Students from the Manhattan High Orchestra and Band performed in the North-Central Kansas Honor Orchestra last Saturday. Manhattan students represented 26 out of 49 members in the honor orchestra and 11 out of 65 members in band.

The orchestra performed various pieces, including “Waltz” by Khachaturian, “Oblivion” by Piazzolla, A John Williams Trilogy, which includes “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park” and “Indiana Jones” and “Prelude from the Holberg Suite” by Grieg.

Senior Jenna Keeley was also featured as a solo violinist in two of the pieces.

Many of the students selected have been part of the District orchestra before, with some seniors being part of it all four years.

“It’s an honor to be selected for District,” junior Julius Neumann, violin, said.

Throughout the years, including during the pandemic, the organization has maintained being in the District orchestra and the All-State Orchestra program. 

“Coming off last year was a little tricky because of COVID,” senior Ava Bahr, viola, said. “But we had [the concert] in person at our high school and I think it was all well organized.”

Band also came back after last year, with some students returning as well to join the ensemble, even in a new instrument.

“I haven’t played piccolo very long,” senior Grace Higgins said, “So I was really excited to get on piccolo in the ensemble.”

The orchestra also had Kansas Wesleyan Cello professor Edward Laut come to help the orchestra prepare.

“He was really into getting [us to be] the best we could and because of that I feel like, overall they’re doing really well,” senior Gabriel Katzenmeier, cello, said.

With chamber expected to audition for the district, it prepared them for All-State auditions on Jan. 8

“It’s a good opportunity to work towards. It’s a good goal to have,” Keeley said. “I’m just trying to put the work into preparing the excerpts well and letting this happen.”