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September 2014 Vol. XV No. 1
Anxiety, Big Shoes, and Developing a Deeper Appreciation for Music and Culture By Katie Hovde, SOGO alumna
My SOGO story starts when I was 8 years old. I had only been playing the violin for 3 years and had never played in an orchestra before. I remember crying before my first rehearsal because I was so afraid of being the worst one there and not knowing what to do. However, when I got to rehearsal and saw all the other kids, my anxiety quickly went away and it was replaced with fun and excitement. This feeling carried on through the 10 years that I was involved in SOGO.
Because of SOGO, I was able to recognize my full potential as a musician and as a person. In my last year, Mr. Welsh placed me in the Conservatory concertmistress spot; it was like I was 8 years old all over again. I was afraid of not doing well enough and letting my section down, I was afraid that I wouldn’t live up to the very big shoes I had to fill. But yet again, there was nothing to be afraid of. After graduating SOGO, I began attendance at Central Washington University. The orchestra there is of extraordinarily high caliber and was unlike any kind of orchestra I had played in; even SOGO or any of the All-State orchestras. However, I wasn’t too nervous or anxious, unlike a lot of other musicians I met. I knew what to do in an orchestra and how to participate in the music. We played some repertoire that I had already played in SOGO, and as time went on, the more I realized that I would in no way be the musician that I am today without SOGO. I am currently working on a Bachelor of Arts in Music and (Cont’d on p. 3)
reminders First Rehearsal - 9/14 Parent Meeting - 9/14 Calvary Chapel 4:45 - 5:15 p.m. New Rehearsal Location Calvary Chapel 919 Division Street NW, Olympia, WA
We Dig Our New Digs
Olympia’s Calvary Chapel will be our new rehearsal venue. Many thanks to Calvary Chapel for coming to our rescue and allowing us to use their space!
• Located at 919 Division Street NW, Olympia, near Jefferson Middle School • Ample room for full orchestra rehearsals • Breakout rooms for sectional and chamber group rehearsals • Parking is available around the church building and in the adjacent Jefferson Middle School parking lot
Jump Starting theBySeason Maestro John Welsh We started out this year with our first try at holding something before our regular rehearsal sessions – a Chamber Music Workshop. Our experience shows that when Conservatory Orchestra members work on chamber music, as we did last winter, it yields a more cohesive ensemble as a whole. So, on August 24 and 25
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Jump Starting the Season, cont’d we gathered various types of groups together to work on some music, have some pizza and fun, and give a Master Class/performance on the evening of the 25th. This month we begin work on our first season concert. Shakespeare is always an incredible source for music. Carl Maria von Weber drew upon the character of Oberon from A Midsummer Night’s Dream for his opera Oberon. We will perform the overture, which tells the story of that mischievous king of the fairies and his queen, Titania. Then we go from England to Norway. Edvard Grieg wrote incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s epic play, Titania, from Oberon Peer Gynt. That play is a work that the Norwegians hold dear and feel that it personifies their inner self. I had the wonderful chance many years ago in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to work with the local playhouse and perform excerpts of the play with the music in concert.
Big Shoes, cont’d
a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. With these two degrees, I hope to be working with a symphony to get their community more involved in classical music. Because of SOGO, I was able to recognize my full potential as a musician and as a person. I was able to develop a deeper appreciation for music and culture and learned how to work with others in that appreciation. I want to facilitate experiences like that for others through a symphony orchestra.
Being involved with an organization like SOGO showed me the potential of classical music in a community and I am excited to be an active part of that. We’ll have two amazing soloists this season. On NoPeer Gynt Hopefully someday I can give back to vember 2, Nolan Welch will perform one of the major works for cello and orchestra, Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major. On March 1, Maura SOGO for all of the positive influences and experiences I have had because of Phelps will perform the courtly Cello Concerto No. 4, G.477 in C by them. Luigi Boccherini. I am looking forward to working with both of them on their solos, as I know the rest of the orchestra is.
Katie Hovde’s research papers include Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Organizational Social Media Analysis and Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia: Introduction to Non-Profit Leadership.
