May 2016 Vol. XVI No. 5
Providing a challenging, fully integrated music experience for the young musician because of support from people like you.
1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 360-352-1438 studentorchestras.org
150 Musicians Hit the Stage... 150 musicians hit the Washington Center stage Sunday, May 15 for the spring SOGO concert, which features a flute duet led by two talented SOGO musicians (see p.2), Russian dances, brass surround sound, and a dash of West Side Story. During intermission SOGO pulls out all the stops to bring creativity to its best with a silent auction of the unusual including a violin lamp and musical flowers - a floral arrangement made by SOGO musicians from "We know that music sheet music. You won't want to – especially classical miss these classical flowers! “Trivonna and I consider it a great privilege to sponsor SOGO," says Ross Irwin, owner of Cabinets by Trivonna, which is this concert's (Cont'd, p.2)
music - exercises the young mind better than most anything else." ~ Ross Irwin
Your Donations Paying it Forward: From SOGO to USMC Band By Thomas Malm, SOGO alumnus Hello readers! My name is Thomas Malm and I am honored to be serving you in our nation’s armed services in the Quantico Marine Corps Band as a bassoonist.
Cpl. Thomas Malm was a member of SOGO for 3 years. He graduated in the 2008-2009 season.
I didn’t start by playing the bassoon. In fact, my mom forced me to be in band, a band under the direction of a certain trumpet-playing music teacher with a killer Kermit the Frog impression.* First came the clarinet, (Cont'd, p.2) * Hi, ho, Corporal Malm is referring to SOGO Artistic Director Greg Allison.
Your Scholarship Donations Needed to Keep the Vision Alive This year we saw a 25% increase in our membership and we know that it will continue to grow. Each SOGO musician pays tuition, but it only covers 50% of the total program cost. We don’t turn anyone away because of financial need, so we need to maintain a robust scholarship program to ensure that all children have access to this orchestral experience. Your donation of $15 supports one child for a rehearsal ($60 for a whole month), and $420 provides a scholarship for an entire season. SOGO started because two high school students wanted a student orchestra and we have celebrated their vision for the past 16 years. Help keep the vision alive. Use the Donate button at the bottom of Tuition 50% our website (studentorchestras.org) or send a check to 1629 22nd Contributions 25% Fundraising* 25% Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501. Please donate today! * Includes tickets, concert advertising, poinsettia sales, and other miscellaneous fundraisers.
Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.
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TWO FLUTES ARE BETTE "Duets are a balance between being a good technical player yourself and being able to listen to and interact with the other person," says SOGO's Morgan Hurtado. She and Brynna Paros will be featured in SOGO's May concert performing Andante and Rondo for Two Flutes by Franz Doppler. Brynna likes the melodies of the piece. "It's very pretty and fun to play. There’s definitely some challenging parts - how
SOGO to USMC Band, cont'd then the saxophone, and when I finally realized that two reeds are better than one, the bassoon. I joined SOGO because music is about sharing a bit of ourselves and at the same time experiencing something far grander than any one musician can achieve by themselves. The experiences SOGO afforded me, the friends I made, and the lessons I learned all helped to mold me into the musician, individual, and citizen I am today.
Hit the Stage, cont'd The experiences SOGO afforded me, the friends I made, and the lessons I learned all helped to mold me into the musician, individual, and citizen I am today.
My most powerful musical moment came recently during the NYC fire house 10/10 911 memorial last September just feet from Ground Zero where we performed only for first responders and their loved ones. Normally we would start a program with the National Anthem, but here taps began, immediately followed by a moment of silence, then the Star Spangled Banner and a ballad. While none of the small gathering knew the name of the ballad nor we their names or those of their fallen comrades, every face revealed the impact the music had on each person: unweathering resolve and a fellowship stronger than any of our differences. SOGO gives each of us a piece of that experience, as musicians, as audience members, as teachers, as humans. The ability to begin these experiences through SOGO and school music programs is as crucial to our development as any core curriculum, nay, more so. SOGO Alumnus Corporal Thomas Malm receiving his promotion to USMC Corporal.
