Herricks High School Chamber Orchestra recently placed second at the 2023 ASTA National Orchestra Festival held in Orlando, FL. Under the direction of Herricks Orchestra teacher Catherine Birke, the orchestra performed a rigorous program for three esteemed adjudicators in the orchestral field.
The repertoire included works by Mendelssohn, Mahler, Shostakovich, and the world premiere of the string orchestra version of a piece composed by Indian American composer, Reena Esmail. The ensemble earned the highest ranking of “Outstanding” as well as national recognition for their second-place finish.
The students started rehearsing for this competition in August, coming in before school started, staying late after school many days, and devoting an enormous amount of time and emotional energy to crafting a nuanced and passionate performance.
“I am so proud to call these students mine and so proud that we could represent Herricks and this incredible community in Orlando,” said Birke. She continued, “The Chamber Orchestra gave the performance of a lifetime, and it feels amazing to come off stage and not want to change a thing. We learned a lot and had an amazing time together. I will cherish my memories of this trip for the rest of my life, and I know the students will too.”
Following the competition performance, the students enjoyed some well-earned time at Universal Studios in Orlando and participated in other events as part of the ASTA conference.
