Conservatory Lab all-school assemblies are truly a spectacle to behold, and there was something particularly special about our first all-school assembly of the school year which was held right before Thanksgiving Break. As the first assembly since the school’s expansion, this was the most monumental Conservatory Lab gathering to date! As columns of students from both the Upper and Lower Schools filed into the gym with their families, the holiday spirit was in the air, thanks in no small part to Mr. Chris Schroeder and the Dudamel Winds and Brass for providing a lovely musical backdrop of classic holiday tunes.
Following a greeting from Head of School Diana Lam and Lower School Principal Annie Sevelius, the Abbado Orchestra took to the stage to kick off the event. Conductor Josh Garver led this new orchestra in their Conservatory Lab debut, performing two high-energy pieces, “Burst” and the “Scherzo” from the Apollo Suite, which were expertly executed by the ensemble of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Also with their Conservatory Lab debut were the Ives Winds, a new wind and brass ensemble consisting of 6th and 7th graders who are new to this school this year. Even having only played their instruments for two months, the Ives Winds students put on an impressive show with “When the Saints Go Marching In,” inspiring the audience to enthusiastically clap along! The thunderous show of support from the audience following their performance as well as the musician’s own beaming smiles revealed that their months of hard work had truly paid off. To end the assembly, the stage was again taken by the Dudamel Winds and Brass as well as the Abbado Percussion Ensemble, who roused the audience with a performance of the theme from “I Dream of Jeannie,” complete with student percussionists playing salsa rhythms on drums. There was a visible sway to the audience, as students, teachers, and families moved their bodies to the music and clapped along with the salsa rhythms.
It is during events like this assembly that we are reminded of all that we can achieve together as a school in even a short amount of time. Although we now have two different locations, this distance is far from being a barrier. Our community is stronger and closer than ever, and we are so excited to see our students showcase their continuing progress at the upcoming Winter Concerts on December 10 and 18!