For the first time, the West High Orchestras had the honor of sending students to participate in the Metropolitan Orchestra Festival at the Paramount Theatre. Last Thursday, West students had a full-day rehearsal at Linn-Mar High School with students from various other schools.

On Feb. 3, West students traveled to the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids for a final rehearsal and the concert. There were multiple performances by the 6th Grade Orchestra, 7th Grade Orchestra, the 8th Grade Orchestra, the High School Philharmonic Orchestra and the High School Symphony Orchestra. The High School Philharmonic Orchestra played “Declarations” by Jeffrey Bishop, “Lacrimosa from Requiem Mass” by W.A. Mozart, “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saens and “Nabucco Overture” by Giuseppe Verdi and were directed by Joe Mnayer.

The High School Symphony Orchestra was directed by Phil Peters and played “English Folk Song Suite, I. Seventeen Come Sunday” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and selections from “Carmen Suites Nos. 1 and 2” by George Bizet. The Symphony Orchestra was accompanied by guest band members as well. The performance was featured on KCRG on the local 9.3 channel. To watch a recording of it, the KCRG 9.2 channel will be airing it again on Thursday, March 7th and Tuesday, April 2nd at 8 pm. Below is the list of students who participated in the Metropolitan Orchestra Festival. 

Philharmonic Orchestra 

Abby Lee ’27 – Violin II

Sharon Liao ’27 – Violin II

Jensen Lin ’27 – Violin II

Gracie Liu ’27 – Violin I

Nora Orhon ’27 – Violin I

Momo Shinozaki ’27 – Violin I

Sylvia Broffit ’26 – Viola

Mathew Lu ’27 – Viola

Aiden Zhang  ’27 – Cello

Symphony Orchestra 

Aidan Choi ’25 – Violin II

Lydia Evans ’26 – Violin II

Thara Rajagopal ’26 – Violin II

Mrudani Ramkumar ’25 – Violin II

Sabrina Du ’25 – Violin I

Tina Hong ’25 – Violin I

Jessie Li ’25 – Violin I

Shanza Sami ’26 – Violin I

Flora Zhu ’25 – Violin I

Holden Rebich ’25 – Viola

Max Schebel ’26 – Viola

Tessera Rippentrop ’24 – Cello

Taelim Yoon ’26 – Cello

Solomon Schaffer ’26 – Bass

Mac Wilson ’25 – Bass