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Encanto
Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Arr. Melody Gebremedhin '24, Eli Gilbert '24, & June Yoo '25
Conducted by Sayda Martinez-Alvarado '23
Featured Soloists
Cello - Jeremy Ng '26 (2:37)
Alto Saxophone - Jordan Sahly '24 (4:39)
Viola - Siji Smolev '26 (6:32)
Clarinet - Michael Lee '24 (11:16)
Bassoon - Danny Lee '23 (11:16)
Tenor Saxophone - John Owen Weber '26 (12:17)
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DPops opens tonight’s concert with a medley of songs from Disney’s latest animated musical Encanto (2021), original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Encanto tells the story of a Colombian family with a miracle that manifests as an enchanted casita and a mystical gift bestowed unto each person born into the family - all save Mirabel. However, when this encanto is at risk, it is up to Mirabel to uncover family truths in order to save it.
We begin with the lively vallenato “The Family Madrigal” as an introduction to the characters and atmosphere of Encanto. Next comes “Surface Pressure”, a reggaeton re-imagined here for orchestra that conveys the stress and anxiety that Mirabel’s older sister Luisa feels from her family. This is followed by “Dos Oruguitas”: emotionally moving and musically grooving, this ballad plays during a poignant moment of intergenerational reconciliation. Finally, we close our piece with the chart-topper “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”, an ensemble fusion number catchy enough to flood anyone’s brain.
It was a real treat to collaborate on this arrangement with Eli Gilbert and June Yoo, and I think it’s sure to bring the house down. At which point we can all work together to rebuild it.
-Melody Gebremedhin '24