The curtains opens and all you see is people looking directly at you. Being in front of thousands of people, you start getting super nervous. Everyone looking at you and all you can think about is not to mess up. Once the conductor gives the cue you start playing and everyone is playing along with their part. The anxiety eases and your passion for music starts to shine. Each note gets stronger and louder as the Cy Springs orchestra delivers a breathtaking performance.

Members Nathalia Rodriguez and Melchor Valle love being in orchestra and sharing their passion with others.

Rodriguez is in symphony orchestra and plays the violin.

“I like practicing with my classmates and being able to perform in groups,” Rodriguez said.

She joined orchestra because she wanted to experience what it was like. The main thing she likes about orchestra is that she gets to play Christmas songs. Her favorite performance this school year was for UIL ensemble because she was well prepared and had a flawless performance.

UIL is one of three to four performances for Orchestra each year. The Orchestra started off the year with a Fall concert where they were joined by the middle school orchestra that impressed the crowd. They also played Holiday classics during their Winter Concert and as part the 25^th Anniversary Holiday Showcase in December.

Rodriguez suggests playing a violin if you want to join orchestra because it is the easiest instrument, it is also small and easy to carry.

“My advice for beginners is to practice slowly with a metronome for better intonation and quality,” Rodriguez said. “The best advice I gotten was how to achieve vibrato.”

Fellow sophomore Valle plays the cello, and his goal is to play for next two years of high school and in college.

“What I love most likes most about orchestra is the thrill and excitement when you first get your music. You see lots and lots of notes and slurs and it looks too difficult to even play,” he said.

Valle favorite song he has played was Gargoyles.

Being a part of Orchestra is a family tradition with his older brother being in high school orchestra for four years and his sister being in orchestra all three years of middle school.

Valle has continued the tradition and is succeeding.

Last year he earned a medal for scoring a 1 at UIL. In preparation for big contests, he puts in extra practice leading up to big day. To keep being successful he wants to improve tone quality and his ability to read music quicker.

“My advice for fellow orchestra members is to practice when the song goes really fast to slow constantly, making sure you are getting it in the right moment,” Valle said.