SOGO
SO Y’KNOW NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2011 Vol. 12 No. 1
F
rom the lilting and yet dramatic strains of Schubert’s Unfinished (No. 8) Symphony in November to the melodramatic climax of Tchaikovsky’s March Slav in May, SOGO’s season 12 will be full of beautiful music, innovative programs and tremendous student growth. October will see a new event for SOGO as members provide “Performance Art” for our now extended, fall ArtsWalk. Students will be performing “mannequins” in the Vue Optical display window on 5th Avenue - think of it as a cross between chamber music and the Twilight Zone.
Our November 6 concert features
SOGO clarinetist Alaina Peters, a
senior from Black Hills high school
and a rousing list of literature from all four SOGO ensembles including
works by Brahms, Pezel, Beethoven,
von Suppe’, Grieg and Clarke. November will also see SOGO members sent out to be ambassadors to invite prospective members to come and try out a
rehearsal on November 20 - the SOGO Side-By-Side event.
December is busy with our poinset-
tia/wreath pick-up, the Brass Choir
and Friend’s SOGO HoHo and the Sing-
Spotify
One of this summer’s big music stories was the introduction in July of the free music-streaming service Spotify to listeners in the U.S. In case you missed the media hoopla, with Spotify—previously available only in seven European countries—users download a Mac or Windows player that looks remarkably like iTunes, with playlists and social-media sharing functions. But rather than purchasing 99-cent tracks as with iTunes, all of Spotify’s roughly 15 million tracks “in the cloud” are free. The service is supported by onscreen banner ads and radio-style audio ads; there’s also a paid subscription version that offers advertising-free listening and the ability to use Spotify on mobile sevices. Big record companies like Sony, Warner, Universal, and EMI have signed on, and independent musicians can reportedly also distribute music at Spotify. Making and sharing playlists is a big part of the Spotify experience, meaning it may appeal more to new users from a younger demographic than to ones with wellstocked playlists at iTunes or elsewhere. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STREAMING SERVICE? DO YOU CREATE A PLAYLIST, OR DO YOU LIKE THE RANDOM APPROACH? Tell us you thoughts on Facebook.
Along Messiah. What incredible op-
LOAD YOUR MP3’S
the word about SOGO’s success and
Would you like to get an idea of what the first concert in the SOGO season will sound like? The following are a few of the pieces that will be performed as an original work or arranged. Although a high quality CD or iTune download is optimal, there are a number of free streaming websites or Youtube videos that are great alternatives.
portunities these events are to spread professionalism to the greater South
Sound area. Consider not just attending
these events, but bringing along family and friends. Well...that is just the fall
Conservatory Orchestra – John Welsh, music director Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) - Schubert Academic Festival Overture - Brahms
tion regarding the rest of the season in
Greg Allison, conductor Poet and Peasant Overture - von Suppe’
website - student orchestras.org.
Debut Orchestra – Lantz Berets & April Whyte, conductors Symphony No. 9 - Beethoven (last movement)
line-up. Stay tuned for more informacoming newsletters or check out the
~ g. allison
STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA ~ READ THE NEWSLETTER ON-LINE AT studentorchestras.org
MUSIC a vehicle for social change After the last school bell is sounded, 85-elementary-school students in the Philadelphia area attend an after school music program. Titled Tune Up Philly, the program is run by the Philadelphia Youth Orchestras, under the direction of Stanford Thompson. First through sixth-graders are chosen by lottery, with more than 100 students on the waiting list. The program is modeled after the El Sistema Venezuelan music-education program founded in 1976 by Jose Abreu, using music as a vehicle for social change. Projects like the Tune Up Philly are popping up all over the United States. There are also projects like “Kids in Concert”, in Nebraska. The initiative is to get used musical instruments into the hands of Omaha schoolchildren. Key to the citywide effort was Omaha Symphony Music Director Thomas Wilkins, who participated in an advertising campaign that netted a total of 98 donations, including 18 violins. Someday, with enough manpower, finances, and instruments, SOGO would like to provide an after school music program out in rural, low-income areas. We believe, as Jose Abreu of the El Sistema project, that music can be a vehicle for positive social change, and it needs to start with young children. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EL SISTEMA PROJECT… Http://www.ted.com/talks/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html DO YOU HAVE A PLAYABLE STRING INSTRUMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE? DOES A PROJECT LIKE THIS INTEREST YOU? CONTACT US AT studentorchestras@gmail.com or Facebook.
