On Oct. 7, the Ladue Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Choir will perform a combined, full orchestra concert in the Performing Arts Center. The indoor concert won’t just be one of the first at Ladue during the pandemic era, but also the first to feature all three ensembles in unison in the recent history of the district’s music department.
“I am very excited,” orchestra director Twinda Murry said. “I think that it is incredibly important to do these kinds of full orchestra concerts with all three groups – it’s what music is like in the real world.”
The joint concert will include works from Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, excerpts from the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar and a selection from Georges Bizet’s Carmen Suite. The repertoire features a broad range of musical styles and time periods, each piece highlighting a different aspect of vocal and instrumental performance.
“It’s very rare that students play only strings, band or choir,” Murry said. “Especially for students going into music or continuing music careers, you need to be familiar with these kinds of pieces and ensemble.”
In years past, the Ladue Orchestras have performed alongside musicians from the Ladue Bands on select occasions. However, the addition of the choir and a dedicated concert is completely new, even for experienced musicians.
“I’m excited to play with the choir,” senior and principal second violinist Bix Maxwell said. “The addition of vocals is something I haven’t experienced before. Music sounds so much better when we combine our strengths.”
As the date draws closer, preparations continue to build. From individual rehearsals to combined sessions during class, the music department hopes for a successful first concert,
“I hope that we’ll be able to do more of these full orchestra concerts in the future,” Murry said. “It’s a great opportunity to expose students to a different set of literature they haven’t seen before.”
