Ian Gu ’26 performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor.
Claire Wang ’26 shreds Tzigane by Maurice Ravel on violin.
Claire Tong ’26 played Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Friends, faculty, and family members filled John Barry Hall on Saturday evening to support the work of three senior musicians in Andover’s annual Senior Soloist Concert. Musicians Claire Wang ’26, Ian Gu ’26, and Claire Tong ’26 auditioned for the performance opportunity back in the Fall Term. The concert marked both a celebration of their hard work and a meaningful milestone in their time at Andover as they took the stage for one of their last times before graduation.
Among the performers was cellist Gu, who opened his performance with the first two movements of Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor.
“I chose this piece because the first movement is very emotional and allows the cello to really sing. I wanted to explore my emotional range through this movement. The second movement is full of fast melodies and very virtuosic playing, and it sounded like a lot of fun to play,” said Gu.
For Gu, auditioning as a senior soloist carried particular significance. Having accompanied a senior soloist in the past, he now found himself on the other side of the experience.
“I chose to audition because in my Lower year, I played in the Academy Orchestra for a senior soloist, and I was inspired by their playing. I wanted to experience sharing my love for classical music with younger students at Andover. As a Senior, I hope my playing inspired other musicians to continue playing and to audition for senior soloists when they become Seniors,” said Gu.
Violinist Wang performed Tzigane by Maurice Ravel, a virtuosic work she has returned to for years and now considers one of her most meaningful repertoire pieces.
“When I was younger, my sister and I listened to this piece repeatedly because it was the only CD my dad had in the car. At first, I did not like it because it felt very experimental, but it gradually grew on me. When I was around thirteen, I heard another student perform it at one of my teacher’s studio recitals, and he played it so well that I immediately wanted to learn it. I asked my teacher for the piece every month until she finally agreed. It has become one of my favorite pieces to play, and I was honored to perform it at this recital,” said Wang.
Wang’s preparation was concentrated in the weeks leading up to the concert, with long practice sessions that started after school and stretched into the evening.
“Most of my preparation happened in the two weeks leading up to the performance. I practiced for long stretches after school, often starting in the afternoon and staying until final sign-in. Because I have played this piece for so long, I know it extremely well. That familiarity can be a challenge. There were moments when the piece did not feel as fresh as it once did, but I kept returning to it. I still love it, even if there are times when it feels like we argue,” said Wang.
Audience members also appreciated the variety of repertoire performed during the recital. Benjamin Ball ’29 described how Wang’s choice of repertoire brought welcome change from traditional classical styles.
“The violin solo stood out to me the most. The piece, Tzigane, was really unique in how it sounded. Claire is known for being involved in groups like Goose&Moose and for playing more pop-style music, so the piece had a less traditional classical feel, which I thought was really interesting,” said Ball.
For attendee Breanna Ren ’29, the most memorable moment of the recital came from pianist Tong, whose performance held the audience in suspense.
“All the performances were really fascinating. One that stood out to me was Claire Tong’s piano performance. During her performance, the moments of silence and pauses kept the audience on edge, as we anticipated the next note without knowing exactly when it would come. All three musicians were very expressive when playing, putting feeling and emotion into the music,” said Ren.
For Gu, the most memorable part of the recital came as he finished his performance, sharing a moment of pride and gratitude with loved ones.
“My favorite moment was right after I finished the last chord, when I got up to bow and my parents immediately handed me flowers. I took another bow and felt very proud of myself and I was very grateful for my parents and friends. It felt like the culmination of my musical experience at Andover, and I really enjoyed performing in this concert. My parents have also been extremely supportive, driving from upstate New York to Boston for my musical commitments and allowing me to fully participate in the opportunities available at Andover,” said Gu.
Ball highlighted the importance of music concerts at Andover, encouraging students to attend and experience the talent and hard work musicians on campus have to offer.
“These concerts help bring the music program out to the rest of the school and even the town community. Sports have a big presence on campus with games that get people excited, and concerts are the music program’s equivalent. They allow students who don’t play instruments, as well as faculty and community members, to engage with music and see why it matters at Andover. It’s a way to showcase the talent and hard work of musicians, just like athletes do,” said Ball.