After our first concert in November we will be doing yet something else new. We are holding a conducting workshop to benefit our music educators from the area. Dr. Samuel Jones, conductKeeping You Warm ing master teacher and recent Resident Coffee Fundraiser Composer of the Seattle Symphony, SOGO is pleased to be partnerNolan Welch will officiate (see Sharing the Baton, p. 1). We ing with Olympic Crest Coffee want to continue to expand our service to our musical com- Roasters to sell their fresh, locally roasted Maura Phelps munity. I can’t wait for our first program! coffee. Details coming soon.
Sharing the Baton SOGO is proud to host a conducting workshop for local music educators this fall! This is an excellent opportunity for us to give back to our very supportive music education community.
It’s Not Too Early: Plan Your SOGO Wreath and Poinsettia Order Today!
These beautiful wreaths and plants make wonderful gifts for teachers, co• Offered free of charge workers, party hosts • Calvary Chapel 919 Division Street NW and more. Discounts and delivery are available • Sunday, November 9, for larger orders. New order 5-7:15 PM forms will be available soon at http://goo.gl/sL8gSVfs.
Led by composer and conductor Dr. Samuel Jones, each guest conductor will tackle one movement of von Weber’s Overture to the opera Oberon. • Limited to four local music teachers; additional teachers may audit • Each participant will get 25-30 minutes of conducting/clinic time with the Conservatory Orchestra • Parents and students are welcome to observe
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15 Milestones in 15 Years We are so grateful to all of our supporters who have helped us make it to our fifteenth year!! From individual donors to corporate sponsors, advertisers to charitable foundations, and volunteers to community partners: We would not be here today without all of you. Thank you to all of you who have donated your time and funds to help us complete our mission: to provide a challenging, fully integrated music experience for the young musician. Our accomplishments are your accomplishments. Enjoy this look back at 15 milestones from our 15 years.
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2000: First Brass Choir rehearsal 3 weeks after SOGO formed. Rehearsals for the 2 orchestras began 3 weeks later.
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2010: Performance Art premiers at Fall Arts Walk
2000: First season concert, first HOHO holiday concert, and first Messiah performance. Above: 2008 Messiah. At right: 2007 SOGO HOHO.
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2011: First European Tour. At left: Brass Choir in Italy
2001: 2001: Added a School third orchestra concert tour 2001: Provided first scholarships to graduating seniors. At left: 2014 scholarship recipient
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2002: Added Spring Arts Walk ensembles. At right: 2013 Arts Walk flute ensemble
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2003: First Instrument Petting Zoo
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2012: POGO begins. At right: POGO Teaching Artist Introduces the Cello at First Rehearsal
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2012: Mass orchestra performs Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. At left: Rehearsing mass performance.
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2010: Published The Little Pernambuco Tree, an original children’s book written by Robert Ray, illustrated by local students, and set to original music composed by Mark Thome. Book and music is now available for $13 at studentorchestras@gmail.com.
2008: Presented Peter and the Wolf children’s concert
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2013: SOGO ensemble performs at Governor’s Inaugural Ball. Other notable events include the opening of the O’Grady Library at St. Martin’s University and the opening of the Port of Olympia.
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2013: First chamber music camp. Listen to samples of some of the performances on Facebook at http://goo. gl/TFYroa.
SOGO 2014-2015 Sponsors: Cabinets by Trivonna, Charneski Charitable Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, National Federation of Music Clubs, Olympia Federal Savings, Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic, R.L. Ray Violin Shop, RadiantCare, Tumwater Eye Center & VUE, WA State Arts Commission SOGO Executive Board: John Fleckenstein, President; Jasmin Dickerson, Vice-President; Jilyna Dick, Secretary; Kirk Veis, Treasurer; Colleen Welch, Past President
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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT NO. 358 STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA 1629 22ND AVE SE OLYMPIA WA 98501-3019
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concert
schedule
STUDENT ORCHESTRAS ofGREATER OLYMPIA AT 4:00 P.M. 2014-15Season SUNDAYS WASHINGTON CENTER
Season Concerts Sundays, November 2, March 1, May 17 TICKETS: $6-$15* | 360.753.8586 | Olytix.org 6 and under free | *plus $3 Center surcharge HOHO Brass Choir Holiday Show Saturday, December 13, 2 & 7 p.m. First Christian Church I♥ Messiah Sing-Along Monday, December 22, 7 p.m. Washington Center Now accepting auditions. Find out how at www.studentorchestras.org.
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