The hard work of Southern Lehigh High School’s music department took center stage at the 2024 winter concert in December. Students of the orchestra, chorus, and Meistersingers programs, as well as around 52 band members, collaborated for the performance.
The concert took place at Baker Hall in Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center. Mr. Larry Fisher, the band and orchestra director, said that he is grateful for this location’s large stage and audience seating, as there was an impressive turnout this year.
“We fill the house, and then they have to open up the balcony. It’s a big community event, because we have friends and family who come, people in the community whose students have long graduated, and twenty-plus alumni,” Mr. Fisher said. “This year was probably the biggest turnout since Covid.”
The students also deeply appreciated this turnout, as they put in enormous effort all throughout the fall semester to prepare. Those in chorus, Meistersingers, and orchestra practiced during class since the beginning of the school year. Band members began rehearsals once their weekly performances at school football games had ended. Each ensemble also practiced individually during Spartan Periods, and had the chance to unite for four full rehearsals before the concert.
The students performed 18 songs in total, which Mr. Fisher, along with choral director Mr. Matthew Wehr, took great care in choosing.
“We always try to add new music every year, and pull some favorites that we rotate through,” Mr. Fisher said. “I always try to do varieties. I want something old, something new, something slow, something fast, and we put a varied program together.”
Four of the pieces allowed for collaboration among the various music ensembles, as the chorus and Meistersingers provided vocals while band and orchestra students played complementary instrumental parts. Students feel that this added to their performance.
“I personally love how we sound all together,” said senior Hannah Lee, who plays cello. “In orchestra we play our best when we practice it in my class, and it sounds good. But getting to hear it with the band elements—it’s elevated and it brings out more of the piece.”
Though the concert was specifically an orchestral and choral event, band members who expressed interest in participating in the full orchestra were evaluated and selected by Mr. Fisher. Senior clarinet player Ella Scheinler is grateful for the opportunity.
“I love working with the orchestra and choir because it's really cool to see how talented everyone is at what they do,” she said.
Mr. Fisher agrees that working jointly with other music programs is valuable, and appreciates that he and Mr. Wehr are able to successfully organize the efforts of all four ensembles. He feels that one of his favorite songs, “Carol of the Bells,” was one piece in which the collaboration truly paid off.
“The piece that chokes me up a little bit … was when we did a version of Carol of the Bells that featured Matilda Snyder [a Meistersinger and violinist], who did a phenomenal job, and the ensemble,” Mr. Fisher said. “That was a total team effort, because that piece was really hard, and they all did such a great job supporting each other.”
Winter concert celebrates the music department’s hard work
Photo Credit: Principal Joshua Miller
Meistersingers, Chorus, Band, and Orchestra students collaborate to perform the 2024 winter concert.
About the Contributor
Alexis Behrens, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Alexis Behrens has been an enthusiastic member of the Spotlight since the very beginning of her time at Southern Lehigh High School. As a freshman, she was eager to take on extra articles to help out the publication and was affectionately known as “the overachiever” of the group. When she eventually joined the editorial team, she was excited to leave her mark on the publication, creating a new front page and layout elements for the print issue. Throughout her time as a writer for the Spotlight, her passion has been constant.
Aside from journalism, Alexis has stayed involved in her school and local community. At SLHS, Alexis is a member of National Honor Society, Teen Counselors, and Spartan Ambassadors. In her spare time, she spends time with her church’s youth group, picks up new books to read, and enjoys paddle boarding locally (but mostly just hitting up her favorite Chinese food buffet).
As Alexis prepares to graduate in May, she is excited to study International Relations in the fall at George Washington University as a part of their Honors Program. She hopes to use her degree to either become a foreign service officer or work in international relations for a global company.
Her interest in international relations stems from her love of learning new languages, traveling to foreign places, and exploring new cultures. Alexis became fluent in Spanish through Southern Lehigh’s Spanish Immersion program, and she volunteers on mission trips with her church.
In the past four years as part of the Spotlight staff, Alexis has held different editorial positions, and worked her way up to hold the title of Co-Editor-in-Chief. She has written across every section of the newspaper, covering everything from war conflicts in Ukraine to celebrity controversies surrounding the live-action film “Snow White.”
More than anything, her time as a leader on The Spotlight has shown Alexis the true value of collaboration.
“I think the greatest lesson that being part of the Spotlight has taught me is working with other students to create something that we can all be proud of,” said Behrens. “It was really fun figuring out what other students wanted to write about, and helping them make that happen. And in the end, when we all went out to hand out the newspapers, everyone was proud of what they did.”
As an editor, Behrens has helped the Spotlight earn numerous Best of School Newspaper Online (SNO) Awards for the monthly staff editorial. She is not afraid to delve into a story or argue her opinion, helping her staff earn national recognition. Individually, Alexis also placed first in the state in the category of news writing, at the 2024 Pennsylvania School Press Association student journalism competition during her junior year.
“It was a really nice way to be able to finish out my junior year,” said Behrens. “And, since I’ve been working on trying to be a better news writer, it was a nice way to…see some improvement over the years.”
Although Alexis originally joined the Spotlight because of her interest in writing, she also found a new talent in graphic design. In the past year as Co-Editor-in-Chief, she has breathed new life into the page design of the Spotlight, creating eye-catching graphics and photo collages that highlighted the annual Homecoming Dance, Multicultural Fair, and Fashion Show.
As an editor, Alexis has enjoyed many Block 3 classes in the publications lab with her fellow editors. Through the stress of deadlines, she appreciates the pub lab for the camaraderie it creates.
“We would all sit around the table, and it was really fun to talk with everyone about things that really never related to journalism,” said Behrens. “I think my favorite memory with that would probably be when Kishore spilled all the coffee, and it smelled like coffee in that room. It smelled like coffee in the room for ages.”
As a dedicated student and involved community member, Alexis has felt the weight of her commitments. As she looks toward the future, she remembers a silly piece of advice that one of her English teachers, Mrs. Lauren Tocci, offered.
“I really liked one thing Mrs. Tocci said way back in 10th grade. She was like, sometimes ‘we’re all riding the struggle bus,’ and it’s nice to remember that like we all have our things that we’re going through, and regardless, we still have to help each other and help ourselves overcome that.”