Orchestrating Lifelong Participation in the Arts
Welcome
CAMERON MAY New Music Director
1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 360-352-1438 | studentorchestras.org studentorchestras@gmail.com October 2018 Vol. XIX No. 1
Maestro May “Having a Blast” in New Role Get your tickets today to see 100 musicians take the stage to perform Mambo from West Side Story. All three SOGO orchestras will play in this mass finale to the season opening concert on November 4. Audience members will have a part too, but don’t worry - you’ll have a chance to rehearse your line (‘Mambo!”) before joining in the fun of this infectious piece. “Orchestras around the world are celebrating Leonard Bernstein’s (cont’d p.2)
SOGO’s Maestro Cameron May will conduct his first SOGO concert on Sunday, November 4 with a program of works by Verdi, Dvorák, Butterworth, and Bernstein.
Why did you choose these pieces?
The Butterworth and Bernstein [see “Mambo!” at left] both celebrate important 100th anniversaries. George Butterworth died fighting World War I, and the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day (Veterans Day) is only a week after our concert. This particular piece, A Shropshire Lad, was used four years ago in a special recording bringing together musicians from England and Germany to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war’s inception. (cont’d p.2)
Make your donations go further Oct 31 - Nov 20 with Give Local • Make a gift at the Give Local page Oct 31 to Nov 20 to help young musicians like Avery, at left, a violinist in SOGO’s Academy Orchestra.
• 100% of your donations go directly to SOGO. Credit card and platform fees are covered by The Community Foundation and Olympia Federal Savings. • Every dollar is stretched through an incentive fund provided by the Dawkins Charitable Trust.
• Use this link:
https://givelocal.thecommunityfoundation.com/campaign/student-orchestras
Avery joined SOGO’s Debut Orchestra as a violin player in the middle of the 2016 season. Over the year Avery became determined to move up to the Academy Orchestra. (cont’d p.4) Fragrant Noble Fir wreaths, floral quality poinsettias, coffee, and cocoa make great holiday gifts for yourself or your friends and business associates. Place your order today directly from the SOGO website (studentorchestras.org) or with the enclosed order form (download a copy at studentorchestras.org). SOGO is pleased to offer items from local businesses such as Thurston County’s Sherwood Forest Farms for this winter fundraiser. Sherwood Forest Farms prides itself on their environmentally friendly way of harvesting evergreens for their fresh, 22” Noble Fir wreaths. “We never cut trees down, nor do we utilize old growth materials. Our evergreens are harvested by trimming boughs from trees in the Cascade mountains of Washington State mountains. This pruning helps the trees sustain a healthy growth pattern and fosters a healthy ecosystem in their growth area.” Wreaths come in a traditional arrangement and include a red velvet water repellent bow and snowy pine cones for easy attaching. Orders taken until November 11. Items are distributed Thursday, November 29.
“Having a Blast” (cont’d) Regarding the other two Conservatory-only pieces on the program, the Verdi Overture to Nabucco is a fabulous season opener that gives everyone something exciting to do, including an especially prominent opening chorale for the brass. Dvorák’s Slavonic Dances are a whole lot of fun, but deceptively difficult and quite nuanced. The Conservatory Orchestra is performing each of these pieces for the first time, and each demands something different of the students. Collectively, they should offer quite a bit of variety for the listener as well.
What are you excited about for the November concert?
Since it is my first concert as Music Director, I am looking forward to the culmination of the first two months of our work together. It will be a great opportunity to show the public what we have been working on, and also an important milestone upon which we can build in future concerts and seasons.
“
Every rehearsal leaves me with the feeling that the orchestra has infinite potential, and that wherever I go, musically, they will be right there with me. ~ Maestro Cameron May
I am also excited to hear the other ensembles, as the rehearsal schedule allows me only limited opportunities to check out what everyone else is doing.
How are you settling in to the role of Music Director?
Being a Music Director encompasses a lot more than just showing up on Sunday evenings and conducting for a few hours. Being new to town, I’m still working on establishing relationships in the community and recognizing that everywhere I go I serve as an ambassador and visible face of SOGO. It’s important work, and I’m having a blast. This is such a wonderful, vibrant arts community and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.
What do you enjoy about working with musicians in this age group?
I love watching them discover new things about music and they have endless potential. Enthusiasm is really high and that is immensely rewarding as a conductor.
