The Elizabethtown College Community Orchestra performed their fall concert on Sunday, November 14 at the Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. The group is led by Dr Hayden Denesha.

The orchestra is one of the many musical ensembles on campus. The group is distinguished by the instruments included, the unique literature chosen and the participation of community members.

“All of our campus music ensembles are extremely wonderful in both their high level of artistic excellence and the culture they create,” said Denesha.

The audience was blown away by the incredible performance, and it was the result of painstaking and intentional preparation.

“We have rehearsals twice a week, but it also requires individual preparation,” said sophomore string bassist Christian Gingrich. “The rehearsals are crucial to ensure that everyone can play together as a group. “

Denesha stressed the importance of individual student practice.

“You can’t measure the level of time commitment of an orchestra based solely on what you do in the classroom or in the rehearsal room,” he said. “These are also the countless hours of dedicated practice of our musicians. “

These countless hours have paid off in an incredible showcase of the orchestra’s musical talent. Five pieces were performed extremely well, with applause from the audience filling the auditorium after each was completed. Some members of the audience were even heard in shock saying “wow” after each play ended.

The last piece the concert ended with was Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, or “Reformation”. Denesha dedicated the performance to the late Otis D. Kitchen, who was music teacher at Etown from 1965 to 1996.

“I thought it was really beautifully done,” junior Lizvette Pappaterra said when asked about the concert. “I really enjoyed the songs, especially the one from ‘Sound of Music’.”

Even with masks on, it was clear that the orchestra members felt very happy and proud of themselves at the end of the concert. They seem to really enjoy the process of creating great music.

“Orchestra is a great way to express yourself,” said Gingrich. “It’s very different from my other courses since I’m an engineering student. It’s really fun to have a unique class in my schedule.

Overall the concert was a success. The practice and preparation paid off, and the love for the music was clear throughout the show.

“We have come a long way as a group and are entering a difficult repertoire,” said Gingrich. “I hope the public will see the hard work we have put in! “

Denesha expressed how proud he is of the orchestra for its dedication.

“The students have really worked hard and shown resilience this semester,” he said. “Now that things are back to normal, we almost had to relearn what it means to be an orchestra again. The students did this by playing incredibly stimulating music. It has been incredible and a great honor for me to be a witness.

The Elizabethtown Community College Orchestra is open to new members. All interested students should email Denesha at deneshah@etown.edu with their level of musical experience.