Ever get Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” beat stuck in your head in the middle of class, or wish that an orchestra would perform songs from classic Disney movies? If yes, then the Unaccompanied Minors concert on Sunday of winter term was the event to attend. With the familiar rhythm of Coldplay’s popular song supporting Faiyad Ahmad’s ’10 exotic cries of the H’Allah Bol, there was something there for everyone. Kaki Elgin ’09, a prominent senior leader in the group, thought that the best part of the show was “singing happy birthday to Curie Kim ’09 at the end because everyone joined in and sang horribly.” UM’s birthday trill was a nice parting gift to Kim, the Minors’ beloved concertmistress. The show itself was exceptionally entertaining. With a lineup including Disney’s Aladdin, Viva la Vida, Halla Bol and other great tracks, a fun musical variety was clearly demonstrated. And fun is what the Unaccompanied Minors are aiming for. Group member Arun Saigal ’09 said, “The [Minors] are a legitimate orchestra that plays fun music at a high level. It is such a relaxed atmosphere that the Chamber orchestra simply nominates songs and the Minors vote on their favorite ones to perform.” This method of choosing pieces to perform allows UM to select from a vast repertoire including songs like Viva la Vida and H’Allah Bol. Saigal finds songs like these interesting because they are “Both songs that are sung in pop culture of different countries.” As an abstract orchestra group, Unaccompanied Minors can always manage to attract a variety of people because they do it all, and they do it by themselves. With student conductors, there seems to be a certain air of ease and casualness. As the head conductor, Saigal said that having student conductors is awesome because the orchestra can relate to the student perspective of the conductors and feel a stronger connection with them knowing that every member is on the same level. Their system is evidently working because the audience members, though not numerous, thoroughly enjoyed the show. Kira Wyckoff ’11 said she went to watch because she enjoys “Listening to orchestra. It was also fun to sing along.” With the burden of finals week, student attendance was not nearly as exceptional as the show itself. And that was the one thing that Elgin wished she could change about the performance. Reluctantly, she admitted that she wanted “More audience members to watch them.” Unaccompanied Minors have a rigorous practice schedule; they usually meet on Sundays and prepared for this Sunday performance all term, including on some three-day weekends. Speaking about the Minors’ dedication, Saigal said, “A real challenge was getting all the players to play at their last rehearsal with energy right before finals week.” The theory that practice goes a long way may have struck a chord with these Minors. With the charming qualities of each piece, the show was an overwhelming success.
