The Bridgewater-Raritan High School (BRHS) auditorium was teeming with music when it served as the concert hall for the Spring Orchestra Concert, held on the evening of May 20.
The concert marked a finale of a year’s worth of musical dedication and growth for all students participating in orchestral ensembles. Families, friends and faculty filled the auditorium to witness each ensemble’s display of musicianship, skill and passion.
The evening opened with the Bridgewater-Raritan Ninth Orchestra (BR9O), performing four pieces that highlighted their musical growth since beginning their musical journey at the high school.
Their program began with a powerful rendition of “Anvil Chorus” by Giuseppe Verdi, followed by the lyrical “River Song” by Richard Meyer. The ensemble then delivered a moving interpretation of “Pavane for a Dead Princess” by Maurice Ravel before closing with Chris Thomas’ vivacious, Mexican-style “Baile De Lila.”
BR9O freshman Julia Li reflected on the growth her ensemble has witnessed since their time in Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School.
“To me, the most rewarding part of practicing and performing at the spring concert was to be able to witness our significant improvement as an ensemble since middle school. The concert really helped shape our ensemble, as everyone has become more confident in their playing, which is helping us grow significantly as an ensemble,” Li remarked.
Piu Vivace, the only after-school orchestral ensemble at BRHS, then took the stage with its performance of Astro Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” bringing the tango’s intensity and driving rhythm to the stage.
Bridgewater-Raritan Concert Orchestra (BRCO) followed with the slightly advanced repertoire that comes with continued commitment to the high school orchestral program.
The ensemble opened with Mozart’s dramatic “Finale” from Symphony No. 41, continuing their performance with “Preludio to La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi and the dynamic “Rhythm Dances” by Brian Balmages. Their performance concluded with Richard Meyer’s “Subterranean Dialogues.”
Bridgewater-Raritan Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) then took over for the full-ensemble portion of the concert. Their performance featured Georges Bizet’s “Les Toreadors” from Carmen Suite No. 1, followed by the expressive “Serenade in E Major” by Antonin Dvorak. They concluded with the powerful “Overture La Grande Pâque Russe,” a stirring piece by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov that filled the auditorium with much applause.
This concert was no ordinary Spring Concert for the senior orchestra class of 2025—it marked the last time the seniors would take the stage and perform as high school musicians. In a full-circle moment, the Senior Ensemble performed Carlos Gardel’s vivacious “Por Una Cabeza,” a piece that they had played as freshmen.
Seniors Brandon Wu and Tia Sharma surprised the audience with a stunning tango performance alongside the piece, which earned a standing ovation and left many in tears. The emotional last performance of the class of 2025 was the highlight of the evening, celebrating not only music, but the community that the class of 2025 built over the years.
All ensembles were directed by Mrs. Hsiao-yu Lin Griggs, whose leadership and vision have shaped Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s orchestra program into a safe space for creativity and musical growth for seventeen years. Her dedication to each student’s needs was evident in every performance, and she was honored with a beautiful bouquet of flowers alongside a heartfelt standing ovation.
“I am most proud of the students for taking real ownership of their music education,” explained Mrs. Griggs. “From learning the music to their fullest and understanding the composers’ intent, to presenting the best performance for the audience.”
Reflecting on her seniors, Mrs. Griggs shared: “I remember seeing the class of 2025 in their freshman year, still learning how to stay together. And now, they performed the entire composition perfectly together without a conductor! Seeing them performing the ‘last Tango’ made me so proud of all their achievements. They will be sorely missed.”
The concert was a celebration of achievement, unity and the power of music to bring people together. The Bridgewater-Raritan orchestra department extends its deepest thanks to all the performers and their dedication throughout the year.
