SOGO February 2014 Newsletter by Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia

or evidence of SOGO’s ability to attract and develop talented young musicians, look no further than SOGO celli Christine Sears and Keadrin Dick. Christine, a senior at North Thurston High School, is a member of the Conservatory Orchestra and has participated in All-State and All-Northwest Orchestras since 2012 and placed highly in regional competitions.

Christine Sears

Christine sees similarities between cello and her love of painting: Painting and cello both leave room for interpretation and originality. Already a private cello teacher, collegebound Christine is well on her way to achieving her dream to become a college professor of cello and have her own private studio. Keadrin Dick’s positive, can-do attitude has been a boon to the Cont’d on p. 2

Lush, Delightful, Capricious

I always think playing an opera overture is a wonderful tool to demonstrate the drama of music. It is good to associate a story with music whenever possible. Our first piece, Overture to Engelbert Humperdink’s Hänsel and Gretel, allows us to do just that. Unlike some darker versions of the familiar fairy tale, this opera ends happily ever after: Hänsel and Gretel throw the witch into her oven and she becomes gingerbread! This overture is a lush and beautiful piece with a lot of Cont’d on p. 2 wonderful brass work.

Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia 1629 22nd Ave SE Olympia WA 98501

We Couldn’t Do It Without You

Here’s how she describes her solo, Cello Concerto No. 1 by Saint-Saëns: I like the Saint-Saëns concerto because it displays several aspects of the cello and the sounds it can make, from the depth of the C string to the bright higher registers and the false harmonics. I love the rich sound of the cello. I also enjoy its versatility; it can handle all types of music.

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March 2014| Vol. XIV No. 4

Look No Further

By Colleen Welch ecently, I had the opportunity to learn about what defines a good nonprofit organization at a board service training workshop. I’ve been on the SOGO board for thirteen years but I continually strive to grow as a board member.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to wax poetic on all the things I learned. Suffice it to say, it was worth my time and effort--I rode my bike there--in the snow! But I did learn something affirming. In listening to these speakers, I realized that SOGO is doing many things right. SOGO’s mission is clearly defined and our board members can articulate it. The SOGO board reviews finances monthly and exercises careful fiscal management. And our board values fresh ideas and lively discussion of relevant issues. Most importantly, we endeavor to keep true to our mission: to provide a challenging, fully integrated music experience for our young musicians. A vibrant youth orchestra helps create a vibrant community. Thank you for trusting the SOGO Board to use your donations to further the mission of SOGO. We couldn’t do it without you. If you continue to support us, we promise to continue to do what I have been told, by those in the know, we do best. Colleen Welch is president of the SOGO Board of Directors. Colleen’s other passion is cycling. Her blog, Super Biker Woman’s Bike Touring, can be found at http://goo.gl/Np7FNG.

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Dress Rehearsal Schedule

à Brass Choir load-in - 11:00 a.m. à Brass Choir 11:20 - 11:55 a.m. à Debut 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. à Academy 12:50 - 1:35 p.m. à Conservatory 1:40 - 3:10 p.m. à CONCERT CALL TIME 3:30 p.m.

Concert

Sunday, March 2, 4 p.m. Washington Center olytix.org | 360.753.8586

SOGO is a proud participant in Orchestras Feeding America. Non-perishable food items and cash donations will be accepted at the concert for the Thurston County Food Bank.

Get your tickets today!

A Swinging Good Time: American Patrol

Look No Further, cont’d

Dancers from Ballet Northwest will cut a rug as the SOGO Brass Choir plays Glenn Miller’s American Patrol this March. One of the dancers, SOGO’s own Caddie Derby (Conservatory, violin), talks about the experience.

SOGO: What do you like about dancing? Caddie: Dancing is a way to express yourself without actually saying anything. It gives a person momentary freedom to express his or hers feelings. Dance is beautiful and I love being a part of the dance community. SOGO: How is it the same or different from SOGO? Caddie: Dance is more similar to orchestra then one might think. When dancing in a group the dancers have to dance together or it looks very bad. Same in an orchestra, every one has to play together and at the same tempo or the music just sounds like a bunch of noise.

SOGO: What do you like about swing dancing? Caddie: It’s a totally different type of dance compared to ballet. I am really looking forward to it!

Ballet Northwest Co-Artistic Directors Ken and Josie Johnson are also looking forward to the performance: We’re thrilled to be collaborating with SOGO and performing this swing dance piece on their program. It will be exciting to see these amazing young musicians and dancers performing together!

Lush, Delightful, and Capricious, cont’d

I’m so happy to have Christine Sears, one of our two celli doing solos this year, in SOGO. She will be featured in Camille Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1. It is delightful, tuneful, and shows off the cello. It is also quite challenging, but Christine’s extreme focus is paying off. She is doing an excellent job.

