NC high school orchestra gets back together — virtually — and the spring concert goes on
Millbrook High School’s Orchestra couldn’t perform its spring concert in person this week. So it did the next best thing and took it online.
Will Jung, Millbrook’s orchestra program director, conducted a virtual performance of the musical piece “Faraway Promise” accompanied by 11 of his students. Jung said the YouTube video he posted this week is the closest thing to a substitute they could put together for the Wednesday spring concert canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I wanted to create something for the kids and their parents since the best thing to do is to make something positive out of this instead of moaning,” Jung said in an interview Thursday.
All North Carolina public schools have been closed since mid-March due to COVID-19, canceling many of the spring performances that would have been held at schools. Trips to music festivals and other performances were also canceled.
Raleigh students to perform in virtual cabaret
The Wake County school system is honoring these talented students by posting on social media video clips and photos using the #WCPSSOnWithTheShow hashtag, The News & Observer previously reported.
One of the events Wake is promoting is a virtual cabaret that students at Enloe and Millbrook high schools will perform in at 9 p.m. Friday with Broadway stars Laurel Harris and Rob Marnell. The couple also graduated from those two Raleigh high schools.
Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/3953895121294017/ for more information.
Schools have switched to using remote learning while the buildings are closed for in-person instruction.
Jung has continued teaching his orchestra students online. Since the spring concert would have taken place this week, he asked his students if they’d be interested in recording a piece to mark the event.
The students enthusiastically said yes, Jung said, so he had them individually record their performances. He synced them up together for the video.
“I just feel grateful that they took the time to do something they didn’t have to do — this little project with me,” Jung said.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
