Edison High School Orchestra's 2023 Spring Concert

Dear Members of the Audience,

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for attending this evening’s performance. I am proud of what the students have achieved in just a few short months. When I think back to our first rehearsal in January, I am reminded of how rewarding it is to witness their journey and growth.

This concert will be different from years past: more than once I have had students express the desire to perform a pops concert in addition to our usual spring performance. This is something that I have wanted to do as well, but unfortunately time constraints make it near impossible to properly prepare a second concert... So, instead of our usual “classical” repertoire, much of the music you will hear tonight is from some of our favorite movies and television series. We have thoroughly enjoyed preparing for tonight and we sincerely hope that you will enjoy listening.

To the EHS Orchestra Parent Board and Volunteers, I believe the students would agree that it has been a wonderful year for the orchestra, and much of this year’s success can be attributed to your hard work and dedication. From becoming an official 501(c)(3) organization, traveling to Disney, and various fundraising efforts, you have helped the kids feel important and supported. Even if they may not always verbalize their gratitude, I am certain that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. If this year’s progress is any indication of things to come, then the future is looking bright for the Edison High School Orchestra.

To the Edison School Board Members, Administrators, and Sponsors, thank you for your continued support. I am proud to be an employee of the Edison School District where the arts are valued. Mr. Ross, if you are in attendance tonight, Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings goes out to you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with this ensemble and not writing me off at my demo lesson years ago when I thought it would be a great idea to open with a horrible dad joke. You will be happy to know that I finally watched Platoon this year.

I would also like to thank all of the guardians, parents, and family members that provided those Thursday evening transports to and from rehearsal. Without your encouragement, love, and support, none of this would be possible. Thank you. And to my dear students and Student Orchestra Board, thank you for being your wonderful selves, YOU truly are “what’s great about Edison High,” and I treasure each day that I get to make music with you.

With my sincerest gratitude,

Mrs. Milicia Director of Orchestras

Music Teacher in Highland Park with 12 years of private teaching experience, including 8 years at the college level.

Services offered online with some limited in-person availability.

ABRSM Prep (have coached over 20 students, all whom passed with merit or distinction)

Coaching for Auditions and College Prep

Weekly Music Lessons (Viola, Violin, Piano)

For more Information, please call: 732.770.8223

CONCERT ORCHESTRA

Game of Thrones

Merry-Go-Round of Life

From Howl’s Moving Castle

Music from La La Land

soloist: Pragya Singh

Jen Mathers

soloist: Pragya Singh

John Williams Trilogy

Themes from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, & Raiders of the Lost Ark

soloist: Pragya Singh

New World Symphony

Symphony No. 9, Movement IV

soloists: Pragya Singh and Alayna Petroski

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Robert Longfield

Calvin Custer

Music from Ratatouille.......................................................Michael Giacchino

Stephen Bulla

Adagio for Strings..................................................................

Featured in the movie Platoon

Sleeping Beauty Waltz

Robert A. Curry How to Train Your Dragon

soloist: Alayna Petroski

Featuring members of the EHS Band

Jay Swaminarayan Janvi –

Keep up the great job and good luck! We love you so much! Keep smiling and always be happy! Love always, Mommy, Daddy, and Didi (Anjali) ♡

– The Naik Family

Congratulations, Tamseel and the EHS Orchestra! Thanks to Mrs. Milicia for igniting the love for music, to the students for putting forth their Best, and to the Parents for their love, dedication and support!

– The Momin Family

Dear Mrs. Milicia, Mrs. Chotani and the OPA, the Orchestra family, and leaving Seniors…Thank you for all the laughs, the friendships, and all the love. I will forever cherish the moments we’ve had together.

♡ – From, Joyce Razouk

Breanna, congratulations on your hard work with the orchestra. The whole family admires your dedication! Additionally, thank you to Mrs Milicia and her commitment to the orchestra program.

– The Smithen Family

Dear Julie and Hanson, We are incredibly proud of you. Best wishes as you continue this wonderful journey!

Love, Mom and Dad

– The Pien Family

Thank you all for the memorable year! I wouldn’t have had Orchestra Board any other way and will hold these memories tight and close forever. Sending all of you my love and warmest wishes. Con Fuoco!

