CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Students from the Kanawha County Schools system performed Tuesday in the district’s Elementary/Middle/High School All-County Strings Concert.
Students played pieces by famous composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, and also one written by a current high school student.
“Domani” was written by Austin Christian, a senior at Herbert Hoover High School. “Domani” is Italian for “tomorrow.”
The idea of tomorrow is what inspired Christian to write the piece, which he said he was halfway through when the June 2016 flood struck the Elkview community.
Herbert Hoover High School was also damaged the flood. Students have been sharing space at Elkview Middle School on a split schedule.
“I had been writing my piece for about a month,” he said. “The flood changed my piece.”
Christian said he was moved by seeing the damage caused to Elkview. A section of the orchestrial piece is inspired by the flood and the community’s response following the disaster.
“I just heard this melody in my head play, and it was so sad,” he mentioned. “I got a notebook and I wrote down this melody.”
Christian said tomorrow is what the Elk River community has strived to go toward in its recovery efforts.
“It was back on its feet since day one,” Christian said. “I have seen churches and community members helping each other out in so many ways. It was just a beautiful thing to witness.”
Students at all Kanawha County schools are open to participate in the multiple orchestras.
Christian said he is going to West Virginia State University after graduating from Herbert Hoover and plans to pursue a career in music law.