Music Fills the Air on Campus

While springtime weather brings chirping birds, and humming lawn movers, it also brings another sound here on campus- that of our musical community.

Next week our orchestra, concert, and jazz bands, along with our US choirs will all perform on stage. “The music ensembles perform publicly only a few times a year,” explains Art Department Chair, Erin Gabriel. “We love to see our students shine on our stage. The same students you see on our athletic fields, or on the debate circuit or the robotics team, or anywhere else on campus, are the ones you’ll see making music next week in Fulton.”

And while our students are busy either preparing for exams, senior projects, or 30-day projects, they also come to rely on the stability that music has in their lives. “Although Overlake is always a busy place, the students who choose to keep the music, or any of the arts, as a “staple” in their schedule reap the benefits of having a place every day that involves creativity, expression, heart, and group process,” explains Gabriel. “Many students claim it is not really a choice, but a necessary part of their own experience and identity.”

Friday’s Upper School Choir concert will be extra special this 50th school year. Gabriel has invited back alumni to sing some pieces with the choir. “Currently I have 10+ students from the graduating classes between 2007 and 2017 participating.”

Also joining the stage that night will be several members of Seattle Pro Musica, a professional choir Gabriel sings with. “The Chamber Choir has been working on an arrangement of How Can I Keep From Singing? by Karen P. Thomas, SPM’s artistic director and conductor,” says Gabriel. “It will be a treat for the Overlake students to sing alongside these adult singers, especially for this particular piece of music, the text of which is near and dear to the sweatshirts, of course, as well as the choir.”

For a list of dates and times of all the upcoming performances, click here.