Let’s Hear it For the Orchestra

While Palos Verdes High School’s talented actors are performing on stage, a whole other group of talented performers  works hard to make the show magical.  

For this year’s spring musical, Footloose, the orchestra is comprised of eight musicians. The orchestra members have to audition with fellow classmates hoping to be selected.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and occasional Fridays the student musicians meet up after school, working long and hard hours on the Footloose score.

Shellie Parkinson, the conductor of the orchestra and the music teacher at PVHS, explains that they meet two to three times a week, and each day they rehearse for at least three hours. As the show gets closer, they practice while having dress rehearsals for six hours a day.

Finally, tech week is the last rehearsal week before the show and consists of seven hour days after school, everyday, until opening night.

Our hard working orchestra does not waste a second in rehearsals, perfecting each note to support the actors and to please the audience.

Paige Foster, a sophomore at PVHS, plays the flute and various percussion parts in the orchestra. This will be her third musical at PVHS.

“I love the orchestra pit because it provides me with a challenging repertoire to learn from and I get to support the hardworking drama department. Performing provides me with many opportunities to learn about professional orchestra pit jobs as well as working together in smaller music groups,” Foster said.

William Nicholson, a junior at PVHS, plays the drum set in the orchestra. This will be his third return to the stage. William shares how special the stage design is for the orchestra.

“Typically we are backstage or in the green room but it’s nice to be on stage because you feel more immersed in the show. It all seems more real,” he said. “The voices, the applause; it’s great to be such a big part of the show … It is truly a magical feeling.”

Footloose opens on April 12th.The performances are as follows: April 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th at 7:00, April 18th at 3:30, and April 14th and 20th at 2:00. Check pvhsdrama.com for more information!