The auditorium was dimly lit as people shuffled around in groups, searching for open seats. I make my way through the crowds of people standing by the doors, talking and laughing loudly as they catch up with old friends and family. The sound of jazz drifts through the open space produced by the small ensemble standing at the edge of the stage. I hear the squeaking of chairs as people take their seats, the ruffling of jackets and plastic wrappers around flower bouquets. As the house lights dim and the stage lights brighten, the crowd noise suddenly falls quiet. The sights and sounds halt as the Pennridge High School Winter Band and Orchestra Concert is about to begin.

The winter concert is a beloved annual event in the community. However, this year the band and orchestra directors had a plan for a new and creative twist that differed from a traditional concert style. There was a murmur of confusion and wonder as audience members noticed the wall of curtain lights that were turned off, dangling from a pole towards the back of the stage the band director approached the microphone to explain the inspiration for this year’s concert theme.

Synesthesia is the phenomenon in which a person experiences one sense through another. For example, some people might see a color when they hear a specific word. Kevin Feher, the high school band director, explains that this year’s winter concert was inspired by Synesthesia, specifically the ability to hear music and see a color. As the entirety of the band and orchestra ensembles filled the stage, all of the lights in the auditorium completely darkened. I heard shifting and clicking sounds coming from the stage as performers began turning the music stand lights on to be able to read the sheets in front of them. As the first full ensemble song began, the curtain lights strung behind the stage shone a bright yellow-white color that illuminated the auditorium. I heard the wonder-filled gasps from audience members around me. The sound filled the auditorium, resonating through the air as the colored lights began to move with the music. PHS has never really had a consistent theme for the band and orchestra concerts, Feher tries to explain. The directors put in time and effort to thoroughly research the topic. “We looked up color emotion wheels and looked to see where the songs we picked lined up on the color wheel”, he states. “We’ve been finding different creative ways to make music since Covid”, says Jennifer DiVasto, the high school orchestra director. She believes that using these new, innovative themes are a great way to show how we see things in different ways.

Throughout the concert, each song had a different corresponding color that matched well with each vibe. My friends and I watched intently and whispered excitedly, competing to see who would predict the next color correctly. “This concert was one of the best performances I have ever seen in my four years here”, says Justin Lizana, a current Pennridge senior who participates in various music groups such as the marching band and jazz ensemble. He expresses that although the lights did add aesthetic appeal, the musical performance by the students was the ultimate cause for the concert’s success. The directors enjoyed experimenting with this new and different theme of Synesthesia, but both admit they are not likely to replicate the same theme in the future. “Concerts aren’t about individuals, they’re about groups as a whole”, DiVasto states. “It’s really great to see it all come together, whether it’s with or without lights”, she says happily, proud of the passionate group of students who put on a fantastic performance this year. Overall, both directors agree that the annual winter concert was successful and highly memorable. “Yes it was definitely successful”, agrees the audience member Lizana. “…I would’ve liked some refreshments though”, he added jokingly. Perhaps that is the next big innovation the performing arts directors can work with in the future!