BEETHOVEN NOT BULLETS
Maybe a young idealist, but Mikhail Simonyan, a 24-year-old Russian-Armenian violinist, started holding fundraising concerts for his Beethoven Not Bullets project. He is working to bring Western music back to Afghanistan by sponsoring young musicians to study music at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. His program sponsors music students for a year, at a cost of $360 per student. The majority of the cost goes to replace income the children bring their families by selling newspapers or candy on the street. Simonyan says, “By getting them into the school, what we are doing is the education of the next generation. What are these kids seeing in their lives? Dead bodies, bullets, and fighting and shooting and killings and screamings, and just pretty much living in hell. We are providing them with something completely different and pure, which is music.” During his summers, Marc Thayer, vice president of education for the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, works with an organization called American Voices, a nonprofit that trains young musicians in “post-conflict areas” of the world. Thayer has sometimes had to defend the work he is doing with orchestras and musicians in Iraq. “I’ve had people ask me, if we don’t have enough electricity and the daily needs that we all assume we need, why are these people studying music and art? Why are they spending time on these extracurricular or luxury items? And I say, that’s often the best part of their lives – the only beauty they have in their life.” WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAS MUSIC MADE A DIFFERENCE Tell us you thoughts on Facebook. IN YOUR LIFE?
Quick
– name the three groups of people vital to SOGO! Most of you would say “student musicians” and “directors and coaches,” but you might forget about the parent volunteers. SOGO counts on its parent volunteers to help with several key areas: rehearsals and concerts, communications, publicity/fundraising, and auditions.
To make each rehearsal and concert run smoothly, parents are needed to help set up and tear down the practice areas and stage, transport percussion instruments, and perform other duties as needed. Several mailings are generated during each SOGO season, necessitating a group of volunteers to prepare them for sending. In addition, concert programs require assembling. Help is needed before the holidays to distribute HO HO posters and monitor poinsettia and wreath pick-ups and deliveries. Finally, at the end of the SOGO season, anxious musicians flock to audition for the next year. Parent volunteers are needed to escort students through their auditions and to grade theory tests (with a key)! As you can see, SOGO has a volunteer area for everyone – whatever you interest or availability. I ask that you please fill out the 2011-2012 SOGO Volunteer Form and return it to me as soon as possible. Thank you for allowing your sons and daughters to be part of this great musical experience! Joan Armstrong, Vol. Coordinator 459-7226, g.c.armstrong@comcast.net
SOGO Parent Meeting (2010) - Tuition & Volunteer Forms are turned in.
WELCOME TO SOGO…what’s next? Tuition
Tuition paid early, in full, by September 1 will earn you a voucher for a free ticket to a SOGO season concert. Tuition is due in full by the 1st rehearsal Sunday, September 18. Members may also choose to pay on a payment plan. Contact the Finance Director, Pat Kabler, at 561.2056 for more information.
NOVEMBER 6, 4 PM WCPA
Music
The music you will be performing for the first concert will be available Tuesday, September 6. Stop by the Allison home (1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501) between the hours of 5 – 7 p.m. to receive your folder. We will gladly answer any questions you may have at that time.
First Rehearsal
DECEMBER 17 HO HO 2 & 7 PM 19 MESSIAH SING 7:30 PM
The first rehearsal of the SOGO season is Sunday, September 18. Debut and Academy musicians begin rehearsal at 3 p.m. Conservatory musicians begin rehearsal at 5 p.m. Please be sure to arrive to your rehearsal 15 minutes early (there is ample free parking on Sunday). Bring a music stand, pencil, music if you picked it up on Tuesday, September 6, and your instrument (next week you will also need to bring you Essentials of Music Theory Complete*). There will be SOGO staff and board members there to help you to your rehearsal room. Find your seat with your name on it. Check the information to make sure your name, address, and e-mail information etc. is correct. If there are errors, use your pencil to make corrections and turn the corrected sheet in at the end of rehearsal to the conductor. Parents are encouraged to stay to listen to the rehearsal and help your young musician get situated.