– From, Kevin Wu

Keep Up the Music Spirit, EHS Orchestra!

– The Gonzalez Family

We are so proud of how hardworking you have been. We will always cheer you on and support you in every way. We love you so much!

Congratulations, Nicky!

– The Nguyen Family

This is in appreciation of the Orchestra Director and all her hard work in working with our children through the year to achieve their amazing performances!

– The Ozumba Family

Breanna, it’s been an honor being your stand partner this year! You are so incredibly passionate and kind, and I can’t wait for our future performances together!

– Love, Alayna

Violin I

Principal:

Pragya Singh*

Assistant Principal:

Julie Pien*

Jeremy Hur*

Jayesh Chaurasia*

Nakul Narayanan*

Kyle Dela Cruz

Mithil Mishra*

Gabrielle Dharmawan

Soumita Banerjee*

Kamil Terc Sanchez

Pranav Janaki Ashok

Erick Rosario

Kanishk Ragimanu

Sneha Pappu

Jasmine Ramirez*

Daniel Kwon

Rucha Joshi*

Stella Wong

Zachary Lopez

Ethan Lo

Varnika Sirigineedi*

Nitya Konduru*

Glaurieta Golioth

Sophia Dimayuga

Flute

Akshay Khatri

Sylvia Wu

Clarinet

Vinay Menon

Brynne Liew

Bass Clarinet

Dev Delwadi

Bassoon

Hannah Cheung

French Horn

Theodore Higgins-Griffith

Shaun Bali

Owen Villafranca

Trumpet

David Hernandez

Alicia Hudson

Douglas Sabosik

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS

Violin II

Principal:

Kevin Wu*

Assistant Principal:

Sky Byun*

Pranav Dharayan

Nicholas Nguyen

April Godoy

Arushi Barik

Utsav Joshi

Suzette Stephen

Chaitanya Sharma

Arya Shastri

Preeti Bijlani

Araniee Sothilingam

Ananya Pandey

Risha Bhardwaj

Paula Ferraro

Janvi Naik

Mahidhar Venkataramanan

Aditya Desai

April Herrera

Akash Nattamai

Trombone

Jonathan Lee

Romulo Tobon

Bass Trombone

Ovya Ganesh

Tuba

Christian Amann

Keyboard

Akash Mitra

Percussion

Peter Loeffler

Adwaith Ramesh

Juan Mora Herrera

Sean Williams

Albert Battagliotti

* = Chamber Orchestra

Viola

Principal:

Arman Chotani*

Assistant Principal:

Robyn Nemeth*

Joyce Razouk*

Jessica Le*

Aprant Sahoo*

Tamseel Momin

Tina Thomas

Lovein Levin

Srinidhi Tammana*

Anastasia Ibrahim*

Julie Poandl

Annalise Dantes

Shreya Tammana

Emma Ferdinand

Vanessa Nguyen

Rudra Patel

Sam Gonzalez

Ru Arora

Rithvik Banerjee

Kamsi Ozumba

Cello

Principal:

Alayna Petroski*

Assistant Principal: Breanna Smithen*

Sabrina Moral*

Hanson Pien*

Cayden Mercado*

Herbert Stevens*

Rachel Ann Cuison

Kelly Zhang*

Parth Gundani

Grace White Bass

Principal:

Ethan Agabao*

Sam Gonzalez

Aanya Jariwala

Brittney Milicia (Orchestra Director) entered the world of strings when she began playing the cello in 6th grade. Growing up she was inspired by her favorite music teachers, Mrs. Susan Kille, Mr. Warren Gardner, and Mrs. Martha Frampton. Although Mrs. Milicia always enjoyed performing, her true passion was to learn and practice the art of teaching music. She was inspired by her teachers’ knack for giving their students a sense of belonging. She loved how she and her classmates had a place to call home within the school, and she hoped to one day have a classroom of her own where students could find refuge and bond over their mutual love of music. Mrs. Milicia also has the greatest gratitude for her family who continually and unconditionally supported her endeavors. Throughout secondary school Mrs. Milicia studied privately with former principal cello of the Bay Atlantic Symphony, Mr. Stephen Goodnight.

