West’s three orchestra groups traveled to Valley High School Feb. 25 for an annual clinic to prepare for their concert. The clinic was judged by the Burch Trio, a professional string musician trio consisting of a violinist, violist and cellist. 

Symphonic Strings played first, performing “Short Overture for Strings” by Jean Berger, “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and the fourth movement of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Four Novelletten.” Then, Concert and Philharmonic orchestras combined to play “(You Are) Amazing” by Brian Balmages, “Eventide” by Chris Pilsner and the final movement of “Symphony No. 12 in G Major” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 

Symphony’s concertmaster Shanza Sami ’26 is an instrumental part of the orchestra, leading the ensemble and playing solos. As a senior, Sami has been to the clinic three times. She emphasizes the helpfulness of the clinic for the orchestra.

“It was a cool experience getting to run through all our pieces for the first time prior to the concert,” Sami said. “Honestly, it was great preparation to get us mentally prepared for the next day.”

Both groups performed the same pieces again at their “Musical Triptychs” concert Feb. 26, where Symphony’s program was recorded in preparation for submission to national festivals for the next year.