Orchestra prepares for annual Gedatsu Lunar Festival
by Eddie Lu
Photo courtesy of gedatsu-usa.org
Orchestra will be performing at the Gedatsu Church for the Japanese Lunar festival on Oct. 6.
They will play the pieces “Don’t Stop Believing” by Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon, and Steve Perry, “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg, “Tales of Hoffmann” by Jacques Offenbach, and the theme song from “Jurassic Park” by John Williams.
“I believe that we are as ready as we can be for the performance. We’ve been practicing really hard on our pieces and our hard work will show,” said Jenkins Phu, junior.
Some students expressed anxiety about the upcoming performance as they worried they were not prepared.
“Only practicing on Monday nights for 2-3 hours is hardly enough to be ready. Before I even get in my car, I look at the music and practice without the bow so that I can familiarize myself. Before a concert, I do that with the parts of a piece I have trouble with,” said Paula Heredia, junior.
While some feel nervous tension, others feel excited about the event. Upperclassman may feel nostalgia as they perform at the Gedatsu for the last time.
“I’ve been in the orchestra for four years now, and each year I have participated in this event. I’m going to miss performing for our high school when I go off to college,” Nicholas Tisuthiwongse, senior.
The Gedatsu Lunar Festival will include various games, food booths, raffles, a Farmers Market and other entertainment. The festival will continue from Oct. 6 to Oct. 7.