On May 23, the Princeton High School Orchestra embarked on their 2024 European tour led by PHS Orchestra conductor Robert Loughran. They landed in Milan, Italy after a long flight, and traveled to Venice over the next few days. There, they performed in a music festival at Riva del Garda.

After the music festival, they ventured into Verbier, Switzerland, where they played in two concerts for primary school students. The orchestra finished the tour in Paris, France, where they performed at Lycée International Saint-Germain-en-Laye school and Église de la Madeleine.

Loughran’s goal for the tour was to reach a variety of audiences with the contrasting repertoire the orchestra prepared, bringing together audiences from different cultures and backgrounds.

“[We played] a lot of pieces ... close to twenty ... I [was] definitely most excited about the movie theme songs,” said flutist Emily Leng ’27.

Other soloists in the orchestra, along with two vocalists, Reva Doshi ’24 and Nicole Lee ’26, played significant roles in uniting individuals through music.

“[We featured] some soloists, like Audrey Kang [’24], and Sunjun Jo [’24],” said Loughran. “[They also did a piece together] called ‘Schindler’s List’ from John Williams.”

To successfully execute the iconic melody from the film, the orchestra had to focus on conveying the beauty of the sorrowful sound.

Another soloist featured in the repertoire is oboist Amanda Sun ’24, who performed the main melody in “Gabriel’s Oboe.”

“It’s from a movie called ‘The Mission’,” said Sun. “It’s very lyrical and I [liked] the orchestra’s parts as well.”

This lyrical style [contrasted] with the music from “Schindler’s List,” reflecting the orchestra’s variety of compositions.

The orchestra’s trip to Europe was not only a musical experience, but also a memorable opportunity for the musicians to bond, meet new people all over the world, and explore various cultures.

“The cuisine ... between all those three different regions [was extraordinary],” said Loughran. “[As well as being] able to maximize the potential of trying new things and savoring new tastes.”

The European tour was a chance for members to venture into newfound attractions and places, exploring various cultures.

“[I was] just super excited to be in Europe because [I had] never been [to] Europe,” said Leng. “[We saw] Moulin Blanc [in Switzerland].”

In addition, the orchestra had the opportunity to explore multiple historical sites, such as the West Bank of Paris where Ernest Hemingway lived, and a French chateau.

“It was so interesting to explore places with such rich cultures and histories,” said violinist Meghna Myneni ’25. “The trip really opened my eyes to different ways of life.”

PHS Orchestra brings unity through music in European tour

***Happy Together***

*Written by Maya Wood*

“Let’s start over.”

Named after the popular song from The Turtles, Wong Kar-Wai’s “Happy Together” (1997) follows the relationship between Lai Yiu-Fai (played by Tony Leung) and Ho Po- Wing (played by Leslie Cheung). Having had an on-and- off relationship for a long time, the two find themselves lost in Argentina while searching for the other-worldly beautiful Iguazu Falls. Frustrated and sick of each other, they go their separate ways. Eventually, they both end up in Buenos Aires and find each other again, leading to an emotional and complicated reunion.

Wong Kar-Wai, the creator of “In The Mood For Love” (2000) and “Fallen Angels” (1995), brings back his incredible artistic vision using light and color to shape the emotional evolution of this story. The shifting color palettes reflect the fluctuating dynamics of the relationship between Fai and Po-Wing: warm and vibrant reds and oranges when the characters are experiencing overwhelming love or grief; bright and sunny yellow when they feel contentedness; cold blues and greens when they feel depression
and loneliness; and black and white when they completely hate each other, capturing the realistic and raw emotions of difficult situations.

This movie was made only six years after the legal recognition of homosexual couples in Hong Kong (though same-sex marriage was not legalized), and was very influential in attaining more visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. Even today, same-sex couples in Hong Kong have no legal protections from discrimination or for marriage. This story mostly took place in Argentina, which in the 1990s was more accepting of the gay community, and now has many legal protections in place for LGBTQ+ individuals.

This is one of my favorite movies from Wong Kar-Wai and I think that he does a great job of going below the surface in terms of emotion, which can add a layer of relatability and representation to some members of the audience. The themes in this film are raw and moving, but not for everyone. It deals with topics surrounding a toxic relationship, so viewers’ discretion is advised.

***Far From Heaven***

*Written by Chloe Lam*

I’ve tried, I’ve tried to be like other people.”

Many recent movies have displayed honor and respect towards individuals who have had an impact on Pride Month. “Far From Heaven,” released in 2002, is a drama which takes place in the 1950s. It is a stunning and emotional movie which delivers a powerful message regarding race, gender, sexuality, and escapism during that time period.

The protagonist, Cathy Whitaker, highlights many of the oppressions and expectations women faced during the 1950s, such prioritizing family needs over her own desires. She marries Frank, who is similarly struggling with living a double life, since he’s secretly gay. He is forced to hide his identity, which leads to psychological distress.

Frank decided to marry Cathy because it would adhere to societal expectations. Through his marriage, Frank has conversations with his psychiatrist regarding homosexuality, and he realizes that there is a widespread belief that homosexuality is a mental illness that could be cured.

This untrue belief led to the harm of many LGBTQ+ individuals in real life, in addition to Frank in this movie. The film highlights the homophobia and prejudice in the 1950s, where gender roles took precedence over understanding and acceptance, allowing the audience to be aware of the problem, therefore leading the audience to strive for a greater change in the future.

