The Little Pernambuco Tree story by ~ Robert Ray illustrations by ~ student artists compiled by ~ SOGO Available for purchase Oct. 2. SOGO - So Y’Know Newsletter
YOUNG LIVES being shaped THROUGH MUSIC
So many miles under the plane…
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ast May was another stellar Spring Concert for SOGO. We featured quintessential American music with all our groups finishing off a very strong tenth anniversary season. Then, to continue the celebration, in July our own SOGO Conservatory Brass Choir and Faculty Woodwind Quintet took off for Italy with performances in Venice – the birthplace of brass music, a spa town in Tuscany, a church off the main square of Rome and a most memorable experience performing Puccini’s music in the medieval town of Lucca – Puccini’s birthplace – with an impromptu guest soloist. You just would have had to be there. So, how do you follow up a tenth anniversary season and an international tour? With: • A Children’s Concert where we roll out our recently published children’s book The Little Pernambuco Tree featuring local students’ artwork • The Fall Concert featuring Drew Norton on Marimba and Schumann Symphony No. 4 • Special commission helping the Washington Center to celebrate its 25th anniversary • The SOGO HoHo – our Brass Choir’s Holiday Variety Show that will be even more of a variety show with highlights from a decade of shows • The Messiah Sing-Along celebration in collaboration with other local performing groups – truly a community event! • The Winter Concert featuring Will Wertjes on piano and Bizet’s music from Carmen • The Spring Concert highlighting Hollywood film music • Chamber ensembles performing by request throughout the community • Continuing education in theory, composition and music history • Planning for our first ever youth orchestra festival to be held in 2012
It is a very full plate and promises to be a great season with exciting new projects and continuing growth. As SOGO staff, we look forward to our new season and the joys of working with incredible youth in a very positive atmosphere. Greg Allison, Artistic Director
September 2010 Vol. 11 No. 1
The Little Pernambuco Tree – a children’s story about growing up.
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n 2003 Robert Ray, owner of the R.L. Ray Violin Shop, gifted SOGO with a story he wrote for his daughter. The story, written about a pau-brasil tree growing up in the forests of Brazil, underscores the importance of our elders’ (the parent trees) guidance and protection as we mature. A violin bow maker, Robert uses the wood from the pau-brasil (more commonly known as the pernambuco tree) for carving bows. The wood has been used for hundreds of years by bow makers because of its elasticity, density, strength, and ability to hold a curve. The Pau-brasil grows in the forests of the coastal plain of Brazil known as the Mata Atlantica. Beginning in the 16th century, the plentiful forests were exploited for mahogany and pernambuco wood or simply leveled for sugar cane plantations, a more profitable gain. Despite the long commercial history of pau-brasil and its status as Brazil’s namesake and national tree, little is known about the tree’s growing habits or habitats. An international group of bow makers has organized the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI) with a specific mission: save the pernambuco tree. They are dedicated to research, replanting programs, educational outreach and other conservation measures. In 2006, the SOGO Board of Directors dedicated the concert season to “Save a Tree…Build an Orchestra”, by bringing to light the work of the IPCI to save and replant the Pernambuco forests. That year, Mark Thome, a local composer, was commissioned to put the story to music. The Little Pernambuco Tree was performed on a children’s concert tour in January of that season, and on March 4, 2007 it debuted at the Washington Center with the Academy Orchestra, Greg Allison conducting, and the Secretary of State, Sam Reed, narrating. SOGO opens their 11th season with a Children’s Concert Saturday, October 2, 1 p.m. at the Washington Center. It is there that the seven year project culminates in the release of The Little Pernambuco Tree children’s book. The audience will hear the story and view the delightful children’s artwork set to the rich orchestral sounds by composer Mark Thome. The piece conjures up tropical forests, blustery rainstorms, youthful adventure, familiar trials and uncommon hope. Program includes: • Percussion Features – Drew Norton soloist • Impresario Overture, Mozart • Sabre Dance, Khatchuturan • Flight of the Bumble Bee, Rimsky-Korsakov • The Little Pernambuco Tree, Thome Tickets: $4.50 - $16.50 plus $2.50 service charge Olytix.org or 360.753.8586 Illustrations, by student artists, throughout the newsletter are a preview of artwork included in the new book to be released at the Children’s Concert on Saturday, October 2.
First Rehearsal Sunday, September 19, 2010 First Christian Church, Olympia • 3 p.m. Academy & Debut Orchestra • 4:30 p.m. Brass Choir • 5 p.m. Conservatory Orchestra
Parent Meeting 4:45 p.m. - church sanctuary. Introduction to the season and opportunity to pay tuition and purchase event tickets (season tickets may be purchased through the Washington Center).