SO Y’KNOWNEWSLETTERMARCH 2012 Vol. 12 No. 4

STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA ~ 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | www.studentorchestras@gmail.com

In February 2011, I attended the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) All-Northwest Orchestra rehearsal in Bellevue. Gerald Schwartz

was the conductor and they were playing the last movement of the Boro-din Symphony No.2 and Die Meistersinger Overture. It was impressive. I decided to attend the WMEA All-State Conference this year held in Yakima. I wanted to get a chance to listen to the orchestras rehearse for a couple of days.

Upon arriving in Yakima, my first visit to the “Palm Springs of Washington,” I found the musicians rehearsing in buildings at the fairgrounds. That fairground is a wonderful example of early to mid-20th Century Chautauqua architecture. First impression of the orchestra – huge. It was wonderful to see so many young people participating. Second impression – It sounds good. The young musicians were playing Liszt’s Les Preludes, a tone poem, which SOGO has performed in the past. There was plenty for the conductor, Mark Laytock, to work on. Mark is a very expressive conductor and a native of Puyallup. With such a large ensemble (at least 75 strings, 16 woodwinds, 8 horns, 4 trumpets), doubling in the winds, there was a lot of balancing to do. From what I heard, almost everyone was prepared with the notes and were ready for the refinement that Mark wished to accomplish. Some comments from the podium – “Strings, you are ahead, please lay back a little; woodwinds, you really need to balance the strings by playing louder; brass, can you play longer; please hold out the note through its value.” The same issues every group has! I also quickly looked for students from SOGO. Found some (see my post on SOGO Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/studentorchestras)

After checking into my hotel, I found the place where the All-State Chamber Orchestra was rehearsing. The group had a slightly smaller string section than the other orchestra and no wind doubling. They were working on a piece I didn’t know – very difficult. As it turns out, it was an early piece by Samuel Jones called An Overture for a City. It was written in 1960 for Sagi-naw, Michigan. Sam has a dual relationship with SOGO – he was an assistant to Richard Lert when I studied conducting in the 70’s with Lert in Orkney

COMPETENCY IN AN ART FORMJohn Welsh, Music Director

Years ago, I read an article that espoused how performing, or even listen-ing to music could grow various parts of the brain. Classical music in

particular isn’t only brain food, it can also promote better general health, wellness, and even healing. Who could be better at bringing musical healing to people than orchestra musicians!

The Madison (Wisconsin) Symphony Orchestra operates a HeartStrings music-therapy program for Dane County citizens experiencing dementia, long-term illness, or developmental disabilities. A string quartet presents monthly interactive sessions that benefit caregivers, family members, and medical staff in addition to patients. The goal is to improve motor skills, relaxation, and social interaction.

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MUSIC-THERAPY BENEFITSAnne Hammond, SOGO Board

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Sponsored by

Olympia Federal SavingsWA State Arts Commission

Donate non-perishable food items during the month of March. Bring items to rehearsals or the March 25 concert for the Thurston County Food Bank.

Orchestras Feeding America 2011 saw 100 orches-tras (SOGO included) collect 86,000 pounds of food for food banks all over the United States, bringing the total for the last three years to over 350,000 pounds.

SOGODress Rehearsal Changes...pg.3

COMPETENCY cont...Springs, VA, and he is related to SOGO’s trumpet player Ben Hodson. He attended our November concert and for years was the Composer in Residence at the Seattle Symphony. Sam writes beautiful but very difficult music, and this piece was no exception. Emily Brown from Bolling Green State University in Ohio was the conductor. First impression – very difficult music. Second impression – there was quite a bit of work to accom-plish during rehearsal. Dr. Brown is a good musician with a good ear and a very business-like manner on the podium. The other pieces on the program were a Josef Suk work, Weber’s Oberon overture (the SOGO Conservatory played this recently) and Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte overture. The young musicians from the Chamber Orchestra had quite a challenging and demanding program.

As I write this, thinking about the experience I had at the WMEA All-State, I can’t help but contemplate the following: I know all of these young people aren’t going to be professional musicians. So what does this competency in an art do for them? What does it mean to them? What kind of an effect does their participation have on them as they go forward in their lives? SOGO is no exception. We are striving to provide a place where our members also gain this competency and expe-rience this music.

Meanwhile, we look forward to having you attend the March 25th, 4 p.m. program at the Washington Center. We have a rigorous program planned, including great soloists. Purchase your tickets early, and for those of you who like to observe the hands of our piano soloist, Eric Malson, be sure to sit to the left of the stage.

Amazing! The South Sound vicinity is filled with a variety of orchestras performing regular concerts -- beckoning citizens to their live, high quality

performances. No need to travel north to “the big city.”

