Invisible to the eye, but obvious to the ear, the pit orchestra is often the most mysterious contributor to a musical. So what in the world are they doing, and what does it look like?

In rows of two, about 12 students, stands and instruments are squeezed in behind the stage set and the back wall. This year, a student conductor, senior Rachel Colbath, is projected on the rear wall where she can give both the performers and musicians cues. Music director Jeremy Wuertz also sits with the musicians and runs a program comprised of all the instruments playing on a pre-recorded track, while watching a live recording of the actors.

The truth is, the show just can’t go on without technology. The pre-recorded track called Sinfonia is used because the pit orchestra is missing several instruments, like the piano and French horn. The musical’s backup music the audience hears is a mixture of both live (student musicians) and electronically controlled instruments (Sinfonia program).

Colbath mentioned that “[Sinfonia] also helps the theater practice before hand and they cut out all the parts that they have musicians covering.”  The softwear is set up so Wuertz can create the tempo ahead of time, but during the show, the conductor has to go with Sinfonia. Each musician is miked, and each has a pair of headphones directly linking them to Sinfonia. “If Sinfonia doesn’t start, there are a few complications with the technology. We’ve used it before with ‘Legally Blonde,’ so we have prior experience with it,” Colbath said.

There are only a few performances left, so hurry along to SDA’s Mary Poppins to catch a sight of the magic the students have created!