The slight drizzle on Saturday morning, April 29th didn’t stop our student and parent volunteers from washing a lot of cars and raising funds to pay for our spring sectionals. Special thanks to Car Wash Parents Becky Fulton & Lalitha Ketineni for organizing a great event at a new location, the Great Falls Exxon (9829 Georgetown Pike). Exxon Manager Saman Limouee was gracious in hosting the Langley Orchestra without charging a fee – thank you Saman!!
Thank you to all of the students who came out and worked at the wash!!
Thank you to photographer Rania Razek for all of her wonderful photos from the car wash. More photos can be found at this link.
Langley Orchestra is excited to welcome all string students to the upcoming 2023-24 school year!
Langley’s orchestra program is comprised of five classes that rehearse separately (Freshman Orchestra, Sophomore Orchestra, Junior Advanced Orchestra, Senior Advanced Orchestra, and audition-only Philharmonic) but often combine into three orchestras for concerts, assemblies, and assessments (Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, and Philharmonic Orchestra).
There is a place in the orchestra for every string student who wishes to join and students are automatically placed into their grade-level class. However, new students who wish to be considered for advanced placement, section seating, or Philharmonic are required to submit an audition by video. The audition will comprise one scale of the student’s choosing (number of octaves and difficulty will be considered – 3 octaves required for Philharmonic) and a short excerpt of a solo piece (1-2 min) that demonstrates the student’s tone, technique, and musicality. There is no need for special equipment – a video from a smartphone, tablet, or school laptop works fine and piano accompaniment is not necessary. Please be sure to introduce yourself at the beginning of your video.
Students currently in Langley Orchestra will audition during Langley Links in April after Spring Break – look for an announcement and sign-up information in Schoology soon. Students who will be new to Langley Orchestra should submit video auditions via thisGoogle Form or FCPS students may also submit videos via FlipGrid. Please be sure to submit your video in either one of these 2 options (not both!) by Friday, April 14, 2023.
We invite you to learn more about the Langley Orchestra via this website and/or come join us at our final concert of the 2022-23 school year on Tuesday evening, May 23rd at 7:00 pm in the Langley Auditorium (Door 14). Families may also sign up to join our e-newsletter at this link. Our first e-newsletter to new orchestra students will go out in April.
Langley Orchestra filled three coach buses literally to the brim and traveled up to NYC Thursday, March 9th. Thursday evening students enjoyed a buffet dinner, Times Square group photo, and the panoramic views of the city from the Top of the Rock.
Langley Orchestra Group in Times Square – photo by Kevin McCormick/GroupPhotos.com
Friday morning students had free time to explore the area in their chaperone groups, and by mid-afternoon headed to Carnegie Hall to prepare for the 8pm performance. Some families may have seen the poster on the 57th Street side announcing the Premier Performance Invitational:
Students looked around in awe at Stern Auditorium as they walked on stage for their soundchecks.
Philharmonic soundcheck on stage – photo by Karen DeFilipps
Students enjoyed a Firehouse sub with friends in the Carnegie Hall holding room before the 8:00 pm performance, and after a quick change into formalwear, it was showtime! Concert Orchestra led off the evening, performing Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Sibelius’s Finlandia, and Bizet’s well-known Carmen Suite.
Concert Orchestra takes the stage to lead off the concert – photo by Rania Razek
Symphonic Orchestra took the stage next, performing with gusto Paganini’s Variations and five movements of Peer Gynt Highlights.
Symphonic Orchestra enjoys lengthy applause after its performance – photo by Rania Razek
After a quick stage change, Philharmonic Orchestra performed Wiren’s Serenade for Strings, Vivaldi’s Winter, Meyer’s Elements, and Gardel’s Tango: Por una Cabeza. Junior violinist and concertmistress Audrey Goodner delivered an impassioned solo performance of Winter that led to an immediate standing ovation as she finished her last note.
Standing ovation after Audrey Goodner’s solo in Winter – photo by Rania Razek
All Langley Orchestra students then were able to relax while taking in the 93-student strong College Station (Texas) Orchestra performing works by Holst, Vivaldi, Elgar and Bloch.
After the concert, students celebrated at a post-concert reception at the Hard Rock Cafe. Spirits were high and rumor has it that Doc was captured on video dancing at 2 am. Way to go, Doc!
Post-concert celebration at the Hard Rock Cafe – photo by Rania Razek
Saturday, students enjoyed touring the Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in their chaperone groups. After a quick NY pizza dinner, they took in the sold-out Hadestown show on Broadway. Sunday, students enjoyed a little free time in the morning before a very fun lunch at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, and then a quick trip on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty before heading home.
Students braving the rain after the concert – photo by Karen DeFilipps
Special thanks to our amazing Trip Coordinator Karen DeFilipps who pulled off the largest orchestra trip in the history of Langley Orchestra – at Carnegie Hall no less. Our twenty brave chaperones cannot be thanked enough for their tireless efforts above and beyond on what was a fun-filled but very exhausting trip. Thank you also to Rania Razek and all of the other people who captured so many beautiful photos. (More details to come later via e-mail about photo sharing from the trip.) So many people did so many things to make this trip happen – thank you to each and every one of you.
In addition, senior cellist Michael Dzwonczyk penned an article that was published in the Connection Newspapers today, March 15th (page 6).