(cont’d) 100th birthday,” explains SOGO’s new music director Cameron May. “And I realized pretty early on that the Mambo was the most logical choice for SOGO. When I discovered a set of arrangements of mixed difficulty levels that all fit together, the idea of a mass finale was born.” The piece is fun to play and May notes that performing together as one orchestra is “a great opportunity for our younger students to play with our older students. It unites the whole organization under a common purpose.”
“
When I discovered a set of arrangements of mixed difficulty levels that all fit together, the idea of a mass finale was born. ~ Maestro Cameron May
Despite the logistical challenges of rehearsing all three orchestras together and staging multiple orchestras in the Washington Center, Maestro May believes the piece will be worth the extra effort. “All in all,” says May, “I think Mr. Bernstein, one of the greatest music educators of all time, would approve.“ Join the fun on November 4, 4pm, at the Washington Center. Purchase your tickets at washingtoncenter.org or (360) 753-8586.
What has surprised you about your students?
Perhaps what has surprised me most is how normal it feels. Every rehearsal leaves me with the feeling that the orchestra has infinite potential, and that wherever I go, musically, they will be right there with me. That is very exciting, and a testament to music education in the region. I recognize that as a youth orchestra, we “borrow” students from their school programs and private studios, and it is an immense privilege to be able to call them my students as well.
“
We Gratefully Thank Our Community Partners and Sponsors
This is such a wonderful, vibrant arts community and I’m so thankful to be a part of it. ~ Maestro Cameron May
Dr. Douglas N. Jeske, Optometr
Celebrating 20 years of compassionate, individualized eye car
Come to this hear exciting performance at the Washington Center on Sunday, November 4 at 4pm. Tickets are available at washingtoncenter.org or (360) 753-8586
quality vision and medical eye care for all ages
(360) 352-6060 www.tumwatereye.com
Specialty contacts and glasses for astigmatism and multifocal Medical management for glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, floaters, dry eye disease, allergies Exams for vision-related learning disabilities most insurances billed • VISA / MC / Discover We’re on Facebook! facebook.com/TumwaterEye
LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM •
}
LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM •
}
(360
116 5t dow www
Unique eyewea
Eye exams for
facebook.com
SOGO Alumnus Evan Harper Reflects on “Challenging” SOGO Experience
SOGO is Community Supported
SOGO alumnus Evan Harper (2017) is currently studying music performance in violin at the University of Michigan. Harper returned to Olympia recently and reflected on his experiences in SOGO. “When I first started SOGO, I was in 6th grade,” says Harper. “At first it was because I wanted to have more music education. I was in the school orchestra and taking private lessons, but this [full orchestra] wasn’t being covered.”
Evan Harper and his dad, SOGO Board Vice President Milt Harper. Evan performed with the Olympia Symphony at their 2018 “Concert at the Capitol.” Photo credit: John O’Leary
“
That time of focusing in SOGO ... that experience of performing and rehearsing and learning how that works was really important for me. ~ Evan Harper
SPIRE • PERFORM •
Over the years Harper developed strong relationships with his fellow musicians. “I met a lot of people from other schools, other parts of the community. The friendships I made in SOGO, even just one Sunday at week were really important to me - the connections I made in SOGO.” Harper knew during his last few years of high school that he wanted to study music in college. He explains, “In SOGO, I had an experience that made me want to pursue music. It made me start thinking of any place I was playing music to give it my all. [The SOGO] Conservatory [Orchestra] in high school gave me a place to do that.” “It was challenging music we had to perform,” continues Harper. “Since I wanted to rise to that challenge, it was something that helped, especially when I went to University of Michigan.” “Playing in a full-sized orchestra is such a big - a great thing. We have orchestra three times a week and you have to know your music really well. That time of focusing in SOGO – it wasn’t at all the same caliber as University of Michigan, but that experience of performing and rehearsing and learning how that works was really important for me.”
Executive Board of Directors John Fleckenstein, President Milt Harper, Vice President Doug Ford, Secretary Kristen Jaudon, Treasurer Board of Directors Jennifer Case Anne Edge Lindsey Ford Anna Garrett Ryan Hall Kari Hertter Jim Lin Jocelyn McCabe Ed Sandor Roberta Waggoner
But Harper adds that the things he learned in SOGO are also important for students who don’t major in music. “Even for my friends who aren’t pursuing orchestra, discipline is important.”
