From Dec. 16 to 20, the Lexington High School Chamber Orchestra will represent the school on an international stage. The ensemble was selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic, the world’s largest instrumental music education conference, held annually at McCormick Place West in Chicago.
The Midwest Clinic is an invitation-only event that draws thousands of musicians from across the globe, where performing groups present their work and attend clinics. For Lexington’s students, it marks one of the highest honors an orchestra can achieve, and they will be the first ensemble from Massachusetts to perform at the clinic.
Students in Chamber Orchestra have a deep commitment to their instruments, and preparing for this milestone performance has been both exciting and demanding for those involved.
“We have eleven pieces that we’re going to play for the Midwest Conference Festival,” Kyuri Lee, a senior at LHS and member of Chamber Orchestra, said. “They range from contemporary music like Kendrick by Sxip Shirey to symphonies.”
Balancing eleven different works within a limited rehearsal schedule has presented challenges for the ensemble.
“It’s just trying to manage our time well and get everything practiced well before time comes,” Lee said.
Hailey Kim, a senior at LHS and member of Chamber Orchestra, added that, with more players this year, precision has been a major focus.
“We’ve been working measure by measure, section by section, really carefully matching our sounds,” Kim said.
Many of the orchestra’s seniors have also taken on leadership roles to guide their peers through the intense preparation process.
“For the third seating arrangement, I am the concertmistress. That takes a lot more responsibility, knowing the piece, and leading more than in general. I have learned a bit more about being able to cue, being able to know what comes in the music before I play it, and having more leadership,” Lee said.
Malcolm Fox, a senior who plays the double bass, shared that several of the pieces were commissioned for the orchestra, giving the program a personal touch.
“It’s all original music. Some of them are ten years old, but a fair number of them are relatively new,” Fox explained.
Reflecting on the broader impact of their performance, Fox considered what it means not only for the group but also for the music they play.
“I want to get the word out about Chamber and who we are and what we can do because we’re really, really good. And it would be great for the composers to get their music out there and show what they can do as well. If we can get it out there, other high schools will start picking up and playing it. That could be something that we started,” Fox said.
As Chamber Orchestra prepares for this historic opportunity, students carry with them both pride and purpose. The ensemble’s dedication, leadership, and collaboration have prepared them to showcase a diverse and challenging repertoire.
“I hope we can represent Massachusetts well and just perform the way we’ve practiced,” Lee said.
