The 2024 annual HHS Winter Concert was a success! Every year, students at Harrison High School come together during the winter to showcase their musical talents. This year was no different, with hundreds of students playing in orchestra and band. The concert never fails to impress the staff and families who come to watch–seeming effortless as students from all grades and skill levels unite to produce this event. Of course, it’s never that simple, as months of preparation are required to perfect their performance. Superintendent Dr. Louis M. Wool described this concert as “the best I’ve ever seen during my time here at Harrison High School.” He also stated, “There is something powerful about observing their art programs that you get the sense that there’s more than the music going on.” Here’s a glimpse at how it all came together.

For years, the ability of students to express themselves has been a top priority for Superintendent Louis Wool. Dr. Wool has been working in the Harrison District for over 20 years, and while his time in charge hasn’t been without challenges, he takes great pride in his work — and rightfully so. Since his time in charge, he’s advocated for the IB Diploma program and the formation of an orchestra program across all schools in the district. When he first came to the Harrison Central School District, there wasn’t a full-fledged orchestra program. One of his teaching philosophies is the concept of multiple intelligences, emphasizing that students have strengths in different areas, not just academic ones. He noticed that after implementing the program, test scores improved as students had alternative outlets to express themselves. These opportunities also allowed students to meet peers they might not otherwise interact with and to improve their musical technique. As Dr. Wool put it, “If you bring all these diverse kids together, things get better and not worse.”

The band section of the concert has always been memorable, as it opens up the whole event. The band played songs like Cumberland Cross by Carl Stronmen, Industria by N. Alan Clark, and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Jule Styne. Diana Millard, a junior flutist at Harrison High School, stated, “I loved to hear the growth in the musicians. However, this concert was different because it was the first time Ms. Loertscher ever stopped the band mid-song. It was scary, but she knew that we could do better and that we all worked too hard to not start in a good way.” While there was a hiccup in one of the band pieces, they managed to regroup and still deliver a great performance. The audience loved it and hardly remembered that there was a need for a restart.

Since last year, the orchestra has grown in size, thanks to an influx of freshmen and increased general interest. Like the band, the orchestra requires hours of practice. However, unlike the band, the orchestra splits up its classes by grade level. Freshmen and sophomores are paired together, while juniors and seniors are in separate classes. It’s always a challenge for these groups to come together and play cohesively, as they don’t often get the opportunity to rehearse as a full orchestra. Nicky Li, a junior violinist at Harrison High School, described her experiences as incredible, to say the least. She mentions how not just she, but her peers, “grew in terms of musicianship,” learning to adapt and “play together as an orchestra.” Some of their pieces included Overture to the Royal Fireworks by G.F. Handel, Snowflake by Yukiko Nishimura, Classical Symphony by Sergei Prokofiev, and an arrangement of Carol of the Bells/Greensleeves by Larry Clark.

Being part of the orchestra allows all students to shine under the spotlight. Playing for hundreds of families, students, and faculty, the orchestra, much like Dr. Wool stated, offers another way for students to express themselves in ways not seen in typical everyday life. The audience seemed to enjoy the performance. Lori Chin, a sophomore violinist at Harrison High School, exclaimed, “My parents went to the concert and enjoyed it. They thought we did a great job.” It seems as though all parents shared the sentiment that this concert was one to remember. Wayne Corn, another parent who attended, described it as “memorable” and noted that the difficulty of the pieces had increased this year.

The arts department at HHS continues to expand year after year. Both the orchestra and band departments will be separating their classes into advanced and regular levels, instead of combining all the grades. It will be interesting to see how future concerts differ after this program is implemented. Dr. Wool also reflected, “In the beginning, the music program created a pathway to create the whole system. It’s not just about the performing arts, it’s about showing your excellence in different ways.”

In the spring of 2025, there will be another concert showcasing even more of the talent that HHS students possess. Much like the Winter Concert, it will be one not to miss!