Penn Orchestra Stuns with Flawless Rendition of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'

Talk about a showstopper!

Last night, emotions were felt and tears were shed as the Penn Symphony Orchestra gave a awe-inspiring performance of popular lullaby “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

“Not a dry eye was left in the house,” a man in the audience noted with a smile. “Bravo, bravo.”

Concertgoers, who had gone in expecting a Beethoven and Stravinsky-themed snoozefest, instead experienced one of the greatest musical feats of our era. Students displayed mastery by flawlessly bowing out quarter notes and half notes, and some even went so far as to use the advanced technique of tuning their instrument before playing.

According to conductor Jamie Coppola, the orchestra had been rehearsing for the minute-long performance since early last year.

“The piece is no joke. Technically speaking, it’s up there with Shostakovich’s Fifth,” Coppola remarked with watery eyes. “I was nervous as all hell, but I knew I could rely on my students to pull through.”

“I remember there was a time where we just couldn’t get past the ‘like a diamond in the sky’ part without screwing it up,” violinist Linda Vandenberg (C ‘20) recalled. “I guess it just goes to show the power of perseverance, practice, and hard work.”

Conductor Coppola invites the student body to attend next semester’s concert, where the orchestra will attempt to play “The Wheels on the Bus.”