WESTFORD — Westford Academy Orchestra alumni took the stage on Westford Common last week to perform for the community – the last time the band could perform together before heading to college.
Band members, who performed on the Westford Common as part of the Parish Center for the Arts’ “Concerts on the Common Series” on Aug. 3, say they aim to raise awareness for climate change within the Westford Community.
This ensemble is made up of five Westford Academy graduates who are full of passion and take pride in their musical talent. They say they want to spread joy and compassion throughout Westford through the music they chose to play for “The Concert for Climate Change.” They played solos, duets, and trios and fully narrated each piece thoughtfully.
Estella Cui, the group’s coordinator, will attend Johns Hopkins University to pursue majors in both Behavioral Biology and German. Cui has been playing the piano since she was five and has continued to study classical music for most of her career.
Upon reaching high school, Cui was introduced to pop music, later serving as the lead pianist for SpongeBob the Musical in 2022 and 9 to 5: The Musical this past spring for Westford Academy Theatre Arts.
Other members include Shailaja Gillett, Malvika Bherdwaj, Yiwen Lin, and Marvel Zheng.
Sailaja Gillett is currently a freshman at the University of Connecticut majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology.
Gillett has been playing the flute since she was nine years old. She has also participated in her high school symphonic band for four years, as well as in the pit orchestra for Westford Academy Theatre Arts.
Malvika Bhardwaj has been playing the piano since she was around six years old. Following the same footsteps as her older sister. She started playing the trumpet but switched instruments within a couple of years. Bhardwaj’s favorite songs to play are those filled with energy and uplifting.
Yiwen Lin is a recent Westford Academy graduate, and a rising college freshman at Tufts University.
Lin has played the flute since fourth grade and later began taking lessons in seventh grade.
Lin was also a student at New England Conservatory Preparatory School and has played in other ensembles.
Zheng has played his violin for fourteen years. Throughout high school, he played in the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as its chamber music program.
To the members, they say their ensemble isn’t just an ensemble. They believe their ensemble is full of talent and purpose.