Rehearsals consist of the following:
Full rehearsal - learning everyone else’s part (oh, that means that you are responsible for having your own part learned - we call that practice at home :-)
MARCH 25, 4 PM WCPA
Sectionals - learning from professional coaches in the areas of particular instrument pedagogy, practice strategies, playing as a section, fulfilling your role as a section in the orchestra and ensemble music Music theory instruction - learning the concepts behind the construction of the music we play. Remember to come prepared with your Essentials of Music Theory Complete* and a pencil. Music theory is held 3 times per concert session.
APRIL 28, 1 PM ZOO
MAY 20, 4 PM WCPA 2011-12 SPONSORS Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic Tumwater Eye Center & Vue Vision R.L. Ray Violin Shop, LLC Olympia Federal Savings Marguerite Bishop Fund Irving Lassen Foundation
Music history instruction - learning the background of composers and compositions we play to perform with deeper understanding. Music history is held one to two times per concert session.
Parent Meeting
There is an informational Parent Meeting for all members Sunday, September 18, 4:45 p.m. (after Debut and Academy rehearsal and before the Conservatory rehearsal) in the First Christian Church sanctuary. The meeting is approximately ½ hour long (Debut and Academy musicians can attend too), and includes introductions of the music staff, board, and an overview of the season. Tuition and Parent Volunteer Forms are due, donated Concert Clothes are free for the taking, and SOGO wear will be available for purchase. Westside Music will have Essentials of Music Theory Complete*,SOGO’s theory book, on sale. Your help is needed for fundraising. There will be poinsettia/wreath and advertising forms to take with you to frequented businesses.
Other
There are a number of enjoyable events early in the season, including voting for student representatives from each orchestra, a coaches dinner, Performance Art scheduled for the Saturday, October 6 Arts Walk (a new SOGO event being planned by the Student Board), and sign-ups for string ensembles.
Communication
We encourage you to e-mail us with any questions at studentorchestras@gmail.com. The SOGO phone is 360.561.2080 or to reach the Orchestra Manager/Finance Director, Pat Kabler, call 360.561.2056. www.studentorchestras.org website will always have updated information or look for us on Facebook for just fun stuff! * Conservatory musicians do not need to purchase the theory book. If you have not gone through the SOGO theory classes (offered during Debut and Academy), we highly recommend working through the course book individually.
Charneski Charitable Fund Washington Center All donations are tax-deductible.
Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia founded in 2000 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | studentorchestras.org or Facebook | studentorchestras@gmail.com Rehearsals are held at First Christian Church, 701 Franklin St SE, Olympia WA 98501
EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDENT: Colleen Welch VICE PRESIDENT: Jilyna Dick SECRETARY: Peter Despot TREASURER: John Fleckenstein STUDENT BOARD Dakota McRostie, violin Keadrin Dick, cello BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joyce Allen Joan Armstrong Brad Carlson Wendy Clark Doug Ford Julie Evans Anne Hammond Susan Hill Dana Phelps Amy Schutte Kirk Veis MUSIC DIRECTOR John Welsh
Rehearsals begin September 18 701 Franklin St SE, Olympia
Allison Home 1629 22nd Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Krina Allison, Executive Dir. Pat Kabler, Orchestra Mgr. & Finance Dir. Mary Ardington, Librarian Doug Ford, Orchestra Festival Coord.
Music Available Tuesday, September 6 5-7 p.m.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Greg Allison
e to m i t ... till s ow n s i O ere SOG n Th i o J
di Au
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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1629 22ND AVE SE | OLYMPIA WA 98501 www.studentorchestras.org
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