Heights High’s instrumental music concert set for Feb. 14

Heights High Symphony performs during its fall concert at Heights High. Photo courtesy Lifetouch.

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Heights High’s instrumental music department (IMD) will present its midwinter concert on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s Dina Rees Evans Performing Arts Center. The evening features the Symphony and Symphonic Winds, the school’s top performance groups.

Several chamber ensembles will perform in the Social Room at 6:30 p.m., prior to the concert, and two jazz ensembles will perform during the post-concert reception. Tickets will be available at the door the day of the show.

Daniel Heim, IMD director, will conduct the orchestra in the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C Major and selections from Sergei Prokofiev's “Romeo and Juliet,” and Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1."

Under the direction of IMD director Brett Baker, the Symphonic Winds will perform two works inspired by traditional folk music and a third work—a very modern piece. The American westward push is the inspiration for “Jubilate,” three variations on the melody “Prospect” by James Curnow. Percy Alldridge Grainger’s “Tune from County Derry” is a variation on the Irish folk tune “Danny Boy.” In contrast, David Holsinger’s “Prelude and Rondo” sounds very modern with its frequent shifts in time signature.

Early attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of works by the chamber ensembles performing in the Social Room. These groups, ranging in size from two to six musicians, select their own repertoire and work with professional musicians during the school year.

Heights High’s instrumental music program is considered one of the premier programs in the state. Founded in the 1920s, the program has benefitted from extraordinary music directors and a supportive community and school board.

The school’s concert orchestra serves as the training ensemble for string musicians aspiring to join the Symphony, and the concert band serves as training for Symphonic Winds. With the exception of string players, all musicians are required to participate in marching band, a for-credit program that rehearses outside regular school hours and performs at football games. The pit orchestra, which plays for the annual musical, provides another performance opportunity for student musicians. Advanced students take AP music theory.

Every year several Heights students are invited to join the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, Camarata and other performance groups.