The start of the musical season at Highland Park High School has commenced as the band, orchestra, and choir had their first official performance this past Wednesday night. With all three groups performing individually and together, this biannual event is the pinnacle of what artistic education is supposed to represent at HPHS.
As we segwayed through the concert, the audience seated in the school’s auditorium was taken through a showcase of instruments. The band performed songs such as “From The Start”, “The Last Words of David”, and “Sure on This Shining Night,” captivating the audience by storm with their witty percussion flares and harmonious wind instruments. The choir’s vivacious voices accompanied the band’s performance, leaving the audience astounded by their admirable portrayal of skill and range of emotion. Next, the orchestra stunned the audience with group performances to songs like “Life and Pulaski at Night”. It’s a unique take on orchestral music that involves classical guitar strumming rather than the traditional bowing. Finally, the concert culminated with a group performance of the song “Do You Hear the People Sing” from the musical Les Misérables, the upcoming school musical. The experience featured well over one hundred HPHS students, featuring vocal soloists Harry Shapiro and Jude White.
After speaking with soloist Harry Shapiro on his experience at the concert, he discusses how “the inclusiveness of the environment made music feel like a community”. As a senior in choir, Shapiro has always found a passion in the arts. Being a major component of the school’s theater department, he feels that the programs offered at HPHS are “incomparable to any other” and have furthered his passion for the arts. Despite his absence from the program in recent years, the return of many musical theater students has initiated a revival for the vocal community at Highland Park. A surge of young singers makes the sound and community more lively, as we can feature and highlight singers from various backgrounds.
According to Orchestra Director Remington Clark, there are a number of upcoming showcase opportunities for his students. He invites all students, staff, and family members to “embrace the artistic culture” of Highland Park High School by attending these concerts, which are put on by the Fine Arts students. Whether it be by attending the Band Halloween concert on October 23rd or the All City Orchestra concert on December 4th, there are many great opportunities to enjoy these musical journeys, just as many were able to do this past Wednesday with these three amazing performances.
Nevertheless, it’s impressive to see and recognize how the performing arts education at Highland Park High School has pushed music to new heights. Not only did the performances encapsulate the sheer amount of talent within the school, but also the passion. This music concert was a great representation of how the combination of interest and promotion can really alter the mindset of students.
