Just before spring break, the University High School Music Department brought the community together for its annual Spring Concert in Andrews Hall. Performances by the string orchestra, percussion ensemble, modern band, choir, and wind ensemble highlighted both musical growth and a strong sense of connection across the program.
This year’s repertoire reflected a wide emotional range. From protest music to moments of joy and resolution, the program invited the audience to engage with music that mirrors the complexity of the world students are navigating.
The instrumental program, led by Daniel Knox, explored that range through pieces like Finlandia, Perpetuoso, and A Million Dreams. These selections moved from tension and resistance to hope and possibility, asking students to engage not just with the notes on the page, but with the ideas behind them. Knox noted that preparing for the concert required both discipline and vulnerability, and that the students rose to that challenge throughout the semester.
That sense of connection was visible throughout the evening. “My favorite part of the concert was hearing the students cheer for each other,” Knox shared. “The way they genuinely care for one another was a beautiful reflection of our core values.”
The modern band brought energy and audience connection to the stage with songs like Teenage Dirtbag and American Idiot. Choir and Modern Band Director Kirkland Austin shared that one of his favorite moments came during Teenage Dirtbag, when faculty photos from their own high school years appeared on screen. “It was amazing to hear the audience reaction…the cheers were incredible!”
Austin also used the concert as an opportunity for students to explore issues that matter to them. Inspired by the school’s yearlong theme “Living the Questions” and the song Keep Marching from the musical Suffs, choir students worked in groups to identify causes they care about and share them with the audience. The project culminated in a performance that encouraged the community to keep moving forward and use their voices for good.
That sense of community extended beyond the stage. One faculty member shared that what stood out most was not just the performance, but “the sense of truly belonging to something special,” noting how students were fully engaged and all in for each other.
Across ensembles, the concert reflected not only musical growth but a shared sense of purpose. Students are not just part of individual groups, but part of something larger, a community where they support one another and take pride in what they are creating together.
