On Tuesday, December 4th, Boulder High’s orchestras had their annual winter concert. Unlike the first concert of the year, “Showcase” as it’s typically referenced, which consisted of all music groups at BHS, the winter concert was made entirely of just the string orchestra groups. While all groups, including both chamber orchestras, had their own individual pieces to play, the aforementioned chambers played together on one piece: “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Fantasia was definitely considered longer than what the orchestras had played before, and at college level to be sure, what with its near-constant tempo changes and semi-often key changes, and length (7 pages, unusual in most pieces of music played in high school orchestras) alone. It was a smash hit that the audience loved, and the orchestra members felt proud and accomplished to have played successfully.

Besides Tallis, Chamber Orchestra 1 played “Highland Holiday” by David Giardiniere by themselves and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson with Orchestra 3.

Good job all BHS orchestras!

Cody Morris, Chamber Orch. 1 cellist