Student Executive Board Jenny Jang, violin William Nordhorn, violin
Alumni like Evan are invited to return to SOGO each year to perform at the annual Messiah Sing-Along. The event is December 17, 7pm, at the Washington Center and is free and open to the public.
Administrative Staff Krina Allison, Executive Director Ginny Nordhorn, Marketing & Communications Nick Masters, Recruitment Coordinator Amber Young, Financial Manager Mary Jo Rydholm, Conservatory Librarian Doug Ford, Photographer
At left: Evan Harper and Eric So at the May 2017 SOGO concert. Photo credit: Doug Ford.
}
2018/19 Sponsors Academy Mortgage Corporation, The Lacey Team Capital Heating & Cooling Olympia Federal Savings Olympic Dermatology PCS Structural Solutions R.L. Ray Violin Shop, LLC Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry Tumwater Eye Center 2018/19 Advertisers (as of Oct 18) Air PNW, LLC B & R Flooring The Back Door Bakery Belmont University Bischofberger Violins, LTD Blush Day Spa Coldwell Banker, Evergreen Olympic Realty David T. Stone Violins Edward Case, MD Encore Chocolate & Teas Evergreen Brass Quintet Hammond Ashley Violins Jocelyn McCabe Public Relations JT Painting Company Listen First Speech Therapy, LLC McDonald Dentistry MSGS Architects Music & Arts Music 6000 Northwest Center for Prosthodontics, Dr. Lawton NOVA School Old School Pizzeria OlyBella Olympia Christian School Olympia Consulting Pizzeria La Gitana Realty One Group Prestige, Jennifer Case Salon Salon South Sound Women’s Center Tanasse Chiropractic Thurston County Title Vantage Physicians Washington Center for the Performing Arts
LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM •
}
Artistic Administration Cameron May, Music Director Greg Allison, Artistic Director
LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM
Upcoming Events November 4 Season Concert Sunday at 4pm Washington Center Ticket info below
December 8 Holiday Brass Show
Your Donations Support Programs Like These Beginner Instrument Classes
Introduces students to playing the violin or trumpet over the course of four 1 hour after school sessions.
Saturday at 2 pm Westminster Presbyterian Reserve Tickets: $5-$26 studentorchestras.org 360.352.1438
Prelude Strings Non-Audition String Orchestra
December 17 Messiah Sing-Along
Prelude Strings is a free after-school program for eight weeks this fall for elementary and middle school string players with one or two years of experience.
Monday at 7pm Washington Center | FREE
Additional Events March 3, 4pm
Season Concert, Washington Center
April 27, 2-4pm
Percussion Class
Student learn pedagogy, ensemble and orchestral preparation. Members perform with the Academy and Debut Orchestras for three concerts at the Washington Center.
Instrument Petting Zoo Washington Center | FREE
May 19, 4pm
Season Concert, Washington Center
Season Concert Tickets $7-$16* washingtoncenter.org
360.753.8586 | 6 and under free* *plus a $3.00 Washington Center facility fee Dates subject to change.
Conservatory Orchestra
The Conservatory Orchestra is offered for students of advanced high school ability and focuses on the artistic performance of the standard orchestral repertoire. Conservatory brass members also participate in the SOGO Brass Choir.
Give Local makes your donations go further (cont’d)
Avery took violin lessons with a SOGO alumna and worked diligently to improve her skills. Avery saw the results of her hard work when she successfully auditioned into the Academy Orchestra in 2017.
PLACE YOUR 2018 HOLIDAY ORDER TODAY! Orders are due by November 11 The Buy Local Holiday Fundraiser is a way to support your youth symphony and the local business community. Thank you to Star Lake Nursery, Sherwood Farms, and Olympic Crest Coffee Co. for your partnership in giving back to the community and for providing an excellent product. ~ Krina Allison, SOGO Executive Director
“
Over the past summer Avery’s interest in practicing the violin waned, but since she came back to SOGO this fall her violin teacher said she’s never been so excited and is playing better than ever. ‘SOGO lit a fuse for her love of the violin again,’ says Avery’s mom. From Oct 31—Nov 20, boost the value of your donation by making a gift at the Give Local website: https://givelocal.thecommunityfoundation.com/campaign/student-orchestras. Help us spread the word! Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/studentorchestras. Are you a Washington State employee? Sign up with The Washington State Combined Fund Drive’s (CFD) payroll contribution program for a convenient way to give to SOGO. Donations may be made monthly or as one-time contributions. SOGO’s CFD Charity Code is 0456457.