In the Lacey/Olympia/Tumwater area alone you can venture out on a Sunday night to hear the outstanding Olympia Symphony Orchestra at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Maestro Huw Edwards is charm-ing audiences with his wit and acumen throughout the orchestra’s 60th anniversary season – “Classical High Five.”

Across town the Olympia Chamber Orchestra is perform-ing in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts on designated Saturday nights. Maestro Claudia Simpson-Jones (a retired airline captain and entertainer who has spent several years following her passion for conducting) leads the volunteer orchestra.

Both orchestras partner with other area groups to provide classical music programming that showcases local ballet and choral talent as well. Special events and fundraisers are also open to the public, so check their websites for details.

When it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you’re pouring through the paper looking for an invigorat-ing, interesting, and beautiful concert to attend, remember, “There’s no place like home…”

*Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OLYMPIASYMPHONY.COM)BY AUDIENCE REQUEST7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 11, 2012Washington Center for the Performing Arts

GLOBAL RHAPSODIES7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2012Washington Center for the Performing Arts

Washington State Capitol Lawn Concert -- FREE5:30 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2012

*Olympia Chamber Orchestra (OLYMPIACHAMBERORCHESTRA.ORG)STEPPING OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012South Puget Sound Community College

STEPPING OUT WITH OPERA7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012South Puget Sound Community College

JUST STEPPING OUT7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2012South Puget Sound Community College

WESTMINSTER CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 25, 2012Westminster Presbyterian Church, Olympia

MUSIC-THERAPY cont...The Society for Arts in Healthcare (Washington, D.C.) worked with the Madison Symphony to create a toolkit for other orchestras to use to start their own music therapy community programs. The HeartStrings Toolkit (http://madisonsymphony.org/toolkit) was the result of a partnership between the symphony and accomplished music therapist Laurie Farnan. Farnan has influenced the field of professional music therapy practice for more than 30 years at state, regional, and national levels.

Music therapy is an exciting up-and-coming career field for musi-cians and for people who appreciate music. The American Music Therapy Association (http://www.musictherapy.org/careers/em-ployment/) has information regarding scholarships, internships, and schools offering musical therapy programs along with other helpful information.

The Baltimore Symphony is another innovative orchestra that is reaching out into the community with an altru-istic focus in addition to the traditional goal of audience development.

Music is the answer…to feeding your mind, your soul, and now your body as well. “I’ll take one serving a day, please.”

(More from Anne’s article is published on the studentorchestras.org website)

Music therapy sessions are offered to people of all ages and abilities and can be designed to:• promote wellness • manage stress • alleviate pain • express feelings • enhance memory • improve communication • promote physical rehabilitation

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Huw Edwards, Olympia Symphony

Claudia Simpson-JonesOlympia Chamber Orchestra

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!Anne Hammond, SOGO Board

NOVEMBER 6, 4 PM WCPA

DECEMBER17 HO HO 2 & 7 PM 19 MESSIAH SING 7:30 PM

APRIL 28, 1 PM ZOO

MAY 20, 4 PM WCPA

2011-12 SPONSORS

Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic

Tumwater Eye Center & Vue Vision

WA State Arts Commission

RadiantCare

R.L. Ray Violin Shop, LLC

Olympia Federal Savings

Marguerite Bishop Fund

Irving Lassen Foundation

Charneski Charitable Fund

Washington Center

All donations are tax-deductible. 3

Recently, I was a member of the WMEA (Washington Mu-sic Educators Association) All-State Symphony Orchestra

held, this year, in Yakima. For those who don’t know what All-State is, it is a collaboration of high school musicians who meet for four days in a central location in Washing-ton to participate in a high caliber, orchestral experience. (There is also Jr. All State—held for only one day during the weekend of the WMEA conference for middle school musi-cians.) All four days we rehearse challenging music from breakfast to dinner, and then we go back to our hotel and fall right asleep. As youth in music education, we can learn a lot from music camps and state honor groups.

One reason why All-State and music camps around the Northwest are helpful to the development of successful musical education in youth is because they teach partici-pants leadership that they can take back to their respective youth and school orchestras. Just in one hour and a half cello sectional with Central Washington University cello professor, John Michel, I learned simple techniques on how to communicate with all of the players in a section. Just by watching the principal cellist in my section, a student from Spokane, I learned new strategies on how to lead a sectional.

In music camps, such as the Saint Martin’s Music Camp held at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, students can learn ensemble techniques, practice theory, and compose music all in one day! Though I have never attended one myself, my brother, Dillon (concertmaster of Conserva-tory Orchestra for 4 years) started playing violin at the Saint Martin’s Music Camp. Now he is pursuing music as a career.

The point I am attempting to make is that getting experi-ence in music camps and in honor groups can really boost your playing level. I encourage everybody who plays in SOGO to audition for Jr. All-State or All-State next year in the fall or to participate in upcoming music camps or festivals.

