Dazzling, vibrant, and exciting describe SPA’s 2023 Pops Concert perfectly. The Huss Auditorium opened its doors on Dec. 8 and 9 to a packed house that would eventually hear the magic put together by the school’s jazz band, orchestra and choir.
Opening the concert, the jazz band showcased Bruno Mars’s 2010 hit song “Runaway Baby.” With the backdrop turning yellow, colorful prints projected on the wall, and the song’s upbeat rhythm, the performance was nothing but fun. Senior Baasit Mahmood on the alto Saxophone had a notable solo at the beginning of the song, followed by erupting applause.
Next, Academy Chorale performed “Daylight” by Jeremy Fedryk, David Kushner, Hayden Huber and Josh Williams, followed by “All for Us” by Timothy McKenzie, most notably featured in the HBO series Euphoria, where soloists sophomore Lucille Brooks and senior Millicent Benson showcased chilling vocals. Both songs were haunting because of their catastrophic lyrics and the Academy Chorale’s display of vocals from low to even lower.
“Wows” and “aahs” of praise were scattered throughout the auditorium.
Arguably, the most memorable part of the concert was when Honors Sinfonia performed a medley of hits from the iconic British rock band, Queen. The medley contained excerpts from “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites The Dust” and “We Are The Champions.” The orchestra paid homage to the band and its roots in rock, led by sophomore Josh Melchert, senior Isak Bildtsen on electric guitar, and sophomore James Welsh on the snare drums, overpowering the classical instruments. This set garnered the most applause and a celebratory shout of “yeah” from a father pumping his fist in the air.
Sending the audience off into intermission, the Honors Sinfonia brought us back to the ’80s with another iconic rock song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses.
Post-intermission, the Summit Singers performed a series of love songs, ranging from, as emcee Savannah Switzer described, “hopeful to apocalyptic.” That was followed by “Sorry To Me Too” by Julia Michaels and “The End of the World” by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee, arranged by Director of Choral Activities Tim Kraack. The Summit Singers had practiced outside regular school hours for months to assemble this sequence.
Students like freshman Ann Li moved from section to section because they performed for two sections. Li, who plays second violin in Honors Sinfonia, had to move from her spot to the risers where the Summit Singers sang many times throughout the night. The concert showcased the cross-section of students who were part of the upper school choir and the orchestra or jazz band.
“It was nerve-wracking. It made me nervous having to stand up in front of everyone. But even so, I enjoyed being in both groups.” Li said. Li and all the Summit Singers met early in the morning before school started to practice. “But I think it is worth it. You get to sing in an ensemble and play in the orchestra with other people.”
Contrasting the medley of Queen’s hits played earlier, Honors Sinfonia played a selection of music from the 2016 musical film La La Land. Heart-fluttering and romantic, then lively, then somber yet beautiful, the orchestra played “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme,” “Another Day of Sun,” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” This set of songs left the audience stunned and enchanted.
Finally, the ensembles came together for the finale: “Duel Of The Fates” by John Williams from The Phantom Menace, the chronological first movie from the popular sci-fi franchise Star Wars. The Academy Chorale and Summit Singers filled the steps and lined the seats, singing operatically. The finale was as dramatic as the film it came from.
The 2023 SPA Pops Concert was full of fun and entertainment. The performances brought smiles to the audience, whether parents and grandparents or the performers themselves. The Academy Chorale and Summit Singers wowed the audience, the jazz band’s playing lifted spirits, and the Honors Sinfonia and the Academy Symphony returned with brilliance.
