Upper School String Ensemble Records in CID

Shortly before Thanksgiving break, members of the Upper School String Ensemble had an exciting opportunity as they recorded an arrangement of the traditional American folk song “Shenandoah” in the School’s Center for Innovation & Design (CID) recording studio.

In the CID, students have access to audio studios that rival the finest facilities in the music industry. The expansive studio is equipped to record everything from individual student voice-overs to large performance groups. 

“It was exciting because it was the first time most of the students had ever been in a recording studio — let alone had the experience of playing in one,” said Performing Arts Department Chair David Gold, who directs the String Ensemble.

Afterwards, the students were asked to write a self-assessment of their performance, both individually and as a group and to reflect on how they thought the recording actually sounded in comparison to how they thought it might sound. The students also later discussed the many differences between live performance and recording in the studio.

Special thanks to Performing Arts faculty member Dr. John Girvin for getting the group set up in the studio and for helping them record.