SOGO Executive Student Board. She has led projects such as instrument petting zoos, performance art, and Orchestras Feeding America. Keadrin is a senior This concerto is special to me. I last conducted it in 1986, when an eighth grade cellist at North Thurston High School and is won the honor of performing it with the Prince William Symphony. That young cellist, excited to perform Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. Zuill Bailey, has gone on to a remarkable music career. I’m happy to perform it again. I finally get to have my dream come true: playing a solo with SOGO! -Keadrin Dick

Besides cello, she spends her time singing, watching Elementary and DocKeadrin Dick tor Who, and diligently plowing through Calculus homework.

For our second cello solo Keadrin Dick will perform Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei (“Our Vows”) with the Academy Orchestra. This is a good experience for the Academy Orchestra to accompany on a non-arranged piece of music. Keadrin is an extremely bright young lady who doesn’t hesitate to challenge me, of course in a very respectful way! I look forward to her performance. Peter Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien will be our finale. It’s a great piece – very exciting and, like a lot of Tchaikovsky, it builds up to a very exciting ending. Tchaikovsky traveled to Italy in 1880 and based this piece on the impressions he had of local street music. This “capricious” piece has lots of emotional slow parts, but also has extremely fast parts and ends with a big bang. By John Welsh, SOGO Music Director

ANATOMY OF A CELLO

$20M $32 65Hz

Record for the most expensive cello (2009). The Duport Stradivari cello was crafted in 1711. Allegedly, Napoleon Bonaparte attempted to play it and left a dent (still present) with his spurs. Monthly fee to rent a cello at local music stores. Check out New Horizons Orchestra (see p.3) about opportunities for adults 50 and over to pull out an old instrument or learn a new one. Audio frequency of the cello’s lowest note.

Cello photo by Georg Feitscher, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

A Little Bird Told Me: Response to the SOGO HO HO and Messiah Concerts Thank you for the most uplifting evening. I got chills. Olympia is the place to be for young musicians. Very powerful. Spectacular performance. I got goose bumps. It’s one thing to sit in the chairs and listen to great music. But to be invited to sing along is like being ‘taught to fish.’ –Diana McCandless

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Way to Go!!

Congratulations to our All-State and Junior All-State participants. They will spend February 14-16 rehearsing with musicians from around the state and northwest region. The weekend will culminate with honor group performances attended by music educators, family, and friends. All of these students have worked hard and auditioned for this honor last autumn.

C’mon - You Know You Wanna Crash Those Cymbals!

They’re Baaack... Olympia New Horizons Orchestra will once again join the SOGO Debut Orchestra on stage at the March 2 concert. Olympia New Horizons is a music program for adults 50 and over. Conductor Lantz Berets raves about the joint performance: First - I want students to see and experience that musicmaking is a lifetime activity.

Grab your kids, your friends with kids, and even your own curious self. Find out what it’s *really* like to blow in a flute, buzz a trumpet, bow a violin, and crash those cymbals. Washington Center Executive Director Jill Barnes has been a wonderful supporter of all of the arts groups in the community. She is excited to collaborate with SOGO to host the Instrument Petting Zoo as part of Olympia’s Spring Arts Walk.

Second - Our musical community, like our community at large, is made up of several generations. Every generation is important to the health and vibrancy of our lives.

Here’s the info for “your next gig” • Saturday, April 26th, 2–4 p.m. • Washington Center, On Stage • Bring your camera and your curiosity!

Third - It’s going to be fun! As conductor of both the Debut Orchestra and the Olympia New Horizons Orchestra, I can say how enjoyable it will be making music together.

It’s ZOO time again!

Interested in joining New Horizons? Email musicmakers@olynhb.com.

Thank you to our sponsors and advertisers SOGO 2013-2014 Sponsors Cabinets by Trivonna Charneski Charitable Fund The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound The Community Youth Fund Dr. Andrew Kapust, DDS National Endowment for the Arts National Federation of Music Clubs Olympia Federal Savings Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic Panorama Pioneer Technologies R.L. Ray Violin Shop

Salon Salon Sunrise Dental Tumwater Eye Center & VUE WA State Arts Commission Walter A. Bratton Youth Endowment Fund 2013-2014 Advertisers Bischofberger Violins, Ltd Breathe Olympia Cooper Moss Advanced Dentistry David T. Stone Violins Donald Sampson, DDS

Edward Case, MD Jennifer R. Case, Keller Williams Realty Environmental Connections Outdoor School Evergreen Brass Quintet Music 6000 Old School Pizzeria Pope John Paul II High School South Sound Endodontics South Sound Radiology South Sound Women’s Center TAGS Awards Tanasse Chiropractic WSECU

Spring Events Season Concert

Sunday, March 2, 4 p.m. Washington Center | olytix.org

Instrument Petting Zoo

Saturday, April 26, 2-4 p.m. Washington Center | Free admission

Season Concert

Sunday, May 18, 4 p.m. Washington Center | olytix.org

Auditions

May 25, 28; June 1

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Season Concert March 2, 4 p.m. Washington Center for the Performing Arts Donate non-perishable food items for the food bank.