors prepared thoughtful gifts for Mrs. Chen and Assistant Director Ms. Connie Tu—a teddy bear with a hidden voice message, flowers crafted from old sheet music, and unique, customized pillows with Mrs. Chen and Ms. Tu’s faces on them to “remind them to keep on practicing.” In return, the seniors received a gift from Orchestra: a nail clipper engraved with the AHS Orchestra logo. These moments made the Spring Concert even more meaningful.

“This is a really fun concert since I know many of the seniors who are graduating. I think it is really important to treasure their last concert with us…I just wanted to have a moment with them before they graduate,” said String Orchestra member and Orchestra Council designer sophomore Isabella Chan.

The Spring Concert was more than a display of Orchestra’s hard work; it was also a celebration of the seniors and an important milestone for all members. As the end of the school year approaches, the musicians are looking ahead to the new season, while the empty chairs left by the seniors will soon be filled with fresh waves of incoming students.