MARCH 25, 4 PM WCPA

Summer Music Program 5-8th grade St. Martin’s University Music Department 5300 Pacific Avenue Lacey, WA 98503 360.352.1438 (SOGO Office)

Evergreen Music Festival Tacoma Youth Symphony Association 901 Broadway Plaza, Suite 500 Tacoma, WA 98402-4415 253.627.2792 info@tysamusic.org

Summer Youth Symphony Camp Icicle Creek Music Center P.O. Box 2071 Leavenworth, WA 98826 1.877.265.6026 icicle@icicle.org

Marrowstone Music Festival Seattle Youth Symphony Association 11065 Fifth Ave NE, Suite A Seattle WA USA 98125 206.362.2300 marrowstone@syso.org

Summer Music Camps University of Oregon Music Department 1225 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1225 541.346.2138 or 541.346.5670 cjhansen@darkwing.uoregon.edu

EXPERIENCE MAKES A DIFFERENCENolan Welch, Student Board

2012 All-State Participantsnot everyone is pictured

NEW DRESSREHEARSALTIMES...BRASS CHOIR 11:20 - 11:55 a.m.DEBUT NOON - 12:45 p.m.ACADEMY 12:50 - 1:35 p.m.CONSERVATORY 1:40 - 3:10 p.m.

Huw Edwards, Olympia Symphony I’m looking forward to our concert on March 25! Joining the Debut Orchestra will be the Olympia New Horizons Orchestra,

now in its second year. The Olympia New Horizons Orchestra is part of the New Horizons music movement, dedicated to “provid-ing entry points to music making for adults, including those with no musical experience at all and those who were active in school music programs but have been inactive for a long time.” For more information on the New Horizons Music movement, visit their website at http://www.newhorizonsmusic.org/. I’m especially excited about this program for several reasons: First, I want students to see and experience that music-making is a lifetime activity. Second, our musical community, like our community at large, is made up of several generations, and every generation is important to the health and vibrancy of our lives. Third, it’s going to be fun! As conductor of both the Debut Orchestra and the Olympia New Horizons Or-chestra, I can say how much fun both groups are, and how much fun we’ll all have making music together. We rehearsed together and gave a mini-concert on March 4 at Evergreen Christian Community, in place of our regular rehearsal. We’re looking forward to sharing the stage again on March 25 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Come see us! You’ll see a wonderful group of people having a great time making music together.

DEBUT & HORIZONS?Lantz Berets, SOGO Conductor

EXECUTIVE BOARDPRESIDENT: Colleen WelchVICE PRESIDENT: Jilyna DickSECRETARY: Peter DespotTREASURER: John Fleckenstein

STUDENT BOARDElla Bushnell, violinDakota McRostie, violinKeadrin Dick, celloNolan Welch, cello

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJoyce AllenJoan ArmstrongBrad CarlsonWendy ClarkDoug FordJulie EvansAnne HammondSusan HillGinny NordhornDana PhelpsAmy SchutteKirk Veis

MUSIC DIRECTORJohn Welsh

ARTISTIC DIRECTORGreg Allison

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFKrina Allison, Executive Dir.Pat Kabler, Orchestra Mgr. & Finance Dir.Mary Ardington, Librarian Doug Ford, Event Coordinator

SOGO TEEs & Hoodies available!

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAID

OLYMPIA, WAPERMIT NO. 358

1629 22ND AVE SE | OLYMPIA WA 98501 www.studentorchestras.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

FEEDING AMERICA Month of March - Donate non-perishable food items for the Thurston County Food Bank at rehearsal or the March concert.

CHAMBER MUSIC MASTER CLASS - Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. SOGO is host-ing a Master Class with Eric Malson. Former faculty of Julliard, Mr. Malson will be coaching a SOGO student ensemble and faculty woodwind quintet, and an ensemble from Olympia H.S. Free and open to the public at Saint Martin’s Music Department rehearsal room, Kreielsheimer Hall.

SOGO CONCERT MARCH 25, 4 p.m. - Purchase your tickets early for the best seats - olytix.org or Center Box Office at 360.753.8586.

NOTES ON NOTES March 25, 3:30 p.m. - Pre-concert discussion with Guest Conduc-tor Jeff Lund. Concert hall doors will open for you to relax in your seat as Mr. Lund highlights interesting details that you might not otherwise know about the compos-ers and their music performed during the afternoon’s concert.

INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO April 28, 1-4 p.m. at the Washington Center - SOGO musicians will be performing in ensembles and volunteering at the Instrument Pet-ting Zoo. Over 1,000 kids of all ages attend the zoo and experience blowing, bowing, buzzing, or plucking instruments of the orchestra (instruments donated by R.L. Ray Violin Shop and Westside Music). Presented during the Spring Olympia Arts Walk, see the studentorchestras.org website for more details.