Synergy is a beloved concert in which all of the various musical ensembles at Boulder High School perform alongside each other with a large variety of music from many time periods and genres. This year, the concert was especially successful in its various musical performances. From Mariachi to Mozart, here’s what you missed from Synergy 2025!
The program emphasized all the various ways that music can be made harmoniously throughout the different ensembles.
In combination with the Concert Choir, Aria, the treble voice audition choir, and Overture and Symphony Orchestras, the Concert Band performed “Ode to Joy”. The piece was resonant and full, beginning with the Orchestra and building throughout the ensemble. The icing on the cake was the bright treble voices of the choir students who brought in the brilliant horns to move the piece. The varying dynamics provided a wonderful opening to this concert. Guitarists combined with Symphony and Overture Orchestras, to perform “La Bamba,” Featuring student vocalists, Tomás Iturbe Ugaz, ‘26, Xiomara Portillo, ‘27, Casey Giron Fuentes, ‘26, and Brianna Ordaz Cervantes, ‘26. With a strong rhythm and a fun sound, this piece was something we hadn’t seen at Synergy in a while. High Altitude, the mixed voice audition choir performed Mozart pieces, “Confutatis Maledictis” and “Lacrimosa Dies Illa” alongside Symphony Orchestra. Confutatis and La Crimosa featured juxtaposing vocal lines, accompanied by mirroring orchestrations. Jazz Bands 1, 2, and 3 partnered with vocalists from choir for multiple performances: “Sway”, featuring both Scarlett Caste, ‘26, and Viktorie Zatloukalova, ‘26, and “Pure Imagination”, featuring vocalist Holden Buckley, ‘25. As Orchestra Outros, Chamber Orchestra performed excellently with Jazz Band 3 in their performance of “I’ve Got Beginner’s Luck”, sung beautifully by Melody Hodges, ‘25. Joey Schwab, ‘26, finalist of the Boulder High 2025 Concerto Competition, performed “3 Shakespeare Songs”, accompanied by Chamber Orchestra. Schwab’s performance was incredible, and I am glad to see more vocalist representation among finalists for the Concerto Competition. Schwab has a brilliant tenor voice and it was truly brought out in this performance, especially as the orchestra melded with his voice. Wind Ensemble performed Danzón No. 2 alongside Chamber Orchestra. Wind Ensemble joined top Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and all choirs in a symphonic rendition of Verdi’s “Requiem, Dies Irae”. Conducted by Orchestra director, Ryan Woodworth, This arrangement of an iconic piece was a staple of Synergy 2025. “Dies Irae”, an incredibly famous piece, made for a beautiful end of Synergy, with a vibrant sound offered by varying dynamics and complex orchestrations.
When asking Orchestra student, Ethan Muller, ‘25, and Choir student, Lynley Sylvan, ‘27, about how they feel at synergy, they responded with, “Synergy is one of my favorite concerts of the year- I love that choir, band, and orchestra get to combine on specific pieces; the feeling of so many people coming together and working on one piece is so amazing! It gives the ensembles a chance to combine, bond, and create something together.” said Sylvan. “At synergy, I’m often anxious and jittery from a mix of excitement and nerves. Synergy always gives me such a performance high and I really enjoy getting to intersperse myself among other departments musicians while listening to pieces I’m not part of. It’s a great way to make connections, new friends, and trade musical expertise/advice. Not to mention we all get to celebrate together!” Muller adds. Their favorite parts of synergy include coming together with other Boulder High musicians and getting to play songs with them, which is the unique part of the concert. This collaboration between all the music classes on difficult music is important to many of the students in the classes. One of Muller’s favorite memories of Synergy was “getting to play Phantom of the Opera not long ago, bringing together a large portion of the BHS music department for an epic finale piece.” Some favorite pieces from these students were Verdi’s Dies Irae, described by Sylvan as having “sweeping dynamics”. Muller’s description of Danzón No. 2 noted the piece’s “stunning energy and engaging dance melody”.
Although Synergy 2025 has ended, Boulder High’s Band, Orchestra, and Choir programs have more performances to come! Music is for everyone, whether you prefer sitting back and enjoying yourself or performing in front of an audience.
