The series first aired in 2005 and follows the adventures of Aang, the last Airbender, as he seeks to bring balance to a world torn apart by war. The music for the series was composed by Jeremy Zuckerman, and scenes from the show were projected on a screen in correlation to the performance. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the series premiere. 

“Jeremy’s music is the true feature here,” Conductor Heidi Joosten said. “The original animators, editors, etc, all got on board to be able to supercut the visuals to fit the music.” 

The show featured a smaller orchestra with performers from various musical sections, including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and vocals, to create a powerful experience for the audience. 

“This is my favorite kind of job to do, especially on a show like ‘Avatar,’” Joosten said. She describes the orchestral performance as “rich musically” and an “incredible offering to fans of the series.” 

Mechanical engineering sophomore Ian Sciturro said it was his favorite show of all time and he thought the music was “really cool.” 

The show featured selections from the TV series, which is split into different books, showcasing the show’s three seasons. Each section of the books is paired with scenes from the series that correlate to the song the orchestra played. Audiences were invited to cheer for any scene they found particularly close to their heart. 

For mechanical science engineering sophomore Reed Blocksome, “Avatar” is endearing. “I'm not the most well-versed, but it was a big part of my childhood,” he said. 

People of all ages attended the concert, some in full costume, some dressed to impress, and some coming from class. 

Students were welcomed before the concert to attend College Night, an event hosted by Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization (WCSMO). The club is dedicated to “marketing shows and performing arts shows to students,” marketing junior and interim president of WCSMO Jackson Wynne said. 

WCSMO decorated the Christman Lounge to showcase the four elements with different-colored streamers on pillars and “Avatar” themed tables. In the series, these four elements are central to the story, each representing a different nation and a different form of bending, a martial arts style used to manipulate the elements. The College Night also offered a myriad of snacks, including cupcakes, donuts, sandwiches, and even “cactus juice,” a drink featured in the TV show. 

Animal science freshman Isabel Hughes said it was her first time attending one of these events and was excited to experience it on her own. Hughes, who watched “Avatar” 11 times, was particularly enthusiastic to see “The Last Agni Kai."

Packaging sophomore Quincie Scheidt shared Hughes' excitement for “The Last Agni Kai,” and thought “the stars aligned” when she heard “Avatar” was coming to Wharton. 

Joosten emphasized that everyone involved in the performance, having thoroughly prepared the music, honored it with their absolute best intentions, ensuring that they were giving the fans exactly what they were asking for, and to celebrate the series' release and its fulfillment for everyone.