SOGO
SO Y’KNOW NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2011 Vol. 12 No. 2
MY HAT WAS IN THE RING
Wto the maturity of this organization as it takes a
elcome to a new decade of SOGO! I look forward
significant place in the artistic life of the Northwest. A little over 11 years ago last month (the Labor Day weekend to be exact) I met with a small group of folks (The Allison’s and a couple of energetic, bright young high school students) to talk about conducting a new, and as of yet, unformed orchestra composed of students from the South Sound area. I had just come out here from back East (most of my life was spent in Washington, DC and more recently Tennessee) to become the conductor of the Bremerton Symphony. My name had been mentioned as a new conductor to the area looking for more work (conductors never have enough places to conduct). I wanted to be involved with a group that represented a positive educational and musical experience. All of my inquiries yielded the results I was looking for, so I threw my hat in the ring! None of us knew what was going to follow, but here I am years later proudly conducting a wonderful group of young musicians in the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia.
Hvaried types of orchestras (not a Youth Orchestra
aving had a long career as a Music Director of many
however) and actively involved with the League of American Orchestras and a Board Member of the Conductors’ Guild, I had occasion to observe the Youth Orchestra culture. Having done so, there were a number of goals we were able to put into place from the establishment of SOGO in 2000.
Hchestras involving college students (Georgetown aving been the Music Director of community or-
Symphony and the Rockville/Montgomery College orchestras) I noted the weakness in interaction between the age groups. I also noted the positive growth of those interactions over a period of time. In SOGO, our coaching faculty works to develop strong relationships with the players, yielding confident musicians and a growing membership. This works in tandem with minimizing competition. SOGO values what each member brings to the orchestra, no matter where they sit.
Ayouth orchestras to program arrangements and popnother phenomenon I observed was the tendency of
ular movements from suites or symphonies. In SOGO, by the time members reach the Conservatory Orchestra Cont. page 2
Alaina Peters, soloist
ON THE MEZZ!
Enhance your concert experience with pre-concert talks! ON THE MEZZ is an informative and engaging way to learn about the music before the concert. SOGO’s musicologist, Anne Edge, will take you through music theory, guided listening and the program’s historical and cultural context. Plus, you’ll hear interviews with The Conservatory Orchestra’s clarinet soloist, Alaina Peters, and members of the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia and participate in Q & A! All ON THE MEZZ events are FREE to ticket holders and are held in the lobby area of the Mezzanine level at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall at 3:30 p.m. (1/2 hour before the show begins)
FREE IS GOOD! Children 6 years and younger receive a free ticket* with
a paying adult when they attend a Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) season concert. SOGO tickets are reasonably priced from $5-$17* and can be purchase through the Center Box Office 7538586 or online at Olytix.org. Avoid long lines and get choice seats if you purchase your tickets early, or at least the day before each concert. *Plus the $3 Washington Center surcharge
STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA ~ 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | www.studentorchestras@gmail.com