Every year, the fall music concert brings people together to celebrate the musicians of the LWHS community. This year’s concert, “Taking Flight,” plays on the main stage of Lick’s Ehrer Theater on Friday, November 18. Tickets are $5.00 online or at the door.
This year’s concert showcases a diverse range of musical talents, and includes all aspects of Lick’s music program: Chamber Orchestra, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Voice 1, Big Band, and Advanced Combo. Impresarios Martha Stoddard and Tony Asaro have masterminded the evening, Asaro as choral director and Stoddard as director of the orchestra, big band and combo classes.
The concert marks Asaro’s first concert at Lick. He replaces former choral director, William Sauerland. Stoddard says of Asaro, “He’s new and has fresh ideas. He is very energetic and passionate. He is very engaged and clearly excited to be here; we are thrilled he is part of the program.” Asaro adds, “I feel like a lot of the student body doesn’t really know who I am yet, so I am eager to do this concert and get in front of more people.” He notes that “The community, specifically the performing arts team, has been very welcoming, and has been eager to have me jump in the way that I want to jump in. I am very excited to show off what we have done and I’m very proud of the kids for how much they’ve tackled in such a short amount of time.”
Henry Stiepleman ’19, a saxophonist in the advanced combo class, notes, “All the songs are really great songs. We do combo songs and full group songs. It’s fun to share something I enjoy so much with other people.” Arjun Shah ‘17, who has played the tabla for six years, is in his third year as a member of the advanced combo. Shah says, “Looking back, I’ve definitely gotten more used to performing on stage. I basically know what is happening now, with setup and everything, and I don’t get as nervous anymore.” As a senior, this music concert presents itself differently for Shah. “There are a lot of kids new to combo this year, and I feel like I have I have taken on some leadership roles, especially with the rhythm section.” This concert will be Shah’s second to last; he admits that, “My last concert, the spring concert is definitely going to be hard. The Lick music program has helped me expand my boundaries and do things I didn’t think that I could do. I consider the music program a home.”
Stoddard and Asaro decided to call the fall concert “Taking Flight” for two reasons. First, Stoddard says, because it is Asaro’s first year here and he is metaphorically launching and ‘taking flight’ in our community. Moreover, the title “Taking Flight” is inspired by Asaro’s theme of birds. Asaro says, “I like to program around themes. So all of the music I picked for the choir classes this time is about birds.”
The musicians of Lick-Wilmerding heartily invite all of you to join them in concert Friday night.
