Springfest, the music department’s annual concert, artfully rang in the Spring season April 10 in the Lasker Performing Arts Center. Featuring performances from the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Jubilee Singers, the concert was a flourish of light and bliss that awakened the audience from their Winter blues.
Similar to other concerts throughout the year, Springfest worked to merge the talents of North’s music department into one cohesive show. Throughout the set, performers from the Jubilee Singers delightfully weaved their voices in with the melodies of the Orchestra and Symphonic Band, performing pieces from Nina Simone to Maya Angelou.
This year, for the first time since COVID-19, the Orchestra and Jubilee Singers commissioned a new piece of music for Springfest. However, according to Orchestra director Adam Grossman, this year’s piece was especially unique as it was created by a recent North graduate. “Dustin Leger, the composer, came and worked with us,” said Grossman. “We’re getting back to doing a new piece every year, but this is the first time it has been a graduate who I had taught when they were here.”
Among its many memorable moments, a highlight of the show came when senior Henry Lee, a soloist, performed during Felix Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in D Minor.” Sophomore Riva Chatterjee, an Orchestra member, said, “Everyone really enjoyed his piece because he had solo time and he’s just an amazing violinist in general, so it was really nice that the audience was so supportive. They brought flowers for him and everyone was cheering, giving him a standing ovation, so it was really amazing to see that.”
Along with Lee’s musical talent, the immense support from the crowd was compelled by the rarity of becoming a Springfest soloist. “Solos are something that really only happens for the orchestra in Springfest,” said Grossman.
According to him, Springfest’s repertoire is composed of songs that subtly reflect the season’s essence. “There are pieces that I wouldn’t do for Springfest: things that have to do with darkness and winter,” he said. “So the arrangements tend to be maybe a little lighter in mood. Not in quality, not light as in not serious, but light as in not heavy and dark.”
Additionally, Grossman added that the concert’s arrangements are chosen based on what’s appropriate for the internal talents and quirks of each year’s class. “We do different stuff every year,” he said. “I mean there are some pieces that we’ll do every few years because they’re the right things to do with the group. So if there’s something we did a few years ago that seems like that’s the right tune to do again, then we do it again.”
Overall, Springfest played out as a melodic fusion and bright celebration of North’s music department. With their renditions of both classical and contemporary songs, the concert’s performers presented their wide range of expertise and the cultural legacy of their craft. They not only crafted euphonious soundscapes, but spun stories for the audience that somehow elevated the beauty of their source material. Moreover, Springfest’s inclusion of an original song, crafted by a past student, spoke to North’s embrace and dedication to pushing the boundaries of music within the school environment. With an untouched composition, students and directors were able to originate their own artistic interpretation of the piece, resulting in an exquisite performance and representation of their talent.