Following high school, Mrs. Milicia attended Mason Gross School of the Arts where she studied under principal cello of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and of the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, Mr. Jonathan Spitz.

When not teaching at Edison High School, Mrs. Milicia works part time as a teaching artist at the Wharton Institute of the Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights, and maintains a small private studio out of her home. In the future Mrs. Milicia hopes to further her education by obtaining a master’s degree in orchestral conducting, and to dedicate more of her free time to performing.

This coming September will mark Mrs. Milicia’s 10th year at Edison High School. She is amazed at how quickly a decade has flown by, and she hopes to remain at EHS with the continued goal of building the orchestra program for decades to come.

Pragya Singh (Principal Violin I/Concert Mistress) is a senior who has been a violinist for over a decade. Studying primarily under the tutelage of Dr. Sharon Gayoung Cho, Pragya has performed at multiple venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Lincoln Center, and is currently pursuing a diploma in musical performance. Her personal philosophy as a musician is that music tells a story that surpasses words and one that can be understood and enjoyed by all people. Pragya is both a pianist and violinist and enjoys all forms of music, including Western Classical and Indian Classical. This fall, Pragya will attend the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology at the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to continue her musical journey at Penn.

Julie Pien (Assistant Principal Violin I) is a junior in the Edison High School Orchestra. Music

became a part of her life by the age of 4 when she began learning the piano. In the 4th grade, Julie began learning the violin and she is currently studying under Maggie at the Young Mozart Music Academy. In addition to being the assistant principal of the first violin section, Julie is also a member of the *Living Room Quartet’ (a.k.a. the “LRQ”), along with fellow orchestra-mates Kevin Wu (violin 2), Arman Chotani (viola), and Sabrina Moral (cello).

Julie considers music to be a great influence on her life. A big advocate of practicing, she believes that one’s full potential is found in the practice room. Her motto as a musician is “fake it till you make it, but that’s only as a last resort”. She deeply appreciates the fact that her parents pushed her to study music as it enabled her to make new friends. And while she does not know what she wants to do in the future, Julie certainly hopes to continue playing music.

Kevin Wu (Principal Violin II) has been with the Orchestra during the entirety of high school having served as the Assistant Principal (2021-2022), Principal 2nd Violin (2022-2023) and currently, as Orchestra President. He was first introduced to orchestral music through his three older violinist

siblings and was struck to play since he was 7 years old. As a musician, Kevin’s philosophy is that giving your all for something is what matters most; where a performance is not simply one chance to play all the correct notes but rather, an infinite amount of chances to achieve one moment.

Along with being a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the Chinese Culture Club, and the Student Council, Kevin is also a member of the LRQ* (See Julie Pien’s bio). He also enjoys journaling, tutoring students, listening to classical recordings, podcasts, and watching TwoSet Violin videos. In the near future, Kevin plans on attending Rutgers New Brunswick as a Psychology Major while pursuing music with the LRQ. Kevin is thankful for his family with their constant support, Deirdre Pasquarelli for guiding him through middle school as not only, a violinist but also, as a leader and person, Timothy Morrow for his mentorship with music history, leadership, communication, and orchestral music, the Living Room Quartet for the comforting atmosphere and enthusiasm for music they bring, the Chotani Family for their extensive work for the EHS Orchestra and their small talks, life lessons, and for their endless support, and finally, Brittney Milicia

for her work through the Covid-19 pandemic and her incredible care and guidance for her students both within and outside of the orchestral program.

Sky Byun (Assistant Principal Violin II) is a junior at Edison High School who has dedicated herself to orchestra since 4th grade. Although she partook in orchestra in 4th grade, she began her violin journey prior. Despite the difficulties and obstacles that Covid has created, her passion for music and the violin continues to persist. Her favorite subjects are math and orchestra and her hobbies include playing the piano and drawing, both driven by her creativity.

Next year, Sky will become a senior and soon attend college. Her future plans consist of entering the forensics field while continuing to play both the violin and piano as hobbies. She thanks her parents and all her orchestra teachers for their continued support of her musical journey and looks forward to making more wonderful music with her peers in her remaining years at Edison High School.

