For many high school musicians, performing a concerto with a live orchestra is a highly coveted yet distant dream. At South High, however, this dream becomes reality through the annual Senior Instrumental Concerto Night, taking place this year on May 27 at 7 PM. Nestled between Spring Concert I and II, this event is one of South High’s most unique and rewarding musical traditions. But what makes this concert so special, especially when there are many other musical events throughout the year?
A concerto is unlike many other pieces of music. It is usually composed for a solo instrument (just one!) accompanied by an orchestra or larger ensemble. A concerto places the soloist front and center on the stage, with the orchestra as a collaborator and musical backdrop. Even more, the soloist typically performs the concerto entirely from memory. Unlike standard orchestral or band pieces, where all the instruments blend into a collective sound, a concerto highlights a single instrument’s unique character and expressive power. It is a rare opportunity, even for professional musicians, let alone high school students.
This rarity is not without reason. Learning a concerto is challenging, especially for a high school orchestra, and South High’s symphony orchestra (which includes members from both the chamber strings and wind ensemble) performs upwards of five concertos each year. “We’ve been doing Concerto Night since I became the department head in 1997,” said Mr. Michael Schwartz. “Each year we have a different number of students performing different concertos. It’s a great opportunity for our most advanced students.”
“However, the rehearsal process is chaotic with the Spring Concerts, the opera, the Memorial Day Parade, and Concerto Night all happening in such a short span of time,” Mr. Schwartz added. “I always give seniors the autonomy to choose their piece, but I remind them that we’re not the New York Philharmonic. We don’t have months to prepare. We have to think carefully about what we can realistically put together in the short time we have.”
For the seniors involved, this performance marks the culmination of years of musical experience and effort. “Throughout high school, so much of your music education is being in the orchestra and being in an ensemble,” said alum Victoria Lin (Class of ‘24). “So, getting that moment to actually play by yourself and be in the spotlight, and pushing yourself at the end of senior year to really perfect your piece, is quite special.”
“It’s the end of senior year—musicians don’t have to do it, but after choosing to perform in Concerto Night, you realize how rare the opportunity really is,” agreed alum Maggie Wu (Class of ‘24). “Those who perform are not doing music for external validation, but rather because they really like it. And even if the performance doesn’t go perfectly, it’s fine, because you’ll think about where you started and all the practicing you did and know that you definitely learned a lot.”
Concerto Night is unique in that it allows the audience to appreciate individual instruments and senior instrumentalists in a way that isn’t as apparent in a full ensemble setting. “Concerto Night gives you something to look forward to, as it makes you feel valued as an individual,” said senior Dylan Kim. “An orchestra is inherently one body, and a lot of the time you blend into that identity of just the orchestra. But this opportunity allows you to let your own music speak for itself, and be celebrated as an individual musician, probably for the first time in your high school music career.”
Seniors are also able to choose their own piece. “I’m pretty expressive with my playing, and I like how my piece brings that out,” Kim commented. “I also like how there’s a lot of range in my piece, so I get to show off all the skills that I’ve been developing in my career.”
Whether or not seniors continue to pursue or play music in college, Concerto Night is an experience that influences them as individuals. “In this performance, I feel like I have the freedom to create my own interpretation, and I’ll get to focus on simply making music,” said senior Erin Wong. “Playing with an orchestra is a huge milestone for any musician, and it provides passionate seniors with one last opportunity to perform solo in front of their friends and family before perhaps never getting another chance quite like it as they go to college.”
South High has maintained this tradition for over 30 years, despite the significant effort required to prepare multiple concertos in the middle of an already busy concert season. “Concerto Night has always been my philosophy to inspire all of our students, especially the advanced ones, by giving them an opportunity to stretch themselves musically and showcase their talent,” said Mr. Schwartz. “It’s a highlight of their high school musical career and a great way for them to finish out their time at South High.”
Seniors Performing at Concerto Night 2025:
Ruiqi Liu, Flute
Mozart Flute Concerto in G Major
Allegro maestoso
Selena Lu, Piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3 in C Minor, Op. 37,
Allegro con brio
Erin Wong, Cello
Sinfonia concertante, Serge Prokofieff
III Movt. Andante con moto
Hugh Choi, Flute
Quantz Flute Concerto in G Major
Allegro
Dylan Kim, Violin
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Camille Saint Saens
Andante
Sarah Sun, Alto Saxophone
Glazunov Concerto in Eb Major
Allegro Moderato
