The Summit

Prepare to ascend to the top of Mount Everest. Many have dreamed of it, but only a few brave souls have endured the mental and physical challenges of the journey to the peak. The band begins its adventure at the base of the mountain with the music of Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich. A sense of nervousness settles in as the climbers confront the mountain’s majestic grandeur, and the climb begins with Julie Giroux’s “Bookmarks from Japan.” Conditions worsen and the climb proves more demanding than expected, but the climbers refuse defeat. As they near the summit, the path eases and they pause to take in the beauty of their surroundings. The percussion section takes center stage in Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” and the band regains its courage to finish the trek. Through the music of Muse and Mahler, the band reaches the peak, overcome with joy at completing the journey.