With the Orchestra UIL competition steadily approaching on February 26, 27 and March 4, the Emerson High School Orchestra has been diligently preparing both as a group during rehearsals and on their own to hone in on the challenges each piece presents.

Symphonia Orchestra member sophomore Bhavya Kallam talks about the journey to UIL and how she has been preparing.

“Every day in class we work on sections of our pieces that we struggle with, repeating it many times until we get it right,” Kallam said. “We also focus on each section’s struggle areas, making sure to give each other feedback on what to improve on. Outside of class, many of the violins meet up to work on their parts since most of the time they have the melody.”

Each Orchestra student holds the responsibility of practicing their music outside of school.

“Since Ms. Mour entered the Chamber orchestra into the varsity UIL category this year, our music has definitely been more challenging compared to previous years so I have been needing to work on the pieces with my private lesson teacher,” Chamber Orchestra member junior Vaanadhi Sathiyamoorthy said. 

Orchestra Director Sanda Mour explains some of the challenges the orchestras have faced while preparing for UIL.

“Our orchestra boasts individually talented musicians who excel in their craft,” Mour said. “Yet, the real endeavor lies in seamlessly blending our distinct abilities to cultivate a distinctive ensemble sound for each orchestra. This challenge has been at the forefront of our efforts as we navigate the intricate dynamics of relying on and showing up for each other.”

Overall, students are excited for the ability to showcase their talents in front of a panel of highly accomplished musicians.

“Our orchestra has been working its hardest to put up our best performance at UIL,” Kallam said. “We are really excited to perform and show the judges and our families what we have been working on for so long.”