Moments That Moved Us: Highlights from the Spring Conservatory Concerts

Each spring, the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory concerts offer a chance to measure how much Merit School of Music’s young musicians have grown throughout the course of the academic year. After months of rehearsals, lessons, and countless moments of quiet determination, the students step forward to not only showcase what they have learned, but also who they are becoming—both as musicians and as people.

This year’s concerts on April 10 and 11 unfolded across more than ten hours of music, joy, and heartfelt artistry on the stage. Below are a few glimpses that captured the spirit of the weekend and reminded our community of the enduring value of musical expression.

A Breakthrough Jazz Solo Lit Up the Stage

The Concert Jazz Band, led by Jimmy Farace, gave an electrifying performance to kick off the Joseph B. Glossberg Jazz Program Concert. While Concert Jazz Band is considered our entry-level jazz ensemble for newer players, the gap between this group and our top Merit Jazz Ensemble has closed considerably. Many of the entry-level students demonstrate incredible growth and are on pace to advance next year.

Watching several first‑year students step into the spotlight for solos was nothing short of remarkable. These same students who walked into Conservatory full of nerves and first‑day jitters only a few months ago poured their hearts into energetic solo performances at the concert, standing tall, moving with the music, and owning the stage with a confidence that felt entirely new. Seeing them transform so quickly, growing not just in skill but in presence, was astounding and inspiring.

Clarinet Ensemble Shines with Skill, Passion, and 31 Years of Dedication

The early-morning Instrumental Ensembles Concert is a joyous way to kick off a full day of Saturday concerts. Nine different ensembles, from the Sticks and Stones percussion quartet to the powerful Trombone Choir, offered an incredible range of musically diverse performances. The Clarinet Ensemble was a particular highlight this year. Led by Dr. Bonnie Campbell, this 20-piece group featured three alums alongside our current students. Dr. Campbell shared that the six graduating seniors of the group had studied at Merit for a combined 31 years! The ensemble played a delightful piece entitled “Little Suite” by Japanese composer Toshinari Iijima that showcased the versatility of the ensemble. Throughout the piece, the group played with spectacular sensitivity and musicality.

Choirs and Jazz Combo Team Up for a Joyful Collaboration

Under the guidance of Evan Bruno, the Conservatory’s choral program continues to flourish and grow. The Select Treble and Chamber Choirs each sounded well-balanced, polished, and beautiful. At the end of the concert the two choirs combined to fill Gottlieb Hall with an all-encompassing and rich sound. The choirs showed off the varied skills they are learning in the program – singing with accompaniment as well as a cappella, with a conductor and on their own, in English and in other languages. Select Treble’s set of unaccompanied, unconducted madrigals was particularly impressive. The jazz standard “Beyond the Sea” by Charles Trenet was a showstopper. In a fun interdisciplinary collaboration, Jazz Combo B, led by Aaron McEvers, provided the accompaniment for Select Treble’s vocal performance. It was a great experience for all the students involved working with musicians outside their department, sharing a joyous moment of learning invaluable collaborative skills.

A Powerful Wind Symphony Tribute

The Band Concert ended with the Wind Symphony, under the direction of Scott Casagrande. From the first note they played to the last, this ensemble played with a polished, sophisticated sound that inspired their audience members and peers alike.

They closed the concert with a piece entitled “Of Our New Day Begun” by Omar Thomas. Mr. Casagrande set the stage by sharing the composer’s intent behind the music, written to honor the nine victims who lost their lives in the 2015 attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. What followed was an incredibly moving performance that resonated profoundly with the audience.

The students performed with reverence and maturity beyond their years. Throughout the course of the ten-minute piece, the music expressed the varied emotions and reactions provoked by this violent act of hatred.

The piece served as a cry of anguish for the lives lost, an anthem of righteous fury at the racism that fueled the attack, a song of healing and grace for the survivors, and a slow but determined march toward equality.

The audience sat in somber silence for a full ten seconds after the last notes rang through the air before bursting into applause. As they rose in a standing ovation, many had tears streaming down their faces. This cathartic moment was a powerful reminder of all that music can do: to grieve, to rage, to soothe, to empower, and to promote justice.

The 2026 Spring Conservatory Concerts reminded all of us why music education matters so deeply. Across every ensemble, students showed not only technical growth, but courage, curiosity, and a willingness to express themselves through their art. From joyful early‑morning performances to emotionally charged final notes, our young musicians demonstrated the power of hard work and the transformative impact of a supportive artistic community. At Merit School of Music, we’re honored to help students discover what they’re capable of. Weekends like this make it clear that their potential is limitless. Stay tuned to see the full videos of all the concerts over the weekend, coming soon!

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