The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
”The cello, I see it as an extension of myself. [When] I'm having a good day, I find it really easy to just sink into the music, [and] feel connected to the piece. If the piece I'm playing is happy, then I feel happy, and if the piece is slow paced or something sad, then I can feel that emotion. [Playing] forces me to be patient, and that has really improved the way I talk with other people, whether it's in an argument, or I'm trying to make a point. [To me], the most rewarding part is perfecting a piece, so that it's unique to you and no one else can replicate it.” - Isaah Kandula, 9

Isaah Kandula

Max Chung, Multimedia Editor • March 7, 2025

Eyes glued to his sheet music, senior Andrew Gillies accompanies the Jazz Band as the pianist. During the annual Winter Jazz Concert, Gillies was chosen to improvise a solo during the song, “T.J. Boogie.” ¨I love concerts [because of] how the audience reacts, and just the stage lights [shining on me],¨ Gillies said.

From practice to performance

Pathfinder Staff • November 22, 2024

Drawing her bow, junior Gracie McLeod performs with chamber orchestra at the annual fall orchestra concert. To prepare for the concert, McLeod spent time during AcLab and practiced together with the symphonic orchestra. “[The concert] was pretty exciting. It was the first concert of the year, and I was really excited to play ‘Just What I Needed’ because it's a well-known song. [But,] watching symphonic play was definitely my favorite part because they always play beautifully each time,” McLeod said.

Photo of the Week – November 15

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief • November 15, 2024

Members of concert band work to play the soaring melodies of "Crowns of Glory" by Jack Wilds during their winter concert. Because of the piece's difficulty, the band had to work together extra diligently to make it sound concert-ready. "[Band has] helped me [with] teamwork because it's not just an individual thing. The whole group has to be put together to make something amazing," Concert Band member and sophomore Ella Bruner said.

A symphony of sounds

Risa Cidoni, Cindy Phung, and Samir Shaik • March 13, 2024

Over Feb. 27-29, gold brass and steel strings captivated audiences day after day as a week of musical talent unfolded. Filling every available seat, family and friends arrived to witness the harmonies...

Parkway West Orchestra Students pose for a group picture outside the Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry is an American country music stage that originally opened as a one-hour radio “barn dance” on WSM in 1925, and is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history. “[Country music] is kind of a hit or miss for me,” junior Chloe Kallaos said, “I don’t like the beer, trucks, girls in tight jeans kind. But the woman destroy man country, I like that kind.”

A Stormy Trip to Nashville

Claire Creely, Staff Writer • April 20, 2023

Students rush out of buses to set up their music outside the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. As they assemble their stands, the wind rushes through, blowing their music all over. As some students attempt...

Pattonville High School resumes the Crockpot Cook-off with Parkway West. An assortment of foods prepared by students and families of both schools will be displayed for people to sample. Whichever school earns the most votes wins the crockpot-shaped trophy. “There's a lot of good food, and people have a lot of good choices. Ultimately, being a West teacher, my allegiances are with West. I'm hoping we can be the ones to go into the other school and win the trophy,” Orchestra teacher Ed Sandheinrich said.

The Crockpot Cookoff is back

Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor • November 4, 2022

The Crockpot Cook-off competition heats up as the orchestra program brings back its annual event on Nov. 5. After a two-year hiatus, the orchestra will reappear at Pattonville High School to compete for...

After the winter concert for orchestra in high school, junior Anushka Dharmasanam learns a new piece, Movements III and IV of Britten’s Simple Symphony. Dharmasanam played the double bass for Missouri All-State Orchestra. “I was screaming [when I learned that I made it], and I was at my uncle’s house so we all hugged and celebrated,” Dharmasanam said.

Junior Anushka Dharmasanam’s road to All-State

Serpil Kucukkaya, CJ1 Writer • February 10, 2022

Watching her peers gaze over the instrument choices, fourth-grader Anushka Dharmasanam observed that no one was interested in the double bass. Viewing the opportunity to explore a different instrument,...

Thirty minutes before the concert at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) workshop conference, members of Symphonic Orchestra rehearse “Libertango” under the direction of orchestra teacher Ed Sandheinrich Jan. 24. Throughout the three-day workshop, performance groups were given half an hour to tune, warm up and wrap up the final details before their performance. “Everyone was awesome in their playing and their professional behavior. It was hard for me to go from point A to point B at the resort because, well, it's a crowded mess, but people kept stopping me to say how much they loved the performance,” Sandheinrich said.

Symphonic Orchestra performs at the prestigious state music conference

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor • January 31, 2020

Honored by the state of Missouri, 40 students and 40 instruments are packed into one bus for a three-hour drive to the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) workshop conference at Tan-Tar-A Estates...

Directed by Ed Sandheinrich (not pictured), juniors Ronik Bhaskar, Dennis McMorrow and Daniel Yu play their instruments in Symphonic Orchestra. All levels of orchestra participate in the reflection by playing songs that they are able too that the seniors choose. “It’s different every day, a new adventure every day, and it keeps things fresh,” Sandheinrich said.

Seniors reflect on the time spent with their instruments during high school

Ross Harter, Staff Writer • May 17, 2019

The Orchestra program is putting on one last ‘hurrah’ for the seniors by allowing them to pick the music for the Senior Reflection ceremony. “I think that the songs we are playing at Senior Reflection...

Senior Meghan Stanfield, junior Theresa Monteleone and senior Chloe Hershenow perform enthusiastically in Jazz Choir at the First Annual Music Department Showcase Concert. This is Stanfield’s second year in the ensemble. “Singing is my passion, and it’s so nice to come to class to just sing with all my friends,” Stanfield said. “It really helps me forget about all the chaos of the world.”

Showcase concert sets music department off on a strong start

Maria Newton, FEATURES EDITOR • October 8, 2018

As parents, friends and students poured into the gymnasium, they were met with the rhythmic pounding of the Marching Band. The strong metronome, meant to keep the marchers in synchronization, was captivating. This...

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3