Concert May 23 at Patriot High to showcase “21st Century Music for a 21st Century School”

Attendees at tonight’s 7 p.m. orchestra concert at Patriot High School in Nokesville will get to hear “21st Century Music for a 21st Century School,” and some of the music was written by local composers. According to Cheryl Seamster, Patriot’s orchestra director, “All of the music was written within the last few years.”  Several of the presentations are “brand new compositions.” she said.

There will be three selections by local composers who will all be at the concert, and three original compositions by students from the Patriot orchestra program.The orchestra director is also a composer. A cello ensemble will perform one of her compositions. Also to be performed is a pop/rock song that Seamster arranged for the entire orchestra program to play as the concert finale.

One of the pieces will have a multimedia presentation to go along with the music, made possible by a collaboration with Patriot High School’s photography class. The Patriot Singers will join for our concert finale. Also featured will be a student pianist, a student guitarist and a harpist playing along with the orchestra.  An acoustic electric guitar from Contemporary Music Center in Haymarket will be on loan to the school for the night’s concert.

The local composers are Austin Isaac, a graduate of Battlefield High School in Haymarket and James Madison University in Harrisonburg; Robert Guerrier, a Haymarket composer of music for TV/film; and Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda Baldwin, a graduate of George Mason University. and a composer of many works for flute choir and band, according to Seamster.

Student composers are MJ Huynh, a freshman; and Hannah Mardo and Jordan Onijs, both juniors.  Seamster said the students “are taking a big part in the night by announcing each of the songs, and they have been actively involved in recruiting people to attend the event. ” Professional recordings may be ordered at the concert.