CIS Music | Northern Lights Orchestra Concert: Listening to the Melodies of Growth
This Thursday afternoon, the CIS campus was illuminated by 17 stunning musical performances from the "Northern Lights" Orchestra ensemble.
Northern Lights Orchestra Introduction
2024, CIS officially established the “Northern Lights Orchestra,” which has always been regarded as a key ASA program. This year, we have once again upgraded our arts education plan — all students can now receive systematic orchestral training free of charge, ensuring that they master at least one musical instrument during their time at school.
From ensembles to solos, from rich harmonies to restrained melodic lines, this end-of-semester concert was like a growth journey carefully documented through music.
The Overture,
The First Note Plays
The concert officially kicked off with the Wind Band B performing Lightly Row and Jolly Old St.Nicholas As the first note sounded, different instruments joined in under the conductor's guidance, bringing the music from the practice room to the stage.
The Saxophone Ensemble B followed with Jingle Bells , continuing the festive spirit.
The warm and layered tones of the saxophones felt even fuller as the multi-voice parts intertwined, allowing the audience to experience the unique balance and flow of ensemble music.
Trios and Quartets,
Interwoven Voices
Trios and quartets each have their unique charm, presenting a delicate and intimate musical space where every voice is clearly heard, and the performers’ tacit understanding is perfectly expressed through their music.
G6 Connie, Paris, and G9 Freya performed a Flute Trio of Love Story , unfolding in smooth and restrained melodies. Their eye contact and breath coordination allowed the music to feel like a quiet, continuous narrative.
G1B Ogen, G2 Fairy, and Orville performed a Percussion Trio of We Will Rock You , showcasing another form of tight, powerful collaboration through clear rhythmic structures and highly synchronized performance.
G2 Jesper, QiuQiu, Tiger, and G4 Milly’s Violin Quartet played We Wish You a Merry Christmas , delivering a warm and familiar melody.
G5 Alice and G6 Cheatsy, performed a Cello Duet of Ode to Joy , with deep, rich tones reflecting the work's depth and complexity.
G3 James and G5 Marcia’s flute duet of The Beautiful Girl had the two flutes responding to each other in the melody, creating a musical conversation that flowed naturally.
Solo Performances,
A Solo Expression
of Musicality
When a student takes the stage alone with their instrument, holding up the space with their solo performance, it’s not only a display of courage but also the most direct and authentic expression of music.
G2 Klaus played Minuet , presenting the clear structure of a classical piece.
G5 Diven's Castle in the Sky evoked familiar and dreamy imagery.
G7.1 Amy's Bird’s Poem created the image of flight with delicate yet powerful tones.
G9 Vincent’s A Field of Flowers painted a colorful picture with its melody.
G8 Jerry’s Recorder Solo of Millbrook Stream sketched the lively flow of a stream in just one minute.
G8 Rayne's Trombone Solo of Luo Meng Lake used the deep tones of the bass brass to evoke a mountainous landscape.
G5 Mia’s Snare Drum Solo of Old Dog Bru had a clear and powerful rhythm.
G10 Yasmine’s Glockenspiel Solo of Flower Day added a bright and sparkling color to the entire performance.
Each soloist completed their stage expression in their own unique way.
A Little Star,
The Echo Lingers
After the Show
The concert concluded with the string ensemble performing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, bringing a gentle and expressive end to the concert. The familiar melody, reinterpreted through strings, became even more evocative.
This end-of-semester concert documented the sound journey of students over the entire semester. CIS remains committed to deeply cultivating artistic literacy, Academic Excellence and Caring Community in music through an education that balances academic excellence with individualized care.
A heartfelt thanks to all the students and music teacher Mr. V for their dedicated contributions, leaving a clear and warm echo of this semester’s melodies in the CIS campus.
It’s also worth mentioning that G2 student Sun Shengxuan (QiuQiu) recently participated in the 16th Hong Kong International Violin Competition, Foshan regional qualifier, and performed Great Beginnings , showcasing the results of continuous learning and professional training on a broader stage.
We look forward to more CIS students deepening their artistic literacy and broadening their horizons in the coming semester, continuing to transcend themselves with diverse expressions and reach new heights.