The Elizabethtown College-Community Orchestra performed their fall concert on Sunday, Nov. 14 at Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. The group is directed by Dr. Hayden Denesha.

The orchestra is one of several music ensembles on campus. The group sets itself apart through the instruments included, unique literature picked and participation of community members.

“All of our music ensembles on campus are tremendously wonderful in both a high standard of artistic excellence as well as the culture they create,” Denesha said.

The audience was blown away by the incredible performance, and it was the result of tedious and intentional preparation.

“We have rehearsals twice a week, but it takes individual preparation as well,” sophomore string bass player Christian Gingrich said. “The rehearsals are crucial to make sure everyone can play together as a group.”

Denesha emphasized the importance of students’ individual practice.

“You can’t measure an orchestra’s level of time commitment based solely on what you do in the classroom or the rehearsal hall,” he said. “It’s also the countless hours of dedicated practice our musicians put in.”

Those countless hours paid off in an incredible showcase of the orchestra’s musical talent. Five pieces were executed extremely well, with audience applause filling the performance hall after each one came to an end. Some audience members were even heard in shock, saying “wow” after each piece was completed.

The final piece with which the concert ended  was Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, or “Reformation.” Denesha dedicated the performance to the late Otis D. Kitchen, who was a professor of music at Etown from 1965-1996.

“I thought it was really beautifully done,” junior Lizvette Pappaterra said when asked about the concert. “I really enjoyed the pieces, especially the ‘Sound of Music’ one.”

Even with masks on, it was clear that the members of the orchestra were feeling very pleased and proud of themselves at the completion of the concert. They truly seem to enjoy the process of creating beautiful music.

“Orchestra is a great way to express yourself,” Gingrich said. “It is a lot different from my other classes since I am an engineering major. It is really fun to have a unique class in my schedule.”

Overall, the concert was a success. The practice and preparation paid off, and the love for music was clear through the entire show.

“We have progressed a lot as a group and are taking on some challenging repertoire,” Gingrich said. “I hope the audience will see the hard work we put in!”

Denesha expressed how proud he is of the orchestra for their dedication.

“The students have really worked hard and shown resilience this semester,” he said. “Now that things are returning back to somewhat normal, we’ve almost had to learn about what it means to be an orchestra again. The students have done that while playing incredibly challenging music. It’s been incredible and a great honor for me to witness.”

The Elizabethtown College-Community Orchestra is open to new members. Any interested students should email Denesha at deneshah@etown.edu with their level of music experience.