Violist and MVHS Senior Marya Romero (standing left) performs a solo with accompaniment from the MVHS Chamber Orchestra at a concert held May 23.

By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Orchestra program treated its audience to an evening of show tunes in a spring concert held Monday, May 23 in the Ron Dalley Auditorium. In the course of about ninety minutes, and under the able direction of Orchestra teacher Walter White, several ensembles covered the territory from James Bond to Indiana Jones; and from Lord of the Rings to the Wizard of Oz.

The Pirate Chamber Orchestra, consisting of a select group of 10 of the school’s best string players, began with a brief Variations on a Theme of Paganini. Senior violist Marya Romero then came forward to play an introspective arrangement of Meditation from Massenet’s opera Thais with accompaniment from the Chamber Orchestra. This heartfelt rendering of an old favorite was an early high point of the evening.

The Pirate Intermediate orchestra then took to the stage for a set of five pieces. The cello section had an opportunity to shine in the broad theme of “Into the West” from the film, Return of the King. The group then played an enthusiastic, if at times lumbering, version of the James Bond Theme. Then they ended with a lively Irish folk dance-influenced Isle of Skye.

It was an evening of musical potpourris as the various orchestras then performed lengthy collections of themes from various movies and broadway shows. The Pirate Combined Orchestra performed a production number of Disney Classics. The Pirate Advanced Orchestra covered themes from the Indiana Jones franchise.

Finally a mixed group of Advanced and Chamber Orchestras took to the stage and performed extended groupings of music from The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Wicked.

For Director, Walter White, this will be the last concert directing the MVHS Orchestra Program, where he has worked over the past three years. Next year, White will be working full time at the middle school. The MVHS Orchestra program will be taken over by Anthony Polzein, who currently directs the school’s band program.

White emphasized to students and parents attending the concert the importance of their ongoing support for the orchestra program. “The orchestra at MVHS next year will be under new management,” White said. “I urge continued support from students and the community to ensure that what we have going here does not falter.”

During the concert, White presented a number of awards to orchestra members. Among these were three key awards which went to seniors who had made significant contributions to the orchestra program.

The Director’s Choice award went to two recipients this year including Alison Hardy and Jessica Robison.

Finally, the prestigious National Orchestra Award was awarded to Marya Romero for her achievements and contributions.