Back in September, when the show was months away and my free periods consisted of rehearsing my part, the excitement for the production was just as acute as it was at the performance itself, with almost two hundred auditioning, all in anticipation over what part they would get, and as the orchestra took its first look at the score with which it would become so familiar in the ensuing five months.

The amount of rehearsals only increased as time went on; the idea of free time became more and more distant as rehearsals crept into weekends and almost every day at lunch time and after school, but the resilience and determination of both the students and the staff shows just how important the show is to us and the school as a whole. Besides, while the work was tough, the outcome and the fun that was had made all the effort worthwhile.

“Being immersed in the orchestra was one of the best experiences. Having the opportunity to play in the production is the best part of the year and it’s an experience I look forward to every year and won’t ever forget a single moment.”

Jamie Fonseca – Saxophonist and Student Ambassador

 

Even if the amount of work I have written of seems like a lot, it never became tedious. Orchestra was the part of my day that I would look forward to, and the performances and experiences which we all shared will be some of the strongest memories we will keep from our times at the school.

There are few greater feelings of satisfaction than knowing that a great amount of hard work has resulted in something that you can be proud of, and the production is a brilliant example of that. The enjoyment there is to be had throughout the entire rehearsal period and the quality of the show itself meant that Beauty and the Beast was deserving of everything that the students and teachers gave and sacrificed for it, and all I can say is that I will miss it now that I’m in my final year at the school.

By Joseph Raftery