On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Evergreen Philharmonic performed at the Longman theater, at Issaquah High School, ‘Evening at the Pops’. The night started by playing music from The Cowboys, a 1972 western action film. Director Leah Weitzsacker carried them through the night, conducting the orchestra through their performance.
The piece Married Life, from the movie “Up” was calming, energetic, and delightful, with the violins moving their bow with such an exquisite performance. The cellos, violas, and violins fill the room with the quivering of their bows, and the audience listening in awe. Next, the Orchestra played the Jurassic Park Theme Song, originally composed by John Williams, who also composed the main theme from “Star Wars”.
When talking to some of the standout musicians from the night, senior Anya Anand, a second-place winner for state, says her favorite piece to play is “Pirates of the Caribbean,” because “it is a really fun piece.”
Pirates of the Caribbean, originally composed by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer, was a piece that was as exciting and dramatic as its movie counterpart. The dramatic and vigorous movements against the cellos, trombones, and trumpets make a striking entry for the beginning of the 2003 famous movie series. Anand adds, “The concerts are honestly really fun. I get really excited before. We have been practicing a lot for every concert. We just go on with whatever happens, and it is just fun being on stage.”
The concert wrapped up with songs from the movie “Wicked”, pieces like the song Popular. This final edition had an upbeat melody, the song ending with a green confetti canon to match the wicked vibe, and an honorable ending of the Evergreen Philharmonic concert.
Director Leah Weitzsacker states that the concert was “originally scheduled in January” but having the concert earlier was not the worst idea. Even the smallest mistakes are important, blending in with the rest of the crowd with little to no audible imperfections. After the concert, students scattered around the departure of the theater, with chatter echoing the crowded exit.
Evergreen Philharmonic’s next performance will be on Feb. 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM. (Live Music Dance Event with Issaquah Jazz Band.) So, if you missed the most recent concert, make sure to keep an eye out, and stay tuned!
