On Jan. 15th, Lexington High School held the final round of the Haas Memorial Concerto Competition. The competition was created by Mx. Rachel Jayson, who dedicated this event to honoring the memory of former LHS orchestra teacher Janet Haas.
LHS students submitted applications along with a three-minute video excerpt of their chosen concerto piece to enter the preliminary round of the competition. Those selected to proceed to the final round performed live in the auditorium with an accompanist to determine the winner who earned the opportunity to perform with the LHS Chamber Orchestra.
Frances Dunn, a junior and finalist in the 2026 Haas Memorial Concerto Competition, reflected on her experience.
“It’s been pretty exciting. I haven’t gotten to perform [live] yet this year, but last year, it was a lot of fun to perform on stage, and it was really helpful to get a lot of feedback from the judges,” Dunn said.
Going into this contest, many participants, like Michelle Li, another junior and 2026 finalist, have had many years of experience playing their respective instruments.
“I’ve been playing piano for eleven years, but I didn’t really take it seriously until a few years ago, to be honest. When I moved here and joined NEC [New England Conservatory] Prep, I did recitals very frequently, but I haven’t competed in a few years. I’m excited to get back into it,” Li said.
Additionally, Li noted that the event provided an opportunity for her to learn and grow as a musician.
“I learned how to work together with other parts. I can’t just listen to my solo part, as you would in solo piano, because you have to combine with other accompaniments, like a pianist or an orchestra. I’ve really learned to use my ear since everyone has to work together in a group,” Li said.
Many students have cited that this competition encourages them to participate in more competitions in the future.
“I definitely would do something like this again. I really enjoy being able to play solo pieces with my great pianist who I play with, and to perform and get feedback is really nice,” Dunn said.
For those who would like to participate in musical competitions as well, Li encourages students to give it a try.
“I think it’s a really good idea to put yourself out there. I remember when I was younger, I hated competing so much because I thought it was scary. I thought I would just make mistakes, but everyone’s cheering you on, and it’s a good experience to let you enjoy the beauty of music,” Li said.