Arman Chotani (Principal Viola) hails from a family legacy of musicians with an internationallyrenowned coloratura for a grandmother, making music a part of his life since birth. With three generations of singers, instrumentalists, and composers, along with the mandatory “show-off” times at family gatherings, it was inevitable that performance would be an integral part of Arman’s life. He started learning the viola in the fourth grade through the Edison Township music program, starting with Amy Caporaso and throughout middle school, under Beth Maliszewski.

Now a sophomore at Edison High School, Arman is honored to serve as the Principal Violist in both their concert and chamber orchestras. He also loves being the youngest member of both the Symphonic orchestras with the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra (NJIO) and its collaborative orchestra with Kean University. Arman is also most proud of being a part of the LRQ* (see Julie Pien bio). Along with furthering his musical growth under the private tutelage of his teacher, Steven Clark, Arman also enjoys producing his own stop-motion videos, practicing his Chinese martial arts, and researching current events. He plans to study psychology, theology, and music in college.

Robyn Nemeth (Assistant Principal Viola) is currently a senior and four-year member of the EHS Chamber Orchestra. She has been playing the viola since third grade and is grateful for all of her past and current orchestra teachers: Mr. Mosley, Mrs. Pasquarelli, and Mrs. Milicia. She is also a

member of the EHS choir, theater, varsity volleyball team, Eagle’s Eye newspaper, and student council.

Robyn values giving back to the community musically – from donating through Tri-M Music Honor Society to teaching concert choir. She also believes that the purpose of music is to show that emotions don’t have to be defined by words. With plans to pursue music education with a voice principle at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Robyn hopes to uphold the legacies of her past music teachers as a performer and educator herself, for they have loved through music.

Robyn would like to thank her parents and her music teachers for giving her opportunities and supporting her in all her pursuits.

Alayna Petroski (Principal Cello) is a junior who has performed with both the Concert and Chamber Orchestras since her freshman year. Her musical career began at age six with the study of classical and jazz piano under professional jazz pianist Ed Adler of Worldwide Piano & Music School and continued for about eight years. She is indebted to Ed for teaching her the foundational skills of musicianship that inspired her to pursue her

personal interests of piano and cello with confidence. Alayna began playing cello at age ten through the Edison Township music program. To this day, she has continued without private instruction, opting to teach herself and study under her orchestra teachers: Maria Ford, Beth Maliszewski, and Brittney Milicia.

Beyond performance, she also serves as both Secretary and Manager of the Orchestra Student Board and is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Outside of music, she is a member of both the National and Latin Honor Societies. Her favorite academic subject is history, which has inspired her current dream of a career in anthropology. At home, Alayna enjoys watching horror movies with her dad, playing board games with her family, and listening to new music. She also loves thrifting with friends. She is grateful to Mrs. Milicia for both her support and shared passion for cello which have encouraged Alayna to pursue her musicianship in new ways. She also thanks her fellow student board members for a wonderful school year and her fellow cellists who have supported her since day one.

Breanna Smithen (Assistant Principal Cello) is in her freshman year at EHS. She started playing cello in 4th grade and has played in the school orchestras for five years. Her favorite subjects in school are orchestra and English, and in her free time, she enjoys reading and playing the Sims 4. She would like to thank Mrs. Milicia this year for giving her opportunities to grow as a musician and her family for supporting her love of music.

Ethan Agabao (Principal Bass) is a Sophomore and the Bass Section Leader for both orchestras. He originally began playing the violin in elementary school, but upon entering 6th grade, decided to switch full-time to the string bass. Ethan is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He's hardworking and diligent about his studies, which often leaves little time for relaxation. He says orchestra class is a period of respite for him during the otherwise chaotic and stressful school day.

Ethan plans to continue playing the bass with the hopes of one day having more time off so he could venture into other music-related activities. He'd like to shout out to his parents for supporting him in his music journey, and also his brother for inspiring him to play music in the first place.

