Submitted by Olympia Symphony Orchestra
The Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) congratulates all the graduates in the Class of 2020. Although graduation ceremonies may look drastically different from what students and families imagined this year, it does not lessen the achievements that each has accomplished through hard work spent over the years. OSO musicians are presenting the traditional graduation march, Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance, as a gift for all graduates in honor of their achievements.
Individual musicians, many of whom are music educators in local public schools, recorded their parts individually from their homes. OSO Violinist Jason Leng, also an ophthalmologist, compiled the recordings to create a collaborative video that is posted on the Olympia Symphony’s YouTube channel and is being circulated on facebook.
The OSO hopes this musical tribute helps fill the void experienced by high school and college graduates and loved ones during this challenging time. “I am the parent of a graduating high school senior. I always imagined seeing my son walk across the stage in front of his peers, while sitting side by side with our family and friends. Members of our orchestra are also parents. It is important to us to fill in whatever gaps we can in the absence of traditional ceremonies, and music is something that can expand to fill in missing pieces in our lives,” said Olympia Symphony executive director Jennifer Hermann.
The Olympia Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1947 and operates as a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization in Olympia, WA. More information can be found at the Olympia Symphony Orchestra website