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Best regards and Semper Fidelis, Thomas Malm
Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.
distinguished sponsor. "We know that music – especially classical music - exercises the young mind better than most anything else." We will be honoring our graduating seniors (see opposite page) and presenting SOGO scholarships. We will also honor these dedicated board members who are stepping down this year: Dana Phelps (8 years of service), Brad Carlson (4 years), Amy Schutte (4 years), Kirk Veis (4 years), and Janet Cherry (1 year). We hope you'll join for this fantastic season finale us at the Washington Center this May 15 at 4 pm.
Audacious Programming for 2016-2017 Season SOGO is planning some of our most audacious programming yet for the 2016-2017 season. Students will be working with special guest conductor Victoria Gau of Washington DC's Capital City Symphony, experiencing mentoring and collaboration with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, and performing George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Advanced musicians within the community should audition to be a part of this epic programming. Book an audition time for May 22, 23, or 25 at studentorchestras.org.
2016-17 Concert Schedule* • Season Concerts 11/6, 3/5, and 5/21 • Ho Ho Brass Choir 12/11 • Messiah Sing-Along 12/19 • Arts Walk Instrument Petting Zoo 4/22 * Dates subject to change.
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R THAN ONE to fit the two flutes together, having to articulate short notes together at the same time. The two flute parts are very different." Morgan agrees, "The more I listen, the more I like it. There's lots of play back and forth between the two flute players." Brynna and Morgan both appreciate the chance to step in front of the orchestra. "I was really excited and happy
that [Maestro Welsh] wanted me to do the duet," says Brynna. Morgan adds, "I love being in the limelight and flute is one of the things I'm really proud of. I’m enjoying this opportunity." We hope you'll enjoy the opportunity to hear Brynna and Morgan play Andante and Rondo on May 15 at 4 pm in the Washington Center.
SOGO Seniors Grateful for Y our Support Thank you so much for supporting SOGO! Without your help, I could never have the opportunity to experience such a fantastic fabulous [program]. ~ Zhengyuan Yang, flute. Zhengyuan is an exchange student spending the school year in Olympia.
SOGO has been an incredible and integral part of my life since 5th grade, so THANK YOU. I wish I could give each and every donor a huge hug. SOGO is the reason I continued with music, and that decision has transformed my life. ~ Zoe Chapman, percussion
Joining SOGO is definitely worth it. I was able to gain so much in terms of musicianship! ~ Brynna Paros, flute
John
Zhengyuan
SOGO Class of 2016
SOGO has turned me into better musician and helped me strengthen a lot of weak points I had in playing music. ~ Emma Eacrett, flute
Brynna
Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.
SOGO is joining the Olympia Symphony Orchestra for the 10th anniversary of the Concert at the Capitol: July 31, 1-8 pm, by the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus. It will include many local arts groups, including Ballet NW and the Olympia Youth Chorus. Don't worry about getting hungry, there will be a variety of gourmet food trucks. You might even hear SOGO play some popular movie music at this fun FREE outdoor concert!
SOGO taught me the importance of practice; if you set your mind to it and work on something, you can do just about anything, both inside the area of music and outside. ~ Morgan Hurtado, flute
Thank you for giving me opportunities to play at the Washington Center and letting me learn what it is like to be in a full sized orchestra. ~ Zach Tepley, trombone
Without SOGO I never would have gotten an education in orchestral playing. ~ David Hales, clarinet
Morgan
Emma Peter
Watch for Us at the FREE Festival on the Capitol Green!
Zoe
Aubrey David
Zach
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SUNDAY MAY 15 4:00 P.M. WASHINGTON CENTER CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA John Welsh, Conductor Maslanka, World Music Doppler, Andante and Rondo for 2 Flutes featuring Morgan Hurtado and Brynna Paros Borodin, Polovtsian Dances BRASS CHOIR Greg Allison, Conductor Stone, Centennial Fanfare Bernstein, Maria Cheetham, Keystone Celebration Also Appearing Debut Orchestra, Academy Orchestra TICKETS: OLYTIX.ORG
$6-$15* | 360.753.8586 | 6 and under free* *plus $3 Center surcharge MEDIA ON THE MEZZ Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly. Accepting Auditions | studentorchestras.org us at Facebook.com/Studentorchestras
DistinguisheD sponsor: CABINETS BY TRIVONNA
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