Program Notes

Game of Thrones

Ramin Djawadi (arr. Larry Moore)

The accompanying soundtrack to the HBO series Game of Thrones was composed by Ramin Djawadi, who also composed the soundtracks for Westworld, and Pacific Rim. Game of Thrones depicts a country engulfed in a violent civil war as nobles fight for power. When Djawadi originally composed the music, he was asked not to include instruments like the piano and flute, as their tone was too lighthearted for the themes portrayed by the show itself. Most of the piece is tense and foreboding, but the climax of the song switches to melancholy notes, ending with the initial tone. The resulting piece shows aspects resembling compositions of Hans Zimmer, for whom Ramin Djawadi previously worked. The way the instruments are meant to play the music is similar to the manner in which Zimmer’s Pirates of the Caribbean is played. Djawadi’s production process involves writing the music in notation software, and then sending the product to an orchestra in Prague to play. Game of Thrones has become a song many have familiarized themselves with. We hope you enjoy our rendition of the piece.

Program notes by Nakul Narayanan

Merry-Go-Round of Life from Howl’s Moving Castle

Joe Hisaishi (arr. Jen Mathers)

Howl’s Moving Castle is a 2004 animated motion picture by Studio Ghibli, set in a world filled with magic, flying wizards, and 20th century technology. Sophie, a young hatter, finds her life thrown into disarray when she is swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their relationship, puts a curse on Sophie turning her into a 90-year-old woman. The film follows Sophie on an adventure to break the spell while discovering the world through Howl’s Moving Castle, itself. Merry-Go-Round of Life features as the main theme for the film, and has continued to be a popular piece since its release. Joe Hisaishi (the composer for most, if not all of Studio Ghibli's films) wrote the theme for Howl’s Moving Castle intending to evoke a sense of childhood innocence and nostalgia with its playful waltz, perfectly reflecting the charm and mysticality of the film. The EHS Concert Orchestra hope this Strings rendition resonates with you and encourages you to watch or re-watch the film!

Program notes by Kevin Wu

Program Notes

Music from La La Land

Justin Hurwitz (arr. Robert Longfield)

La La Land is an American romantic musical film written and directed by Damien Chazelle that addresses themes of dreams, reality, and romance. Starring Ryan Gosling as Sebastian and Emma Stone as Mia, the film depicts Sebastian and Mia as they are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. However, as their success mounts, they are faced with decisions that interfere with their love for each other, and the dreams that brought them together ultimately threaten to rip them apart. Robert Longfield’s arrangement for La La Land features melodies from well-known songs by Justin Hurwitz such as Mia and Sebastian’s Theme, Another Day of Sun, Audition (The Fools Who Dream), and City of Stars to transport listeners through the lovers’ story, defining scene changes through contrasting musical styles such as swing and waltz. The EHS Concert Orchestra hopes to guide you through the emotional journey of La La Land with its tender pianos, invigorated crescendos, and expressive melodies.

Program notes by Robyn Nemeth

John Williams Trilogy

John Williams (arr. Calvin Custer)

With a career spanning seventy years, the music of John Williams is considered the gold standard of film scores. Custer, the arranger of William’s tunes, starts off the trilogy with Star Wars’ main theme and takes you on an intergalactic journey in the key of G major, filled with exciting triplets sprinkled throughout the composition. The music then takes us back to a world where dinosaurs once lived with the theme song for Jurassic Park. With its two flats and the dotted eight notes, Williams successfully captures the ambiance of Jurassic World coming to life. Finally, the trilogy transitions to the music of The Raiders of Lost Ark with the Raider’s March Heard while the film’s main character tries to get their hands on the Ark of the Covenant, Williams creates an impactful and march-like theme to accompany our hero’s journey. All three pieces are combined to create the perfect trilogy full of fun and adventure.

Program notes by Srinidhi Tammana

(Notes continue after photo gallery)

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Program Notes

New World Symphony

Antonin Dvořák (arr. Deborah Baker Monday)

New World Symphony is the nickname affectionately given to Antonin Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony, composed in 1893. Replete with harsh tremolos and pounding melodic chords, Dvořák took heavy inspiration from Native American cultural music and his drawing of such “New World” influences is what lent the piece its iconic moniker.

