Before she starts playing the guzheng, junior Hannah Qiu closes her eyes to encompass herself in the mindset of the composer. For Qiu, playing the guzheng—a 21-stringed traditional Chinese instrument—isn’t solely about mastering the technique, but about connecting with her Chinese culture and...

Clashing cymbals, booming drums, a squeaking horn and a voice with an exaggerated drawl: it was all music to his ears. Of all the performances in the classic movie “Mary Poppins,” it was Dick van Dyke’s impressive one-man band that convinced senior Aidan Roessig that music could, in fact,...