The performance hall’s acoustics amplified the Philharmonic orchestras’ beautiful melodies at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Thursday, March 7. The Westwood full orchestras swept the competitions by scoring all superior ratings at the annual University Interscholastic League (UIL) Evaluation and Sightreading.
“Seeing our hard work pay off was great,” Adaline Boyd ‘26 said. “It took a couple of months, and we performed our best and got all ones.
The UIL scoring system is divided into five points, with one being the highest score you can receive, whereas the lowest is five. The orchestras have garnered ones for the past 30 years and continue to push the limits with their music.”
“The [full orchestra] music is difficult, not with notes and rhythms, but with balancing,” Nico Ham ‘27 said. “With all these different voices, it can be tough to balance the melodies and harmonies.”
After their performances, the orchestras proceeded to the sightreading room, where they would learn a brand new piece within eight minutes and perform it in front of judges.
“The music usually isn’t that difficult [because] it doesn’t have complicated rhythms and notes,” Ham said. “What makes it difficult is the time — there’s only so much you can do in eight minutes.”
Despite the odds, the full orchestras continue to achieve superior ratings. Now that the full orchestra season has ended, the band members have the UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest ahead of them.
“I’m looking forward to it, [and] the music is really fun,” Ham said.
The band will perform at the UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest on Monday, April 8.
