Piano has been a part of Clara Craig’s (12) life since she was 4 years old. She expanded her interest in music when she joined the orchestra in sixth grade to play the cello. While the orchestra was school sanctioned, piano was an activity Craig pursued on her own throughout high school. 

“It’s kind of what you make it,” Craig said. “I study independently so I choose when I want to enter competitions or when I want to perform at recitals. Sometimes I go to nursing homes and play but that is all by choice.”

Craig was one of many that performed at Senior Solo, a concert put on by the performing arts department that featured seniors on Feb. 19. Students practiced their chosen pieces for months before playing in front of their peers. Many of the performers have played their instrument since childhood, making their senior performance feel extra meaningful.

“It meant a lot because it felt like an accumulation of so much work,” Craig said. “Getting to perform in front of everyone was so special because it’s a big part of my life but maybe not everyone knows that. It’s something that even my friends haven’t heard me play so the fact that I got to showcase this to them was really fun for me.”

Although Craig felt disappointed in her performance, she wants to let go of her self criticism and learn to look back fondly on the memory.

“It was a really great experience to get to perform in front of so many people and I’m so grateful for that,” Craig said. “So I’m trying to focus on that instead of how I played.”

Another performer from that night was Sophie Bellon (12) who played the violin piece Sonata in G minor by Henry Eccles.

“I think my solo went really well even though I was very nervous,” Bellon said. “I think the opportunity to play with an orchestra is really cool and it’s something that I haven’t gotten to do before.”

Bellon’s love for orchestra has grown and grown throughout her high school years. She has made so many friends from it and it’s a great class for her. While most classes involve sitting at a desk all day, orchestra has made a significant difference in her everyday life.

“I feel like doing school orchestra has been such a constant in my life that now that I’m not doing it anymore, it’s genuinely just crazy to me,” Bellon said.