/Sunnyvale

Melody Zhang

      The Saratoga orchestra and various bands held their annual winter concert on December 12. The largest group on campus, the music department is one of the strongest features of Saratoga High. The concert was almost a full house for many families and alumni came to support the highly successful music groups.

      The Choral department and Jazz Band performed separately on December 17.

      The Saratoga Symphonic Band II opened the concert at with “America Verses” by Timothy Broege. The band was conducted by Instrumental Director John Zarco.

      After the Symphonic Band II, Symphonic Band I performed two pieces, also conducted by Zarco.

      Then the Symphonic Wind Ensemble took the spotlight. They were so large in number that many musicians were pushed to the very corners of the stage. Zarco conducted the extremely moving “October” by Eric Whitacre and Instrumental Director Michael Boitz conducted a lively “Wild Nights” by Frank Ticheli.

      Next up was the Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, also conducted by Boitz. But due to the amount of time it took for a stage change, the audience was surprised with a few Christmas songs by the privately formed Brass Quartet.

      The Symphony Orchestra started with “Navarra for Two Violins and Orchestra, Op. 33” by Pablo de Sarasate, featuring soloists Jennifer Wey and Shawyon Malek, who played the rather difficult piece outstandingly.

      After the fourth and fifth movement of “Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, SSO ended the concert with a surprise performance of Sleigh Ride to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. As an annual tradition, many of the musicians donned Santa hats and violinist Thomas Wang dressed up as Santa Claus.

      “What a very tall and skinny Santa Claus,” said Boitz jokingly to the audience as Wang carried Concertmaster Wey to her seat.

      Unfortunately, because of the largeness of the various groups, the pieces sometimes sounded a bit uncoordinated, but overall the ensembles once again performed amazingly. Everyone looks forward to what they will play next year. 

Winter Concert Program

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Saratoga Symphonic Band II – Conductor: John Zarco

      “America Verses” by Timothy Broege

      “Pastime with Good Company” by Philip Sparke

Saratoga Symphonic Band I – Conductor: John Zarco

      “Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs” by Frank Ticheli

      “Themes from ‘Green Bushes’” by Percy Grainger, arranged by Larry Daehn

Symphonic Win Ensemble – Conductors: John Zarco, Michael Boitz

      “October” by Eric Whitacre

      “Wild Nights” by Frank Ticheli

Saratoga Symphony Orchestra – Conductor: Michael Boitz

“Navarra for Two Violins and Orchestra, Op. 33” by Pablo de Sarasate, soloists Jennifer Wey and Shawyon Malek

“Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, IV. Secna e canto Gitano, V. Fandango Asturiano” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

       “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson