By Joana Jayanth
On January 14th, 2026, the Chatham High School orchestra program, consisting of Chamber Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, put on their annual winter concert. Before we move onto the details, I would like to ask our readers to congratulate the musicians on a job well done.
The Concert Orchestra’s program consisted of three pieces. The first, Legends of Valour, is a stirring and heroic piece, invoking a sense of honour, determination and sacrifice. It reminds us of classic, paragon-of-good style heroes. The second piece, Souvenir to Puerto Rico, blends Afro-Caribbean musical traditions with European romanticism, creating a percussive yet vivacious melody. The final piece was Acadian Solstice, a tribute piece to the Acadian peoples, who inhabit Louisiana and Eastern Canada today. It draws on the richness of their tradition and the perseverance of their history to create a reflective, moving piece for all to enjoy.
The Chamber Orchestra’s program consisted of two pieces— the first of which was the classic Christmas song, Sleigh Bells. It’s a little late for Christmas songs, true, but the real treat was the conductor, sixth–grade violinist Natalie Meyer. She had won the chance to conduct the high school’s Chamber Orchestra in a fundraising raffle the year prior, and charmed us all with her excellent job. The Chamber Orchestra’s second piece, the Appalachian Spring Suite, is a long, tried-and-true American piece. Composed, initially, for a ballet of the same name, this long, rambling piece tells the story of a countryside couple’s wedding day. It’s filled with high, vibrant cheer and deep, guttural uncertainty, before concluding in a calm, gracious finale.
A recording of the concert was posted on the Chatham High School’s Youtube channel, and I would highly recommend anyone to listen to it. The Chatham High School’s orchestra program is an integral part of our school’s culture, and any support shown will always come back to a sense of unity.
