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.”