Alina Dunder

Juniors Sydnee Yap and Emma Richards rehearse in the first violin section of the Symphonic Orchestra.

Playing a variety of song genres from classic rock to baroque overtures, the eighth grade orchestra will play alongside the Concert, Chamber and Symphonic Orchestras on Wednesday, Oct. 26,  at 7 p.m in the theater.

The concert will include songs such as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” the theme from the popular video game “Halo” and the theme song from the popular TV show “Game of Thrones”, along with other classical pieces. Following tradition, the concert will also feature the eighth-grade orchestra, directed by Rebecca Pantano. They will play first, before watching the high school orchestra performers. 

“It’s nice to know that as a freshman, I got to look at the future when I looked at the older students. Now I can remember the past when I look at the eighth graders,” freshman Lawrence Zhou said.

Orchestra director Ed Sandheinrich believes that the orchestras improve the more they play together.

“Rehearsals help us figure out what’s going to happen during the concert, so we can prepare for it early,” Sandheinrich said.

The students have been preparing by fixing their mistakes and learning not only from Sandheinrich, but also from each other.

“I have learned from my classmates, especially the other cello players. With their help, I have improved on more on shifting,” sophomore Todd Gibbs said.

Zhou likes the selection of songs, and can be found singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” outside of class.

“I like the variety of the songs that we’re playing, and how we don’t play only a few styles of music. It makes things less boring and more interesting,” Zhou said.