Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25:
On May 4th and May 5th, the Kellenberg Firebird and Phoenix Ensembles took the stage at Kellenberg’s Annual Spring Concerts.
On May 4th, the Firebird Orchestra opened the weekend of music with the “Star Spangled Banner,” before following it with their selection “Serenade for String Orchestra” by Norman Laden. They continued with a collection of songs from the movie “La La Land,” including “Another Day of Sun” and “ Mia and Sebastian’s Theme.” The orchestra closed their segment with the powerful piece “Seven Nation Army” by Jack White.
Afterwards, the Firebird Chorus entered the theater singing “Siyahamba ” and “You Are The New Day.” They followed these songs with “The Road Not Taken,” based on Robert Frost’s popular poem, and “Três Cantos Nativos Dos Índios Kraó.” Here, performers used body percussion to create the effects of a rainstorm and a jungle-like environment. An upbeat performance of “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Music Down In My Soul” concluded the Firebird Chorus’ segment of the night.
Singer Alice Miller ‘25 shares her favorite part of performing these songs and how it affects her work abilities. “I joined the Chorus Ensemble to have a musical outlet. I enjoy the performances because they set a strict deadline in which we have to finish preparations.”
The Firebird Orchestra closed the night strong, performing various music genres ranging from melodies to bestsellers. The moving pieces of “Amber Moon” and “Explorers of Orion,” by Naoya Wada, were followed by the 90’s pop-hit “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.
The Firebird Band, Chorus, and Orchestra ended the evening with a combined performance of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Following, the Phoenix Chorus took to the stage on May 5th. The Phoenix Chorus opened up their concert with a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” which was dedicated to the United States and those with families serving in the army.
The Phoenix Orchestra played the “The Marriage of Figaro: Overture” by Mozart and “A Jig to St Paul’s Suite” by Gustav Holst. The performers captured the touching history behind each piece through their soothing notes and lively scores. The orchestra continued with a well-known and touching “Phantom of the Opera” piece. They let the crowd experience the darkness of music through “Music of the Night.” Closing their section, the orchestra finished strong with an energetic execution of “Swamp Thang” by Richard Meyer.
The Phoenix Chorus followed, and they opened their segment with “Halleluya! We Sing Your Praises.” They continued with a Capella performances titled “Ain’t That Good News” by Sam Cooke and “All My Trials” by Joan Baez, which featured senior Isabella Carrano as lead vocalist. These pieces expressed the importance of Jesus and the duty of his followers to spread the gospel. The Phoenix Chorus’ next piece “O Sifuni Mungu” opened with no words. In this selection, singers used percussion and body motions to portray a rainstorm. The chorus followed this piece with a performance of “ You Are The Reason” by Callen Scott, and they concluded their segment with “A Tribute to Bon Jovi,” which consisted of iconic songs such as “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Living On A Prayer.”
The Phoenix Band then took stage with a collection of songs from the hit musical “Wicked,” including “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “Dancing Through Life.” The piece “Atlantica” by Yeti Shaba followed, which is best known as an exploration of the adventures of young Obiwan Kenobi in the Star Wars saga. The Phoenix Band continued their performance with “As The Moon Whispers” by Benjamin Yo, and they concluded their division with Chandler I Wilson’s work, “Sun Scapes.”
As a final closing to this year’s music performances, the Phoenix Band, Chorus, and Orchestra joined forces and concluded the concert with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Both the Phoenix and Firebird Ensembles were able to showcase their talents through this year’s Spring Concerts. Concerts are a crucial event for any Kellenberg Fine Arts performer, allowing for an illustration of their pursuits and recognition of their hard work.
Kellenberg’s Winter and Spring Concerts allow students to explore and develop their musical abilities, while acknowledging important historical events, topics and movements through music. Orchestra Member Sophia Porta ‘25 said, “My favorite part of performing was watching all of our achievements pay off. I enjoyed seeing our hard work come to life!”
Apart from the hard work each musical group puts forward, students are able to make long lasting friendships while presenting their passions at concerts. Sophomore Aliyah Andre shares what it’s like to be a performer of a Chorus. “Being able to be a part of an ensemble at Kellenberg was a way for me to make new friends and express my love of music.”
The Music department at Kellenberg is always looking for new members, and offers opportunities for any student who is looking for a new endeavor. Mr. Vegas, the Music Department Chairman, is continuously encouraging students to get involved. “If anyone is still interested in joining, whether it is band, chorus or orchestra, they should stop by the band room before the end of the school year.”
