AROUND CAMPUS
A Festival of Orchestras - Saint David ’ s Philharmonic Ensemble Plays Carnegie Hall
“ To the entire 2024 Carnegie Hall team : This past Sunday afternoon on 57th Street was one for the ages ! Carrying through an ambitious program for the Festival of Orchestras — beautifully executed by all — Saint David ’ s Philharmonic Ensemble proved to be in quintessential form ! The performance was simply outstanding . In representing our school with such distinction , our aesthetic ( blue blazers and red ties ) was as crisp and clean as our musical substance ( on-point and confident ) with the finale , Schifrin ’ s Mission Impossible , providing the exclamation point . This achievement was not by accident or chance ; but rather , it was the result of exceptional teaching , detailed planning , great patience , sustained practice , and superb skill .”
~ Dr . O ’ Halloran , Headmaster ’ s Blog 2 / 1 / 24
As shared by our maestro , Director Philip Hough , “ This event was a great team effort and huge accomplishment for our boys . They played with passion and finesse in true Saint David ’ s style !... Special thanks to our Chair Jeff Moore for organizing myriad details and to Meg Myette for sustaining the backstage energy that kept the boys fired up , ready to do their best . Jonathan Hadley was indispensable as orchestra librarian and cello coach . John Francis coached his percussion musicians to play with verve and élan . Violin coach Alba Navarro developed fingerings and bowings that worked for all the boys as well as inspired them with her excellent playing . Long-time Saint David ’ s viola coach , Kerrick Sasaki partnered with one viola student to create a solid viola core . Our nine alumni musicians learned the music and came together for the occasion , playing with great security , despite most only rehearsing the morning of the concert . It was a special treat to have our dear friend Nick Reeb join us in the concert as well as hosting impromptu jam sessions backstage on the orchestra music , interspersed with the boys crowding around him for math challenges !”
58 • Saint David ’ s Magazine