SOGO October Newsletter 2021

CELEBRATE

STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA ORCHESTRATING LIFELONG PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS

2021-2022

October/November 2021 | Vol. 22 No. 2

Much to Celebrate

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Sunday @ 4pm November 7 Washington Center Tickets: $8-21* Six & under free* 360.753.8586 *plus $4 WCPA fee

See pg. 2 for WCPA COVID-19 FAQ

season sponsors

Schubert’s unfinished symphony is composed in the historically dark key of B minor. Profundity, nostalgia, despair, and anguish all pervade the first movement, while the second gradually leaves this behind and finishes with a posture of serenity. Despite the fact that Schubert was only able to complete these two movements (a typical symphony contains four), there is a remarkable amount of emotion in this extraordinary work. The similarity of the arc from dark to light between these two pieces was not a conscious choice on my part, but is no doubt inspired by the current state of our country and world.

As I sit down to write this, I am struck by what a blessing and a privilege it is to be making live music again. It’s a rehearsal day, and I can hear the Debut Orchestra warming up down the hallway. A few weeks ago, I attended a Seattle Symphony concert at Benaroya Hall for the first time since February 2020. It filled my ears and my soul to be around such beautiful music after so long.

I can’t wait for the first SOGO concert of the season on November 7, and I am confident that staff and students feel the same way. All four of our ensembles are preparing music that is sure to linger in your mind long after the last notes have died away.

As I have wandered around rehearsals the past several weeks, I have picked up positive energy in every room. Our conductors and Teaching Artists are doing careful, nurturing work with the students as we all re-learn how to play together after a year and a half apart.

Other well-known pieces on the November 7 program include Bach’s Brandenburg No. 3, a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace performed by our brass choir, and operatic favorites by Verdi and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Additionally, the Debut and Academy orchestras will perform the final arrangements of their respective composition projects from the 202021 season, Debut March and Academy Waltz, as arranged by SOGO Court Composer Mark Thome.

The Conservatory Orchestra is playing two monumental works that explore a journey from darkness to light.

Dvorak’s overture to his tragic opera Vanda and Schubert’s legendary unfinished symphony both start in profoundly dark places, though the two pieces could not be more different. Vanda Overture constantly shifts between the minor and major modes, a compositional device Dvorak employed in many of his works, including the first set of Slavonic Dances, composed just three years after this opera. These many moods culminate in a strident and noble march in G major. Fans of Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances and eighth symphony are sure to enjoy this rarely-heard overture as well.

If all that wasn’t enough, the concert will conclude with an upbeat version of the Kool and the Gang song Celebration

Meet “Coda”

that is sure to be stuck in your head for hours. You can hear a rehearsal of this on YouTube. Get your tickets now to see the results of many hours of hard work by our students and staff.

Newest member of the SOGO family!

Mr. May is a first-time pet owner! He acquired this adorable gray kitty at the end of September. For help naming her, Mr. May enlisted the entire Conservatory Orchestra. Each section came up with a name suggestion, and a run-off vote resulted in the name “Coda”.

STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA

LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM •

SOGO Music Director

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Visit StudentOrchestras.org

SOGO CONDUCT US! SOGO and Olympia Symphony Orchestra teamed up this past month. See more highlights of the event online.

Purchase great holiday items from SOGO. Visit StudentOrchestras.org.

BUY LOCAL Give Local

Ever since SOGO began over 20 years ago, I have had the pleasure of being both the viola and music history teaching artist (a.k.a. The Music History Lady). I am so excited, probably more than ever before, to be back helping to make LIVE music for SOGO’s year-long Celebration (wait…isn’t that a song title?)! As a part of the SOGO experience, I give presentations to the students on the pieces they are working on from a historical perspective. The students learn about the lives and careers of the composers and the background and inspiration of their musical compositions; including the larger context of political, social, and cultural history and the relevance of this music in our own lives. Having a master’s degree in music history, 30+ years as a private teacher, teaching music appreciation at a community college, 50+ years of viola/violin performing, and several years of program note writing have all been valuable in my mission as your SOGO music history TA. “Between feeling welcomed back and seeing well thoughtout safety guidlines, I could relax and enjoy the performance trusting the Washington Center made my safety a priority.” ~ Gloria, Arts Patron

There have been some fascinating new trends in music history research and classical music programing. These trends represent a larger population of diverse composers and genres alongside the more traditional classical works.

SOGO has also been a part of these trends. Literally, I could be presenting music history ranging from Bach to Billie. So, is that Billie Holiday or Billie Eilish? For that matter, is that J.S. Bach, or one of his many kids who also composed? Stay tuned…

Anne’s Playlist

Here’s a short list of pieces based on SOGO’s Celebrate 2021-2022 season theme • • • • • • • • • •

A. Dvořák - Festival March Op. 54 J. Strauss Sr. - Radetzky March P.I. Tchaikovsky -1812 Overture J.P. Sousa - Stars and Stripes Forever G.F. Handel – “Hallelujah chorus” from Messiah or Music for the Royal Fireworks J.R. Johnson and J.W. Johnson - Lift Every Voice and Sing E. Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 A. Copland - Fanfare for the Common Man J. Tower - Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 Three Dog Night - Celebrate, Dance to the Music.

Contributed by ~ Anne Edge, SOGO TA

WCPA COVID-19 FAQ In order to attend performances at the Washington Center, all patrons, regardless of age, are required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72-hours and photo ID (young children attend with parent/guardian).

Appropriate face masks covering the nose and mouth are required to be worn by everyone entering and exiting the facility. The Center is following WA State Guidelines which do not currently require physical distancing.

For more information, visit WashingtonCenter.org and click COVID-19 FAQ while you purchase your SOGO tickets online!

SOGO 2 SCHOOLS Making an Impact

• •

Stretch your donation $’s through the DAWKINS Grant No credit card fees See the president’s message for more information and give between November 8-19

As the SOGO 2 Schools program (see president’s letter for more information) was being launched during COVID, little did Teaching Artist Mary Jo Rydholm (violin) know what kind of impact she would make in a small private school.

Rydholm contacted the Olympia Christian School about starting a string program through the SOGO 2 Schools project. Many of the students needed assistance with borrowing instruments and financial scholarships to join. To the joy of their principal, 18 children signed up. And to the thrill of parents, just 8-weeks later, Rydhom and her class of string players presented a concert.

“If Mrs. Rydholm could accomplish this in 8-weeks, we can only imagine what she will accomplish with our students during the 21-22 season.” ~ S. Schwartz, Principal