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By ZACK SHIVELY
Austintown Middle and Intermediate Schools had their “Snowflakes and Stardust“ orchestra concert on Dec. 13 at the Fitch High School auditorium.
Director Sara Eliser conducted all three orchestras throughout the night. The show had the Fledging Orchestra, fifth- and sixth-grade students ensemble; the Sixth Grade Feature, a group full of just sixth-grade students; and the Falcon Orchestra, the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestras. Megan Keown, fifth-grade choir teacher, accompanied the groups on piano.
The Fledging Orchestra featured songs by the full orchestra and other performances from small ensembles and a soloist. They played seven songs together, featuring multiple Christmas songs and finishing with the “Can-Can.“ They also had four groups of two to four students play songs. Elijah Abdul had the lone solo performance on violin.
The fifth grade left the stage and the sixth grade played their own set. They began with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy“ and then played a series of four folk songs, such as the Welsh folk song, “Flow Gently, Sweet Afton.“
The Falcon Orchestra ended the night with songs that incorporated the “Snowflakes and Stardust“ theme. They opened with the snowy theme “Frosty, the Snowman“ and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!“ They played another four classic Christmas songs, such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.“
They also fit the “stardust“ theme by performing “She Will Hang the Night with Stars“ by William Hofeldt and “Stargazer“ by Robert Buckley. Hofeldt took inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s literature for his composition.
During the Falcon Orchestra set, Eliser thanked the community, students and school staff for their support throughout the first few months of the school year. She showed gratitude toward choir director Bill Klein and his students for decorating the auditorium for the event and helping the orchestra. She thanked the community for and the orchestra boosters for their time and assistance in maintaining the program.