With six large musical events crammed into 7 days, this week is referred to as the “Music Madness Week”.

Instrumental Solo and Ensemble

The week started with the annual Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Festival, which took place Saturday, February 28. Both High School and Middle School students traveled to CAJ in the morning to perform for adjudicators, who awarded them with  gold, silver, bronze or participant rankings. The students not only prepared solo pieces to perform, but also gathered as small ensembles and worked to polish trios and quartets.

Honor Choir Clinic

On Tuesday, March 3, seven students from ISSH will travel to St. Mary’s to work with their guest clinician Dr. Rodney Eichenberger. Rodney Eichenberger is the former teacher of Mr. Stenson (choral conductor at St.Mary’s), and is a widely known choral director. India (12), Jessica (11), Darya (10), Olga (12), Alice (11), Anjana (11) and Maya (12) are excited to work on seven pieces with him that they will perform later in the week. Dr. Eichenberger will also come to ISSH on Wednesday, March 4, to work with the High School Choir and Vocal Ensemble.

Honor Orchestra/Band Clinic

The honor orchestra and band members will be traveling to Yokota on Wednesday, March 4 to work with their conductors towards a wonderful night of music later in the week. A total of 12 ISSH students, the highest number of students ever accepted into the Kanto Plain Honor Orchestra and Honor Band, will be participating in this event. A big congratulations to Sakurako (6), Honoka (7), Ayana (8), Riko (8), Lyla (8), Mia (9), Scarlett (9), Kana (10), Erika (10), Moeka (11), Saya (11), Utako (12) and Olga (12) for being accepted into these outstanding groups of musicians!

Choral Festival

On Thursday, March 5, 600 students from across the Kanto Plain will gather together in Marian Hall to share music with each other. Originally, this event was supposed to be held in Yokota, but due to some difficulties in scheduling, the event was relocated to ISSH. Ms. Ofstedal, along with several student helpers, have been working to make this event run smoothly. The High School Choir will start the concert at 12:30 p.m. with two songs, “The Storm is Passing Over” and “Tundra”, and the Vocal Ensemble will follow with “Hoj, Hura, Hoj” and “Las Amarilas”.

Honor Orchestra/Band Concert

The Honor Orchestra/Band Concert will take place on Friday, March 6 at ASIJ. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. The concert starts with a performance by the String Orchestra, followed by a full orchestra performance. The Honor Band will close the night.

Honor Choir Concert

This year’s Honor Choir Concert will close the “Music Madness Week”. It will be held at Marian Hall (ISSH) on Saturday, March 7. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. Members of  Vocal Ensembles from each school will perform several pieces, and the Kanto Plain Honor Choir will close the concert.

It will be a night of beautiful music, so we hope to see all of you there, supporting the singers!