Aug 03

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year!

Dear Langley Orchestra Students and Parents,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Langley High School Orchestra for the 2022-23 Season!   What a difference one year of in-person instruction has made to our class culture and season plans!

For those who do not know me yet, I have been directing the orchestra program at Langley High School since 2001.  Originally from the Great and Powerful nation of Canada, I came to the U.S to complete my doctoral degree at Indiana University before moving with my wife to Northern Virginia. In addition to my FCPS teaching, I am also an adjunct professor at Patrick Henry College and a core member of the Washington Bach Consort, the area’s premiere baroque orchestra and chorus.

I would like to invite you all to our Orchestra Orientation on Thursday August 18th from 12-1 pm in the Orchestra Room (1104).   This is the best time for students who are new to the orchestra to take measurements for the dresses and tuxedos which will be necessary for formal performances.  We will also discuss orders for Spiritwear, including the required t-shirt & polo and other optional items of apparel to display our orchestra pride. We will present information about our Orchestra program (materials and expectations), our Spring Trip, and also explain how parents can get involved with sponsorship and filling roles in the Langley Orchestra Society.

I would also like to invite all orchestra Saxons (including family members and even graduates) to the Orchestra Welcome Back Picnic on Sunday August 21st from 5-7 pm at McLean Central Park.   This is where you will discover what our orchestra is truly about – friends, family, and food!  We will also hold the ceremonial “Flickin’ Chicken” contest to see which class emerges as the champion.

Last year, I was immensely encouraged at how quickly our resilient students bounced back from the challenges of distance learning to rebuild our orchestra community and concert traditions.   Now I plan to build on that momentum with an even more challenging season that puts their talents on full display.    We will explore concert themes including Celtic Dreams, Winter is Coming, and Sounds of the Old West.   We will also share a concert with our feeder MS as we prepare for our annual Orchestra Assessment.

The culmination of our year will be a concert in Carnegie Hall, the most celebrated performance venue in the country.   This is the type of experience that will fortify any resume and create memories that can last a lifetime.   We are planning a trip interest meeting for Wednesday evening, August 31st and we will need to move quickly to enroll our performers and meet our deadlines.  I hope that you are as inspired as I am to raise your level of commitment to be worthy to perform on this historic stage.  And even if you are not able to join us in New York, we will all benefit from training toward such an ambitious goal.

I would like to encourage everyone to bookmark this website, www.langleyorchestra.org,  which is an extremely valuable tool for information such as the Orchestra calendar, announcements for upcoming events, general orchestra resources, as well as a Shutterfly link to photos from the year’s activities.  Orchestra families will also be able to sign up to receive emails with our Orchestra Newsletter which will provide helpful reminders and updates.   Students’ information will be hosted in Schoology but they will also find opportunities to connect through social media connections on our Instagram account which is updated and monitored by our capable Tri-M Music Honors Society officers.

 I wish you all the best in your summer activities and look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks.

Dr. McCormick (a.k.a. Doc)

Jul 06

Alumni Spotlight: Craig Hunter ’11

Craig Hunter is a Langley HS Class of 2011 alumni pianist, percussionist, and composer. Craig graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Computer Science and Music in 2015. After graduation, he moved back to the Northern Virginia area and took a day job as a software engineer, but continues to pursue music as a hobby. Craig has played with the Langley Orchestra as a professional accompanist, and arranged several of the pieces performed by the Langley Orchestra in the past few years. Among other things, Craig plays in various local orchestras and continues to compose music in his free time.

Craig’s favorite memories from Langley HS include performances that brought together band and orchestra for amazing full orchestra music. Craig’s advice for current orchestra students is to enjoy the music, and don’t forget to practice 40 hours a day!

Jun 13

Alumni Spotlight: Brent Davis ’17

Brent Davis is a Langley HS Class of 2017 alumni cellist. Brent graduated in May 2021 from the University of Virginia, where he received a B.S. in Commerce and a B.A. in Music with a Performance Concentration. At UVA, he studied with Professor Adam Carter and performed regularly in the Charlottesville Symphony and several chamber ensembles, as well as a student organization called Radio Music Society, which performs popular music arrangements for string quartet. Brent also managed social media for the UVA Music Department and the Charlottesville Symphony and spent over three years as a Recruiting Analyst for UVA Football.

Brent is currently working at CapTech Consulting in Tysons as a Data Analytics Consultant and recently won the only open seat in the cello section at the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.

How have you continued with music?

Studying music at UVA, I played A LOT of cello between solo performances, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and gigs. During my fourth year, I had the opportunity to give two full recitals, the first of which was a solo recital as a part of the Distinguished Majors Program. About a month later, one of my chamber ensembles, Trio Sobrenna, gave the first-ever full chamber ensemble recital at UVA for which we received funding through a research grant. Our ensemble worked together through all eight semesters and the recital was a special way to cap off our time at UVA. In addition to currently being a part of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, I am in a chamber ensemble with several friends from school and will be going to Hungary to perform at the University of Pecs in March as a part of an engagement that has been postponed for two years due to COVID.

Favorite memory from Langley HS Orchestra:

My favorite memory from Langley Orchestra was performing at Carnegie Hall on our trip to New York during my sophomore year! It was so special to share the stage with some of my closest friends in one of the most renowned music venues in the world to close out such a remarkable orchestra trip.

Words of wisdom for current Langley Orchestra members:

If you love music, there are so many fun and creative ways to stay involved or keep playing after high school. I’ve had so many friends say that music is an outlet from the stresses of school and work life – keep music a part of your life! If anyone wants to chat or has any questions, please feel free to reach out at brentdavis2017@gmail.com.