The Orchestra Fall Concert was held on the night of Wednesday, October 23rd in the gymnasium. The concert featured performances by Intermediate 6th Grade Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, and Honors Orchestra. Being in Honors Orchestra, I had a front row seat to the production and was impressed by my peers and their ability to engage the audience with the different pieces of music.

Before the concert, Principal Hagerty was eager to hear all the orchestras perform for the first time this year. On October 11th and 12th, 55 students succeeded in becoming a part of the 2013 TMEA All-Region Orchestra. This is a record-setting number of students for Canyon Vista. Orchestra Director, Mrs. Frederick, calls the All-Region Orchestra, “a prestigious group of excellent musicians.”

Two students achieved top honors by placing as first chair in their sections. 8th grader Faith S. is a cellist and 8th grader Lillian Y. is a double bassist.

Although it has become more challenging to get into the full All-Region orchestra, there are more spots overall, because this year, there are two orchestras instead of one. Also, in my opinion, the audition music was very plain, so only those that really stood out from the others, advanced.

Intermediate 6th Grade Orchestra played “Nightrider” composed by Richard Meyer, “Fiddling A-round” by John Caponegro, and “Intensity” by Sean O’Loughlin.

Concert Orchestra played “Westminster Prelude and Fugue” composed by David Shaffer, “Aussie Medley” by Steven Frackenpohl, and “Terra Nova” by Richard Meyer.

Honors Orchestra played “Toccata” composed by Girolamo Frescobaldi and arranged by James Higgins, “Overture to Lucio Silla” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and arranged by Sandra Dackow, and “Lion City” by Soon Hee Newbold.

Many new musicians have joined Canyon Vista’s music program this year and have only added to the excellence of the performances.