Upon entering the orchestra room this year, students found the formerly dreary classroom adorned with LED signs, music-themed posters and candies placed in colorful jars.

The decorations are the handiwork of Alisa Pederson, the new orchestra director. Pederson has taught orchestra for 43 years, specializing in violin and viola. Previously, she served as the assistant orchestra director under Penny Meitz, who retired last year.

“The program has become so important to me over the past four years,” Pederson said. “I couldn’t handle the thought of somebody else taking it over and changing it radically.”

Since Pederson assumed the role in August, she has worked on embracing student involvement and ensemble opportunities through highlighting the leadership system and offering additional practice. She also aims to increase the number of students in the Middle School’s beginner program.

“[Pederson] is dedicated, bubbly and understanding,” orchestra co-president Jennifer Liu said. “She is very encouraging and always helps us during class.”

On Sunday, Aug. 25, Pederson gathered all orchestra students in the Fine Arts Annex for a lock-in to practice together, learn the music and familiarize with one another.

Through providing fun activities and fostering a sense of community, Pederson hopes to make the classroom more social. Despite the changes, she wants to maintain the fundamentals taught by Meitz.

Meitz, who ran the program from 2006 to 2024, created a “legacy of excellence” which Pederson hopes to honor during her time as director. Pederson expects students to show up on time and limit talking during rehearsals.

“I still see so much of her in our orchestra program and probably always will because she is the one who built it,” Pederson said.

Sami Khang, who is starting her first year as orchestra assistant and cello specialist, is another addition to the orchestra program.

Khang already instructs many of the School’s students in private lessons and has played the cello since age four. Since then, her “trajectory in life” has been focused on the instrument. She attended several arts schools, including the New England Conservatory of Music, before moving to Houston. During graduate school at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, she fell in love with teaching and has since built an extensive private studio.

“When I was searching for a new cello assistant, Ms. Khang’s name was at the top of the list,” Pederson said. “Luckily, the administration team agreed with me.”

Both now and in the past, Khang has taught many of Meitz’s and Pederson’s students, influencing her decision to work at the School.

“I already had such a great and strong connection to the community,” Khang said. “I felt like it just made sense to come to St. John’s.”

One of Khang’s favorite parts about the orchestra community is the students’ devotion to working hard in rehearsals.

“Having kids who are focused on everything at such a high caliber translates from academics into the music classroom as well,” Khang said. “It’s a group of dedicated students who are very intelligent, caring people. They know the value of hard work.”

This year, Khang is leading two cello choirs, one from each Upper School orchestra.

“I like to think that the cellos playing together could be something that could potentially influence the program to have more small ensembles,” Khang said.

The orchestra community also hopes to institute a brand-new mentor system. In this process, class nine students are paired with an upperclassman and are expected to spend time together outside of scheduled orchestra rehearsals.

“The group cannot play as one unit if we do not know each other well enough,” Liu said.

On Oct. 9, both Middle and Upper School orchestras performed in their annual fall concert. Pieces included composer Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” from ‘The Planets’ arranged by Deborah Monday and “Serenade for Strings” by Antonin Dvořák. Additionally, upper school cellists participated in two cello choirs, one from each orchestra, that played selections from “Largo” from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 and “Andante Cantabile” by Tchaikovsky.

“I am really, really proud of all my students,” Pederson said. “I loved every performance, and each student on stage tonight did wonderful.”

So far, Pederson’s experience has been “exciting, stressful and rewarding,” and she cannot wait for the rest of the school year.

“I’m passing the baton, which I have held for years, to her,” Meitz said. “And she is running with it.”

This story was originally published on The Review on October 10, 2024.