The Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium was abuzz with music when it served as the concert hall for the Winter Orchestra Concert, held on Thursday, January 8.
Friends, family, and faculty filled the auditorium, eager to witness the performance of the Bridgewater-Rartian High School Orchestras. The concert showcased not only skill but also the joy, passion, and unity that come with orchestral performance.
The evening opened with the Bridgewater-Raritan Ninth Orchestra (BR90), which set the tone for the night. They began with a performance of “Overjoyed” by Katie O’Hara LaBrie, followed by “The Inner Planets” by Gustav Holst. The ensemble then delivered an exciting interpretation of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” by Leslie Bricusse before ending with “Iditarod” by Soon Hee Newbold.
Following BR90, Piu Vivace, the school’s after-school orchestra club, brought a sense of freedom and creativity to the stage. Open to students of all grade levels, Piu Vivace emphasizes playing music without the stress and pressure of regular rehearsals.
The ensemble performed “Waltz No. 2” by Dimitri Shostakovich, with freshman Cooper Rago conducting the ensemble.
The Bridgewater-Raritan Concert Orchestra (BRCO) then took the stage, performing a program that spanned classical to contemporary film music. The ensemble opened with the classic “Symphony No. 6” by Ludwig van Beethoven. This was followed by the serene and soothing “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, before a dramatic shift to “Waltz From Masquerade Suite” by Aram Katachurian. The ensemble concluded with an energetic and well-known performance of “Music from Coco” by Michael Giacchino.
Next, the Bridgewater-Raritan Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) performed, continuing the evening with an expressive and polished performance that reflected the ensemble’s advanced level of musicianship.
The ensemble opened with “Fidelio Overture, Op. 72” by Ludwig Van Beethoven, followed by “Air and Simple Gifts” by John Williams. They then delivered a performance of the well-known “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell, before concluding with the dramatic “España Spanish Rhapsody, No. 61” by Emmanuel Chabrier.
The night concluded with the performance of the first-ever Bridgewater-Raritan Combined Orchestra. For the first time, every student across all orchestral levels came together on stage for a unified performance. Their performance of Joe Hisaishi’s “Howl’s Moving Castle” showcased the strong sense of unity with the high school’s orchestra department, earning much applause and serving as a memorable finale to the concert.
Sophomore Anika Patel, a member of Bridgewater-Raritan Concert Orchestra, reflected on the evening’s performance.
“A lot of work went into all of the pieces played, and everyone worked so hard in practicing them. I especially loved Howl’s Moving Castle because all three orchestras played together, and it was so cool to hear everyone play one song. I’m looking forward to playing more pieces with the concert orchestra this year during the festival and the spring concert, ” she shared.
All ensembles were conducted by the high school’s Orchestra Director, Hsiao-Yu Lin Griggs, whose dedication and leadership were evident throughout the evening. Her guidance and hard work have shaped the orchestra program into a safe and creative community, and the success of the concert proved her commitment to her ensembles.
Ms. Griggs praised the resilience and professionalism of her students, reflecting on the challenges and successes of the night’s performance.
“The Orchestra students did a great job! This week was a particularly challenging week at Bridgewater-Raritan High School due to the power outage and auditorium availability concerns.
However, the students were perseverant and rose to the occasion like pros. I couldn’t be prouder! Each ensemble performed the best they had ever played. All ensembles joined and performed a combined piece–Howl’s Moving Castle–at the end of the night. This is the first time in Bridgewater-Raritan High School Orchestra history to have a combined three orchestras perform at the concert!” she explained.
Evidently, the Orchestra Winter Concert was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of the collective effort, passion, and beauty of music. As the final notes of the concert were played and applause rang out, it was clear that the Bridgewater-Raritan High School orchestra program continues to thrive, inspiring both performers and audiences.