At its introduction, the piece is fleet and ferocious, beginning with a barrage of alternating minor second notes keenly reminiscent of John Williams’ iconic theme from Jaws. The listener encounters an emphatically lower string-oriented melody rife with piercing violin chords eventually simmering down into a significantly mellow mood where the violin and cello soloists can shine in sync. Soon the piece evolves into a much deeper-pitched, booming passage not too dissimilar from the opening of the piece where, after a brief reprise, the arrangement concludes with short, frenetic bursts of notes followed by a sustained fade-out, seeming to end the piece as suddenly as it began.

New World Symphony is one of the most iconic orchestral compositions of the 19th century and assuredly, the highlight of Dvořák’s illustrious career. From its premiere on December 16, 1893 at the famed Carnegie Hall of New York City, the piece has become a favorite among aficionados all over the world and beyond. Upon the Apollo 11 mission’s landing on the moon, July 20, 1969, a cassette recording of New World Symphony was brought along for the trip by astronaut Neil Armstrong. Whether or not the song was ever played is unknown; however, one can say that the Ninth Symphony was the first piece of music to make it to the moon. We, on Earth, do not deserve this anthem; and if the world is billions of years old, having been explored to death for most of that time, then this piece must belong to another world, a “new world”, one far away from the impurities and imperfections of our own. In this way, Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony must truly be the “New World Symphony”.

Program notes by Herbert Stevens

Music from Ratatouille

Michael Giacchino (arr. Stephen Bulla)

In 2007, Disney released a film named Ratatouille. An imaginative yet hilarious tale, Ratatouille revolves around the life of a culinarily gifted rat, Remy, who navigates his way through the hardships of Paris cuisine - harsh critics and rodent-phobia. A heartwarming story with memorable melodies from beginning to end, Remy encourages viewers to pursue their passions with candor and aim high to achieve their dreams. This arrangement by American composer Stephen Bulla focuses on several styles of music from the movie, including excitingly quick tangos and beautifully light tones. The EHS Chamber Orchestra hopes this lovely mix of music brings joy to your evening and reminds you of the inspirational words of Remy’s mentor, Chef Auguste Gusteau: “Anyone can cook… but only the fearless can be great.”

Program notes by Alayna Petroski

Adagio for Strings

Samuel Barber (arr. Jamin Hoffman)

Adagio for Strings, by American composer Samuel Barber, is most known for its simple sorrow that slowly climaxes into an intense heart-aching disparity. Since childhood, Barber wanted listeners to be left with the strongest of emotions simply through his music. History has proven his goal successful. For example, Adagio for Strings has become widely associated with tragedy, played during such sad moments such as JFK’s funeral, the memorial after 9/11, and even in films such as the war movie Platoon. The EHS Orchestra hopes that you will enjoy this shortened version of Barber’s Adagio, as arranged by Jamin Hoffman.

Program notes by Joyce Razouk

Sleeping Beauty Waltz

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (arr. Robert A. Curry)

Sleeping Beauty Waltz is a famous composition by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, featured in the ballet

Sleeping Beauty. Tchaikovsky’s second ballet has a prologue and three acts. The prologue establishes the context for Princess Aurora’s strange circumstances. At her christening, the Wicked Fairy Carabosse seeks revenge for being left off the guest list by casting a spell proclaiming that when Aurora reaches the age of sixteen, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The good Lilac Fairy was able to ease the curse so that the princess would only sleep for a hundred years before being

Program Notes

awakened by a prince’s kiss. The first act jumps ahead to the princess’s sixteenth birthday celebration, when she is courted by suitors. Despite the king’s precautions, Carabosse sneaks in with a spindle, on which Aurora pricks her finger. This piece is one of the most recognizable waltzes in classical music and has become a staple of many orchestral repertoires. Sleeping Beauty Waltz has become a popular piece outside of the ballet world, appearing in numerous films, television shows, and commercials. It appears in the Walt Disney film Sleeping Beauty when Princess Aurora sings An Unusual Prince/Once Upon A Dream. Tchaikovsky blends together the different sections of the orchestra to create a feeling of grandeur and beauty in his orchestration of Sleeping Beauty Waltz. The strings and woodwinds are especially beautiful, while the brass section adds power and majesty to the piece. Overall, Sleeping Beauty Waltz is an enduring piece of music that encapsulates the romance and beauty of classical ballet. Its sweeping melody and elegant orchestration elevate it to an orchestral masterpiece.

