![”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](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC_6652-Max-Chung-1200x798.jpeg)
Isaah Kandula
Max Chung, CJ1 Writer
• 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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_3774-1200x801.jpg)
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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC0015-2-min-1200x818.jpg)
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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed-3-1-1200x800.jpg)
A symphony of sounds
Risa Cidoni, Cindy Phung, and Samir Shaik
• March 13, 2024
![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.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1000002867-900x675.jpg)
A Stormy Trip to Nashville
Claire Creely, Staff Writer
• April 20, 2023

The Crockpot Cookoff is back
Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor
• November 4, 2022
![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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/image1-2-900x601.jpg)
Junior Anushka Dharmasanam’s road to All-State
Serpil Kucukkaya, CJ1 Writer
• February 10, 2022

Symphonic Orchestra performs at the prestigious state music conference
Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor
• January 31, 2020

Seniors reflect on the time spent with their instruments during high school
Ross Harter, Staff Writer
• May 17, 2019

Showcase concert sets music department off on a strong start
Maria Newton, FEATURES EDITOR
• October 8, 2018