The Rock City Musical is preparing to perform the annual musical. Not only are the actors rehearsing, the pit orchestra is too. Pit director Daniel Upton has been here for multiple years and is ready for another performance.
“Since I arrived at HHS in 2012, this is my 10th year conducting the pit orchestra. The first three years I was here I played percussion or was a sound engineer. Twenty twenty-four was the only year I have not been involved in the musical,” Upton said.
The students and sometimes HHS staff begin rehearsals for the pit about a month before the shows.
“We begin rehearsing in January about three days a week. Learning parts and becoming comfortable with the book. The parts are written for professionals so it takes a lot of focus and drive,” Upton said.
With such a short time frame to familiarize with the music, there are some challenges in order to play it smoothly.
“The most challenging thing is the amount of music we have to learn and the amount of key changes in the parts,” Upton said.
In order for the whole ensemble to run smoothly, the musicians need a positive mindset in order to see it through to the end result.
“[The musicians] need to buy in, passion for the process and end result. It is very tough at times, but the reward is huge,” Upton said.
For somebody joining the pit orchestra for the first time, it is not like the typical concert band experience.
“My advice for new musicians is to stay positive and realize the process takes time but always comes together. It is much different from a concert setting because there is a lot more music, it is non stop and relies on piano, drumset, etc.,” Upton said.
Occasionally, things can go wrong on stage. Over his years, Mr. Upton has learned how to adapt and pivot when things don’t go according to plan.
“[If something goes wrong,] we need to recover as fast as we can and not mess it up a second time. Be quick to adapt and make adjustments in the moment. Absolute focus from the conductor is required throughout the production to keep it on track,” Upton said.
Overall, they are not seen but the pit orchestra puts in work in order to make the show what it is.
“The music creates the ups and downs of the show, the emotions, the excitement. It drives the story and the pacing,” Upton said.
