A clear melody leads the orchestra as Honors Orchestra co-concert mistresses Seniors Melody Wang and Melissa Wong play a last dramatic note and turn towards each other with broad smiles.
Since meeting in the same kindergarten class at Longden Elementary School, Wang and Wong have continued their relationship by sharing their love of music. They even met at their older siblings’ concerts before either of them began playing. The pair has been stand partners for more than five years, although not consecutively. Starting from sixth grade, they went on to play next to each other in eighth, ninth, tenth and finally senior year.
From music, they’ve both learned things about each other that they otherwise would not have discovered. They’ve learned to get used to each other’s habits, and time has helped them become a stronger team.
“Melissa hates turning pages and is always bothered by how I tape pages,” Wang said. “We can read each other so easily because we’ve done things together so many times before. Sometimes we find ourselves following our own bowing compared to what’s written on the music and it confuses the rest of our section.”
Wang and Wong’s friendship outside of orchestra has branched from being put into the same groups through alphabetical order. In fact, being friends with each other has helped them to become comfortable with making mistakes, instead of being as intensely competitive as they were when they were younger.
“Being friends with Melody outside of orchestra has helped us play well together and it has transformed orchestra into something we love doing together,” Wong said. “She doesn’t make me feel stupid when I mess up in orchestra. She makes orchestra fun. ”
Aside from school, both have played in the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, where they were also stand partners. Wang and Wong shared a cabin during their first year of Bellis Music Camp as well.
“Playing different styles of music brings back memories of different songs we’ve played and our experiences,” Wong said. “We have a lot of inside jokes like pictures and drawings in our music, just playing with her has added something to our friendship that wouldn’t be there without music.”
After years of friendship, their last year of high school has allowed them to reconnect and enjoy the easy comfort they share with each other.
“We’ve known each other for more than twelve years and I’m glad we’re still so close,” Wang said. “I can always rely on her regardless of the situation. I’m going to miss Melissa a lot when I leave high school. It’s not easy being close to someone and then having to separate.”
TCHS School Newspaper