Soon after, Frank has the courage to move out and decides to find his own happiness. He was able to embrace his own identity despite societal expectations and was able to live authentically in a repressive society. The positive ending to the film highlights the importance of finding the right but painful steps to self acceptance and happiness, despite facing difficult situations.

***Brokeback Mountain***

*Written by Rebecca Zhang*

“I wish I knew how to quit you sometimes.”

On the goldens of the lush plains, thousands of meters above the smokes of life — with rain, with snow, with him — “Brokeback Mountain” tells of the tragic love story when Ennis Del Mar (played by Heath Ledger) meets a rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) in a small town of Wyoming in 1963. Introverted Ennis and extroverted Jack soon become good friends as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain. While both try to avoid it, they notice that they have slowly gone beyond the point of friendship, when one freezing night spent together seals their fate. However, after the job ends, they go their separate ways, longing after their memory of Brokeback Mountain, and only having infrequent, secretive reunions
which makes them miserable.

“Brokeback Mountain” shows how the inequalities that LGBTQ+ people face in this world can frighten them because of the risk that they might be physically attacked or publicly shamed by people with homophobic views, especially at that time. Ennis and Jack’s decisions to marry women while having an illicit affair outside of their marriages demonstrates the fragile balance of striving to appeal to the public’s expectations while attempting to understand
their own differences.

However, their hesitancy to be together throughout the film makes for a tragic end. They wanted to express themselves, but the need to protect themselves from danger ended up reigning over their decisions. Although the world is now changing, gay love is still widely restricted in many places and many beliefs. Jack and Ennis’ relationship in “Brokeback Mountain” depicts a love which is raw but heartfelt, violent but fragile, emotional but persevering, and desirous but forbidden. The film has not only strong convincing elements for people to accept all differences, but it also puts in so much humanity and vulnerability that reveals the truth behind common yet undercoveraged encounters with prejudice.

Finding pride in film: three LGBTQ+ movies to watch

   Around 63,000 B.C., Neanderthals began exploring the technique of wall art. The shapes of bison and other animals were inscribed deep onto the stone walls in the Cave of Altamira, Spain; these inscriptions are often regarded as some of the most famous Paleolithic art pieces in existence. One purpose of these depictions was to bring a sense of understanding and appreciation to nature and the environment. 
Several cultures in Asia similarly embraced nature through art. China’s Shan Shui paintings, mainly depicting mountains, were drawn against a wall of fabrics. They eventually became a means for educated men to seek consolation from nature and to escape the chaos of the world. India regarded plants and trees as sacred beings to be protected. Along the walls of buildings, tribal Gond paintings depicted the Indians’ respect for the flora and fauna, which ruled the Earth before humans. 
The 1900s introduced street art and murals. Murals could not only express the complexity of a vast range of themes in a simple way, but they could also be used to speak out regarding the current environmental crisis. Although wall art throughout the centuries has vastly changed in meaning and expression, it has gravitated to environmental art since the 1960s. Differing from depictions of nature, environmental art’s purpose is to raise awareness of climate change and appeal to an audience unfamiliar with the crisis that the Earth is facing.
Environmental damage often feels abstract, meaning most individuals feel detached from its consequences. However, artists bridge this gap by creating powerful pieces to evoke emotions in viewers, sparking introspection and forming a deep sense of connection to the Earth. 
 Artists directly pose uncomfortable questions to viewers by creating pieces that showcase the beauty of nature, juxtaposed with the negative impact of human activities. They challenge the viewers to confront the consequences of environmental damage and consider the long-term effects of their choices. 
	For example, an anonymous graffiti artist and environmental activist in the United Kingdom, known as Banksy, uses his talents to advocate for the environment. He paints graffiti on ruins and areas filled with trash which contrasts with the environmental images and messages in his art, to criticize the consequences of disregarding the environment. 
One of Banksy’s murals depicts a boy holding a can of paint. The message “I remember when all this was trees,” seemingly painted by the boy, is pasted onto the wall beside him. The message, referring to the surroundings of the mural, is extremely powerful because it contrasts with the decrepit and run-down buildings. 
	Examples of environmental artwork can also be found right here in Princeton. One example is the Nature's Nation: American Art and Environment exhibit, from 2019 at the Princeton University Art Museum. Featuring more than 120 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and videos, the exhibit expresses an ecocritical view of American art from the past three centuries. It displays the development of the country, including how industrial development has destroyed the land and its natural environment. 
The exhibit begins with an idealistic walkthrough of the pristine landscape before the arrival of humans, then turns to much darker works displaying the destruction of the environment. For example, one work titled “Crucified Land,” by Alexandre Hogue, showcases the eroded terrain that was sacrificed for agricultural practices. Another work by Edward Burtynsky, “Oil Spill #10,” simultaneously presents the majestic biosphere, as well as its degradation caused by the extraction of oil from the earth. 
In addition, environmental art can also be found inside Princeton High School. More specifically, the most prominent spaces coated in environmental murals are the science halls. In the 170s, 180s, 270s, and 280s hallways, paintings of animals and one huge tree flourish on the wall as a clear representation of student’s appreciation for wildlife. Furthermore, students recently hung up a life-size diagram of different animals, including a whale, in the 280s hall. Not only does this art brighten up PHS’s appearance, but it also provides other students with a quick refresher on their knowledge of environmental diversity, which is accessible to them by simply glancing up at the wall.
Every year, the murals at PHS seem to just keep growing, a true testament of students’ freedom of expression. Not only do these murals allow every art student to make an eternal mark on PHS, but they also showcase how the environment is highly appreciated in the community.


The Tower

Rebecca Zhang's Work

The Tower