On Feb. 18 at 6 p.m, Stevenson’s Symphonic and Patriot Orchestra played at the annual Chamber Concert in the Recital Hall. Parents, students, and faculty listened to performances by 28 total groups during the concert, including performances from quartets, quintets, and trios. 

Featuring notable songs like Quintet in F minor Op. 34 and A Town With an Ocean View, students had the opportunity to showcase the skills they have worked on since the beginning of the school year. Students had been preparing for their first concert of the second semester, spending numerous hours with their group and overcoming challenges to help them perfect their craft.

“Pretty much every single day for the last six weeks, I’ve had rehearsals with my group and practiced on my own outside of class,” violinist Vyas Anand ’27 said. “That all helped me so that on the day of the performance, I can play my best.”

For Anand, hard work has seemed to pay off for students selected to play in the Symphonic and Patriot Orchestra. Since orchestra members aren’t guaranteed to make these high-level groups, those who worked to earn their spot understand the prestige that comes with playing in the concert. 

“This concert is special to me because only certain people are selected to play in this concert,” violist Angel Perez ’26 said. “[We have all] been playing in the orchestra for a long time, so playing in this [unique] concert really shows your skills.” 

Perez notes, however, that there may also be discrepancies between the skill levels within a chamber group or even how the music is read. Perez believes that to put on a good performance, teamwork is just as important as individual talent.

“The most challenging part is practicing alone and not always having everyone next to you,” Perez said. “Even if you can do something, there’s something your partner might not be able to do.”

Even though Perez saw the difficulty in cooperation due to skill differences, Ananad also saw how students were able to find a common interest in their song preference. For Chamber concerts such as this one, the musicians are given the opportunity to pick out a piece to perform as a squad.

“Every group played their own song that they chose so they got to play something that they truly enjoy,” Anand said.

Their music seemed to bring members of the Stevenson community together, as the auditorium was filled, leaving no seat empty. Perez thinks that these annual performances are excellent for gathering families of students with similar interests, and supporting camaraderie within the Stevenson community.

“Bringing people together by playing music is a great way to connect the Stevenson community,” Perez said.