Sounds of angelic voices, string and wind instruments echoed throughout the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) auditorium. With a variety of different sounds, students were able to demonstrate their dedication and mastery in one hour, commanding a glorious applause from the audience, delivering an unforgettable concert experience.

On the evening of Thursday, Nov. 21, Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Varsity Choirs, and several members of Wind Ensemble came together to show off high levels of musicality through four classical pieces. Half of the orchestra performed the first piece by themselves, starting off strong with Mvt. I of Mozart’s Divertimento in F Major, featuring harmonic richness and melodic invention. The intense creative harmonies characterized the middle section, as well as the backbone of the movement. 

“For the first half of the concert, the Symphony Orchestra was split up into two groups,” Symphony Cellist Sarah Lee ‘28 said. “The smaller group was a way for the younger members to connect more. I thought [Divertimento] was a really clean piece and I liked the way we were articulating the musicality. During rehearsal time, we would practice in divided sections and work on specific parts rather than everything as a whole.”

Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll entered as the second piece the orchestra played. A central theme of Siefried Idyll was beauty and love, as the title was taken from Wagner’s second wife, Cosima. The orchestra was able to effortlessly blend their sound with the wind ensemble executing the elegant  intricate dynamics of the notes, creating a refreshing atmosphere. 

“I liked [Siegfried Idyll] because I really liked playing with the band and the wind part sounded really good,” Symphony Cellist Annie Zhu ‘26 said. “For the last month, we [grinded] this piece since the Fall Concert just happened. Even though the piece was eighteen minutes long, we were able to perform it [beautifully].”

In the second half of the concert, both the orchestra and choir took the stage. All across the auditorium, powerful voices and emotional music playing added a sense of drama to the audience. Mozart’s Lacrimosa and Amen from Requiem focuses on the themes of mystery and sorrow. The Westwood choir devoted pure emotion, bringing the best of their singing abilities to show. 

The [Lacrimosa] was my favorite [piece] because when we sang we felt really put together,” Choir member K’Lynn Murray ‘27 said. “We worked so hard on the tempo and rhythm. [Lacrimosa] was a very heartfelt piece. I don’t know why but when I was singing it I felt as if [there was] warmth inside my heart.” 

A fourth and final piece ended the evening powerfully, as the ensemble performed How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place from A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms. The piece siginifies longing and spiritual ascent, offering hope and solace to those who grieve. The main idea was not to mourn the dead, but to comfort the living. The deep meaning of the lyrics conveyed through Westwood voices paired with the flawless string bowing combined to produce an impassioned masterpiece.

“Singing the Brahms was a really empowering feeling because [there were] so many people with you,” Choir member Madeleine Ziegler ‘27 said. “It was like being a part of a bigger whole. The orchestra was [so] talented and they came in really [prepared]. It was a really great [experience] to collaborate with them.