SOGO SOGO
RCHESTRATING the FUTURE volume 25 #2 February 2025
From Messiah to Masterpieces
ESUNDAY | MAR 2nd | 4pm WINTER
The SOGO student board is made up of teenage musicians who find it important to have a student’s voice heard among the adult board. These students speak on behalf of SOGO musicians during the monthly board meetings and agreed to answer some questions for this article.
Each student board member joined SOGO for different reasons, from wanting to improve their skills to a friend who invited them, or parents insisted!! Allison joined in 2017, and both Zoey and Isabella joined in 2022, working up through the ranks as representatives of
very time I sit down to write one of these articles looking ahead to the next SOGO concert, I scratch my head and try to think about what’s new and exciting that I haven’t already talked about. Then I step onto the podium at rehearsal and the students surprise me once again with their dedication, hard work, and positive attitudes. I am reminded that it doesn’t matter what repertoire we play; the students are always worthy of your presence and support. In December, the Conservatory Orchestra once again participated in SOGO’s annual Messiah sing-along. With 90 players on stage and a completely packed house, it was a truly exhilarating evening, and I hope it was as memorable an experience for the students as it was for me.
Conservatory is now hard at work on two firecrackers of the orchestral repertoire for our March 2nd concert: Pique Dame Overture by Franz von Suppè and Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. These composers, who were both experts on the capabilities of orchestral instruments, ask the musicians to employ some unusual techniques. Watch for the string players imitating guitars and dropping their bows onto the string from the air (this latter technique is called “saltando” or “ricochet”). Both pieces feature large percussion sections, and Capriccio Espagnol also includes several solo cadenzas. It is a piece I personally have loved since the age of 14, and this was the year I had all the right soloists to pull it off.
This repertoire represents a significant step up from what we performed in November, as was the Messiah. For those who don’t know, even though we only play portions of Handel’s Messiah each year, it still adds up to about three times the amount of music the Conservatory Orchestra typically prepares for a concert. Students who stay in Conservatory multiple years of course have the benefit of their experience playing Messiah year after year, but a significant percentage of this year’s orchestra was encountering it for the first time. They rose to the challenge magnificently and are doing so again with the music for the March concert.
While our new rehearsal schedule and use of two different buildings prevents me from observing all our groups as they rehearse, I hear great progress reports from my fellow conductors, and I am so grateful to each of them and to our wonderful Teaching Artists for their expertise and commitment to our students. Enrollment continues to inch upward, and I can tell that our ensembles are headed towards another splendid performance on March 2nd. I know that I always say that our concerts are not to be missed, but that’s because it’s true! So, get your tickets now and be sure to arrive early; a special surprise awaits the first 200 people through the door. That’s all I will say for now. See you soon!
Music Director & Conductor
STUDENT’S VOICE
the younger orchestras.
Their time in SOGO, agreed by all three students, has made them each a much better musician. Isabella said, “SOGO has drastically improved my musical skills and my love for my instrument.”
The students had the most to say about what they would express to someone interested in joining SOGO. From Allison’s “SOGO makes you a better musician,” and Isabella’s, “it’s magical to be appreciated and feel belonging in SOGO, which I never thought possible.” Zoey remembered her fear of audition-
ing, “I’m so grateful that I decided to audition and join…SOGO has made an amazing impact on my musical journey.”
To our community, Allison invites you to “Come [to the concert] because it’s a showcase of genuine talent of young musicians.” Zoey says, “There is something for everyone in the audience to experience!”
Student Board and Representatives are voted in during September and have been the core of SOGO’s mission since its beginning in 2000.
Orchestral Fireworks:
THANK YOU
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JOIN THE PARTY!
A JOURNEY WORTH CELEBRATING
Whenwe started the Orchestrating the Future Campaign on February 29, 2024, SOGO had a financial goal—many of you stepped up to help. Then, in the spring, we asked you to provide financial scholarships for young musicians, and you helped. We inched towards our initial goal during the fall when we launched “Play Your Part” by sponsoring the conductor’s podium or sections in the orchestra, and you
Thelped. Then there was GIVE LOCAL hosted by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, and you helped.
So, how far did we go in our campaign goal? The answer will be revealed at our upcoming concert on March 2, 4pm at the Washington Center - a moment you’ll never forget. Don’t miss it!
SOGO on the Move!!!
he SOGO Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Greg Allison, is touring by bus to bring the joy of music to school children. The orchestra will visit two schools in the Olympia S.D., including Marshall M.S. and L.P. Brown Elementary, performing for nearly 500 children. The tour also makes a trek to Grays Harbor, where the Philharmonic Orchestra will perform for another 1,000 students from the Aberdeen and Hoquiam schools at the historic 7th Street Theater.
This annual tradition for the Philharmonic musicians is a give back to the community while having the opportunity to inspire children to embark on their musical journey. The program includes an overture, a collaboration with the school’s music teacher, a fun novelty piece with faculty, and crowd-pleasing movie music.
Don’t miss the March 2, 4pm SOGO concert at the Washington Center, where highlights from the tour will take center stage!
Thank you to Inspire Olympia funding, which supports our tour to Olympia Schools with the greatest need, ensuring all students in our community have access to live music.
arlier this month, the SOGO board, along with staff, teaching artists, and Conservatory student representatives, met to talk about what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean for us and how we can make SOGO a better place for everyone.
These important words are central to orchestras as they bring diverse instrumentalists together to be something greater than they can be alone. Add Accessibility – how we remove barriers to participation, and Belonging – being surrounded by supportive friends, and you have the agenda for our recent retreat. Our facilitator was Manny Martinez, a SOGO alumni parent who offers leadership training through Crestcom. He put it this way: “diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance, and equity is getting to choose the music you dance to.”
In preparation, we collected input from Conservatory members and staff. We looked at regional demographics and how Inspire Olympia (the City of Olympia’s Cultural Access program) views equity and accessibility. At the
retreat, we shared personal stories of exclusion – how we all felt like an outsider at times in our lives. We talked about SOGO’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and the challenges we expect to face. Here are just a couple of important takeaways: we heard from students that friends often don’t join because they think they can’t afford the tuition, and we are drawing more diverse students from more diverse schools than before through SOGO 2 Schools. It’s little surprise that members also told us they want more opportunities to get to know each other better.
At the end of the day, we developed a long list of things we can do to make SOGO better for all. Some may be done quickly; some will take time. Three themes emerged that will get much of our focus: first, financial accessibility; second, creating more social opportunities for students; and third, being a safe space for all and clearly communicating that we accept everyone as they are.
Milt Harper, SOGO President
