“It is crazy to think that this will be my last ever Fall Concert at Blair,” Khang Nguyen ’26 reflects in the days leading up to the performance. “Knowing that I will eventually miss hearing the familiar sounds of Grace Dai ’27’s violin playing, Arturo Lopez ’26’s drum swinging, Michael Mokrov ’27’s guitar soloing or David Yang ’28’s bass walking, I hope to cherish every second on that stage making music with my peers.”

The Blair community is invited to cherish the evening of exceptional student musicianship with our performers at the annual Fall Concert on Friday, November 21, at 7 p.m. in the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts’ DuBois Theatre. The performance will also be available via livestream for families and friends near and far.

This year’s concert offers a vibrant preview of the repertoire Blair’s ensembles will bring on their highly anticipated performance tour of Italy this winter. From iconic operatic overtures to classic staples of choral literature, the program showcases a rich blend of history, culture and contemporary artistry.

Under the direction of Jennifer Pagotto, Director of Instrumental Music and performing arts department chair, the instrumental ensembles will present a dynamic mix of works tied closely to Italy’s musical heritage. The Symphony Orchestra will perform Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” highlighting a celebrated Italian opera composer and featuring a spotlight solo by Claire Zheng ’26 on cello. Audiences will also hear Ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso,” honoring one of Italy’s most influential film composers. A highlight of the evening will be Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango”—a piece famously premiered and recorded in Milan and infused with the composer’s own Italian roots.

The Jazz Ensemble will bring an American flavor to the program, performing Gershwin’s timeless “Summertime” alongside the jazz standard “A Day in the Life of a Fool.” Featured solos will be performed by members of the Advanced Jazz Combo: Khang Nguyen, Michael Mokrov, Guy Phisuthikul ’26, David Yang and Korn Thienthong ’28.

“Each of these pieces bring a different mood to the table—whether that be the relaxed atmosphere of ‘Summertime’ or the galloping drive of ‘William Tell Overture’—all weaving together into a diverse musical experience I'm very excited for,” Khang explains. “Everybody in the Jazz Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra has worked incredibly hard on our fall repertoires, and we are extremely eager to share our musicianship with the community on Friday.”

The Fall Concert will also shine a light on Blair’s vocalists under the direction of Ryan Manni-Brennan, Director of Vocal Music. While not bound to a single theme, this semester’s choral work has centered on advancing vocal technique through a beloved and demanding repertoire. The Chamber Choir has taken a leap into more classical work this fall, exploring pieces heard in major choral venues throughout the world.

“All of the students have embraced the difficult work of the semester, and are so ready to bring this music to life on Friday,” Mr. Manni-Brennan shares.

Audiences will hear a complex journey through time and style during the Chamber Choir’s performance, from Ola Gjeilo’s luminous “Ubi Caritas” to works by Stephen Paulus and Frank Tichelli that blend traditional sounds with modern nuance. The Blair Academy Singers shift to pieces rooted in social reflection, including U2 and Bob Chilcott’s atmospheric “MLK,” featuring soloist Jimmy Gibbons ’26. The program closes with contemporary arrangements of works popularized by Sweet Honey in the Rock and Bob Dylan, highlighting soloists Aanya Hemady ’27, Luke Arbogast ’27 and Jimmy Gibbons once again.

With 55 dedicated vocalists and 70 instrumentalists, the Fall Concert represents 12 weeks of hard work, collaboration and artistic growth. It promises to be an inspiring evening that honors both Blair's musical traditions and the international adventures ahead.

Join us on November 21—either in person or via livestream here—to celebrate the talent, dedication and heart of Blair’s musicians.