Photo: Elsa Holmstedt-Pell
Have you Heard the Symphony Orchestra? While the classical music genre is lacking at SUNY New Paltz, the symphony orchestra conductor does not want to perform more-and most young musicians agree. BY ELSA HOLMSTEDT-PELL
A
vast amount of time is needed for
a symphony orchestra to prepare a piece of music for performance. Every Sunday night, the musicians of the New Paltz College/ Youth Symphony Orchestra meet for three hours to tackle complex classical Sam Fischer plays the double bass, the largest and lowest pitched string instrument, in SUNY New Paltz Symphony Orchestra.
pieces. In the musty
Photo: Elsa Holmstedt-Pell
rehearsal room in College Hall, small but spirited Professor Victor Izzo commands his musicians to sit up and keep their eyes on him.“There is no airbrushing to what you just did,” he said, conducting the piece they are to perform at an end of semester concert. His way of conducting displays passion, with his arms waving, pointing,
Professor Izzo helps and explains in between conducting the SUNY New Paltz College Youth Symphony Orchestra.
and stirring around in the
attitude.” The orchestra
put together programs that
stifling air of the rehearsal
listens, and no more legs
fast, but have to work for
room. Not much time
crossed or slouch backs are
an end of semester goal,
passes before he cuts off
seen among the musicians,
Izzo explains.
for advice of what needs
whose cheeks are flushing
to be polished. “The tempo
from the increasing heat in
is slowing down,” “look at
the room.
me,” and most importantly
But how many people
“listen to each other.” As
will ever come to enjoy
a conductor, Izzo has to
studious work by the
observe everything. “Have
New Paltz College/Youth
you ever seen professional
Symphony Orchestra? They
musicians sitting with
can’t perform on a regular
their legs crossed? No.
basis, like for example the
Don’t do that. It’s not only
campus Acappella groups,
about posture, it’s about
because they simply cannot
Music as a Profession: In 2008 there were 186,400 musicians. 50 percent are self-employed. 43 percent worked only part-time. Source: BLS.gov
He wishes the orchestra
not want to lower the level
oriented, and thinks it’s
had more occasions to
of difficulty of the music the
a shame that the general
rehearse, to give them an
group performs, because
interest in classical music
opportunity to perform
it would not stimulate
is relatively low. “It’s way
more often and undertake
the most developed and
more complex than most
more pieces. But frankly, he
devoted students.
other music, but many
laments, it is impossible to
Sam Fischer, 20, a music
people seem to only think
get a full orchestra together
minor, plays the double
classical music is some kind
with only SUNY New Paltz
bass, a big and powerful
of background music,” he
students. At the moment,
instrument he said can be
said, referring to film music
there are 23 of them, and the rest of the
“I’m sure there are engineers flipping burgers as well.” — Professor Victor Izzo
as an example. Fischer aspires
musicians,
to work
about the
in the
same number, are members
a pain to carry around.
music field, but decided to
of the community, including
Fischer is prepared for
change major to computer
both high school students
the heat in the rehearsal
science, and keep music as
and adults, which limits the
room, wearing shorts and
a minor, to become more
rehearsing opportunities to
flip-flops even though it’s
employable. He wishes the
Sunday nights. “This is a
February and there’s snow
orchestra could perform
very strong music school,”
outside. He has come early,
more often, and get
said Izzo, but he added that
helping to place the chairs
more recognized by other
state regulation for music
in a half circle for the string
students. A possibility,
education “doesn’t require
musicians, and two lines
he suggests, would be to
ensemble participation,”
behind them for the winds.
play simpler pieces, but
and thinks that might be a
Fischer has noticed that
he also finds it important
reason why more students
most of his fellow students
to be challenged, to keep
don’t participate. He does
are more jazz or pop/rock
everyone’s focus and
Photo: Elsa Holmstedt-Pell
interested in classical
listening to the Russian
music “because it’s just not
composer Prokofieff’s
mainstream.” In regard to
Lieutenant Kije, that the
the orchestra performing
orchestra is currently
once each semester she
working on. Instead he
said, “I don’t like that
wears earphones with
about this program,” and
country music blasting from
contrasted it to her high
his iPod. “Classical music
school orchestra, which
is just not my style,” he
performed two or three
said. “My girlfriend is in the
Janelle Fredericks plays arpeggios on her flute to prepare for the rehearsal.
times each semester. On
orchestra. I’m only here to
the other hand, she said
wait for her.”
interest up.
she understands the lack of
Izzo slices the air with his
time, and admits that the
baton, halting the music.
that students are scared of
pieces are with no doubt
“Let me hear the same part
devoting themselves to the
challenging, and she is not
once again, just one more
classical music field, but
sure if she would like to
time before the break,”
added that employment in
lower the level of difficulty
he yells. He once again
all fields will at some point
in order to perform more
underlined the importance
face difficulties. “I’m sure
often.
of sounding like an entity.
Izzo said he understands
there are engineers flipping
Off to the side of the
The 10 first violins should
burgers as well,” he said.
rehearsal room, some
sound like one powerful
Janelle Fredricks, 19,
chairs are occupied by
violin, the conductor says.
plays the flute and piccolo
people waiting for someone
“Concentrating on being
flute, and is dedicated to
in the orchestra. Most
one person is a pretty hard
her studies and to getting a
seem to be parents, but in
job,” he said, and lifted his
future job in music therapy.
a corner sits Dylan Kelly,
arms up to
She said she thinks young
a young man who doesn’t
starting position. “Just one
people in general are not
seem too interested in
more time.”