Cary Students Perform in Orchestra Festival

Dr. Kevin Geraldi, associate conductor of Conducting at the University of Greensboro, led a full ensemble of students in the final performance of the ‘Can Can’ before a packed house.

Editor’s Note: This was a big week for music students in Cary. Three high school bands competed in regional competitions last weekend, and Green Hope held its annual orchestra festival last night. Photographer Dave Gill sent us this story.

Cary, NC — Just over 300 local middle and high school students participated in the annual Green Hope Orchestra Festival on Thursday, October 15, 2015.

Green Hope Orchestra Festival

Students from Apex High, Athens Drive High, Cary High, Green Hope, Davis Drive Middle, Dillard Drive Middle and West Cary Middle performed before a packed house in the Green Hope auditorium. Each school was afforded time to play a song individually.

As the finale, all the groups assembled together to perform the “Can Can.”

For the last song, Dr. Kevin Geraldi, associate professor of Conducting at the University of Greensboro, lead the large group of students that not only filled the stage but both side stages and even the middle row in the auditorium itself. It was quite a performance!

Behind the Scenes

The Dillard Drive Middle school orchestra students watch others on the closed circuit television after their performance.

Orchestra teacher William Slecha looks relieved after his West Cary Middle School students successfully performed the ‘March of Shadows’ by Brian Balmages.

Not all of the three hundred or so students playing the final piece, “Can Can,” performed under the bright lights of the crowded stage.

Filling not only the stage but the middle gallery too, an overflow ensemble of over 300 students played the final piece, “Can Can,” before a packed house.