Sounds of the Season is Lakewood High School’s largest performance of the year. While the constant stream of music may seem effortless to the audience, it requires weeks of preparation. The effort is tremendous, whether through collaborative Fridays in the band room between the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Mixed Choir or four-hour rehearsals the week before.

Kicking off the week before the actual performance, evening rehearsals started right after students returned to school following Thanksgiving break. Diving into these rehearsals was a challenge. For many, this was their first year, and they did not know what it would be like.

“I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect…but honestly I was ready to take it on,” junior Symphony Orchestra bassist Paisley Norris said. “We practiced our music a lot separately so going in and joining with the band wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

The combination of the Band, Orchestra, and Choir is unique to this concert. The Choir requires a second conductor to sing in time with the band. The band and orchestra students are not used to playing together, and there are many challenges when finally combining.

“There’s a lot more components you need to think about in terms of how you’re balancing…you need to divide the band up and have them be balanced within each other,” junior Wind Ensemble euphonium player Evan Seiler said. “The band itself also has to balance with the orchestra.”

The combined ensembles were not the only challenge Seiler faced.

“It is more difficult… the more challenging aspect for me is the volume of music…in past concerts when I was in Symphonic Band we would play three pieces per concert but this concert I have eight,” Seiler shared.

With the relatively minimal combined rehearsal time the groups had together, the amount of music learned was extremely impressive.

“It’s pretty amazing, the amount of music we put together in very little rehearsal time…It’s eleven hours in two weeks but considering we just did 35 songs, it’s really impressive,” Symphony Orchestra director Dr. Elizabeth Hankins said.

Not all of this music could be covered during school-day or after-school rehearsals. It was up to the students to truly make a difference in the sound of the concert. Every student involved in the concert had to invest ample time practicing alone.

“I had to practice at home more than I used to when I was in Symphonic Band…there’s stuff I need to go over to get everything under my fingers because sometimes it can be really fast,” junior flutist Amelia Diemert said.

For many, there was an even greater challenge to be had. Alongside the uniqueness of having a full orchestra for a concert, Sounds of the Season features many small student-run ensembles. Across the Wind Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra, there were a total of nine small ensembles.

“I’m especially proud of all the small ensembles,” Hankins said. “I love giving the kids the power to pick the music, arrange the music, rehearse it, and put it together.”

The value and independence of these ensembles are not lost on the directors or the students.

“I think the special part of small ensembles is that you get to pick the music,” Norris said. “You get to direct it. You get to choose how you want to do everything, so if you want a piece to affect the audience, you can really control that…I think that’s great.”

This year was the last performance for many seniors. Such a significant performance led to a mix of feelings from those involved.

“I’m excited to have the weight off my shoulders,” senior Symphony Orchestra’s principal violinist Margot King said, “It’s definitely a lot of repertoire to learn, a lot of practice, a lot of work goes into it but honestly, at the end of the day I’m just sad because it’s my last one.”

King was one of the few who experienced performing in Sounds of the Season for all four years of her high school career. While King was experiencing the weight of her final performance, that wasn’t the case for everyone.

“I think it’s not hit yet,” Wind Ensemble percussionist Gwen Hunter said. “The spring concert is really the last of it so it’s just not hitting that it’s the end of it. Maybe it will when [Sounds of the Season is] over…but now I’m just enjoying it as it happens.”

Whether it was their first or last performance, the students showed resolve and determination to make the Sounds of the Season concert the best it could be. These efforts did not go unnoticed.

“I would like to thank all the kids for working hard and all my colleagues for being creative and coming up with wonderful music.”
Elizabeth Hankins