Program notes by Soumita Banerjee

How to Train Your Dragon

John Powell (arr. Sean O’Loughlin)

Based off the popular book series by Cressida Cowell, How To Train Your Dragon is the story of a Viking society defined by its war with dragons, and how one boy and one dragon can break the chain of battle.

This piece is a selection of a few of the most prominent themes and musical ideas from the first film of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy. Featuring pieces such as This is Berk, Romantic Flight, and Coming Back Around, the medley reintroduces the listener to a variety of leitmotifs and themes that represent different parts of the story and film. The very first movement comes to represent the fictional Berkian society, and the Viking people. Soon after, we are introduced to the dragons and the fun begins, rushing into a battlefield of sound, distracted only by the emergence of young love.

Program notes by an undying fan of the series, Arman Chotani (continued)

Program Notes

Pirates of the Caribbean

Klaus Badelt (arr. Ted Ricketts)

Ted Ricketts’ arrangement of Badelt’s soundtrack for Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean – the top-grossing film of 2003 – authentically transports the listener to scenes of swashbuckling adventure and excitement. The suite includes themes from Fog Bound, The Medallion Calls, To the Pirates Cave, The Black Pearl, One Last Shot, and He's a Pirate. The bold, suspenseful entrance by the strings, followed by a lively exchange with the woodwinds, provides a haunting and ominous mood, reflecting the dread and anticipation of being lost at sea, surrounded by danger. The piece then shifts to a fast-paced, upbeat melody, bringing the excitement and adventure of piracy to life. This stark contrast between fear and excitement captures a feeling of disorientation and confusion, mirroring the emotions attributed to the movie. The final part of the medley is a piece of light and humorous music, making it the perfect ending to lighten the intense mood.

Program notes by Varnika Sai Sirigineedi

Congratulations and best of luck to our graduating seniors!

You will be missed…

Jayesh Chaurasia

Emma Ferdinand

Jeremy Hur

Anastasia Ibrahim

Rucha Joshi

Daniel Kwon

Robyn Nemeth

Nicholas Nguyen

Jasmine Ramirez

Pragya Singh

Herbert Stevens

Kevin Wu

The EHS Orchestra thanks the following sponsors for their generous support:

Maestro

Marc D. Portlock, Esq

Impresario

Sante Brown’s BBQ

Sally Wang.

Conductor’s Circle

Steven Clark

Sylvan Learning Center of Edison

Virtuoso’s Circle

The Chotani Family

Metzler Violin Shop

Minuteman Press of Edison

Music Forever

The Petroski Family

Philly Pretzel Factory of Edison

Musician’s Circle

Boom Boom Korean Fried Chicken

Golden Seafood Chinese Restaurant

vecteezy.com

Mrs. Miilicia and Mrs. Chotani would also like to thank the Board members, Disney chaperones, and the Orchestra volunteers for their continued dedication and support. They have given countless hours without whom this association could not flourish. Special acknowledgement to Charlotte and David Petroski for their invaluable assistance in preparing this program.

What’s Great about Edison High? The Orchestra and its Parent Volunteers!

Our Sincerest Gratitude to the Following:

Edison Township Board of Education

Dr. Edward Aldarelli

Acting Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Gail Pawlikowski

Chief Academic Officer

Mr. Charles Ross – Principal

Mr. Thomas White

Supervisor of Art, Music & Dance

Mr. Joseph Ferrara – Asst. Principal

Mrs. Nicole Himmelstein – Asst. Principal

Mr. Joseph Ciappina, Mr. Marc

Denicuolo, Mr. Andrew Jaworski, & Mr. Joshua Lisner

EHS Orchestra Parent Association Board Members

EHS Orchestra Parent Volunteers

EHS Orchestra Student Board

EHS Custodial Staff & Security

Congratulations to Zachary, Mrs. Milicia and the Edison High School Orchestra! from your friends at PORTLOCK LAW