May 2015 newsletter

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May 2015 Vol. XV No. 5

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Providing a challenging, fully integrated music experience for the young musician because of support from people like you.

A Whisper in the Woods'You’re just a whisper in the deep woods,' says Maestro John Welsh as he leads SOGO’s Conserva-tory Orchestra through a challenging rehearsal. In this case, the woods are in Finland because the orchestra is preparing Jean Sibelius' Finlandia for the May 17 concert. Sibelius wrote Fin-landia in protest against the Russian occupation of his homeland. This quiet, woodsy moment of the piece differs from its robust ending, which evokes the struggle of the Finnish people. 'This is the piece that caused the Finnish to go to war to get rid of Russia!'' says Welsh as he gestures to the orchestra to play even more powerfully.

After Finlandia, the Conservatory Orches-tra will perform incidental music from Sibelius' Pelléas and Mélisande. This story of two star-crossed lovers (is there any other kind in the music world?) is based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck.

Prince Golaud brings home a new bride, Mélisande, but becomes jealous of her friendship with his brother, Pelléas. Pelléas decides to leave, but meets Mélisande at the well to say good-bye. Golaud bursts in and kills Pelléas, wounding Mélisande and himself in the process. Mélisande dies in the end, leaving Golaud with his regrets. SOGO’s music historian, Anne Edge, notes that this piece is 'quiet and refined – a contrast to the nationalist fervor in Finlandia.'

This is the piece that caused the Finnish to go to war to get rid of Russia!

The concert, and the season, will finish with American composer Howard Hanson's Symphony Number 2, 'Romantic.' Hanson wrote this piece for the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He strove to create music that he described as 'young in spirit, lyrical and romantic in temperament.'

Please join us on May 17, 4 p.m. at the Washington Center for this lovely spring concert.

At right: Pelléas and Mélisande by Edmund Blair Leighton.

SOGO Quilt Raises $1000For years, Pat Kabler has been collecting SOGO t-shirts to make a SOGO quilt. The former SOGO finance director wanted to do something to raise money for SOGO so she put her sewing skills to use.

'I just got a bee in my bonnet and wanted to do it,' says Pat. 'When I really sat down to do the quilt it took about three weeks.'

Before the finished quilt could be raffled, a private donor and quilt enthusiast saw the quilt and offered to purchase it for $1000. 'SOGO loves those kind of fundraisers!' laughs SOGO Executive Director Krina Allison.

True to her background as a finance director, Pat enjoys the accounting piece of quilting. 'My favorite part of quilting isn’t the sewing, it’s the math. The planning, the cutting, takes longer than putting it together.'

Make sure you see the quilt when it is displayed in the Washington Center lobby during the May 17 concert.

Pat Kabler with her SOGO quilt.

Musical Cousins: a Trumpet and Trombone DuetGet ready for a fun performance of Herbert Clarke's Cousins, featuring SOGO trumpeter Wil-low Miller and trombonist Nathan Yang. Clarke was a cornet player with the John Philip Sousa Band. He wrote the piece for himself and fellow Sousa Band member Leo Zimmerman.

Nathan describes it as 'a trombone and trumpet duet. It starts off with a cadenza for both instru-ments and then the rest of the ensemble comes in. It’s really flashy.' Nathan's mother is a piano teacher, so he began playing music when he was young. But as he got older, the trombone piqued his interest. 'I thought the trombone was really weird looking and wanted to find out how it worked.' If that sounds like the mind of an engineer, you're right. Nathan plans to study electrical or chemical engineering next year at the University of Washington. (Cont'd on p.2)

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Say It Ain't So, Colleen! After fifteen years of dedicated service, Colleen Welch is stepping down from the SOGO board. We asked her about her time on the board.

What has SOGO meant for you?I had three kids go through SOGO and for two of them music was always their thing. I couldn’t have gone to Tacoma or Seattle for orchestra every week. To not have that option in my home town, that would be tragic.

My son, Kyle, didn’t go into music, but he’s in a doctoral program in physics. Being in SOGO was part of making him what I think is the most important thing - a well-rounded person. I think that having music, having scouts, being a good student, enjoying school, is all part of who he is today. All of those pieces are important.

Being in SOGO was part of making my son, Kyle, into what I think is the most important thing: a well-rounded person.

Colleen Welch with board member Doug Ford.

Clockwise from upper right: Nathan Yang, Carol Crawford, and John Welsh; Morgan Hurtado with Jennifer Bowman; David Hales with Jennifer Bowman. Thank you to the accompanists and to R. L. Ray Violin Shop for hosting.

SOGO recently held a master class for musicians headed to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. SOGO musicians will be well-represented at the contest, with entries in the solo cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, and trombone categories as well as many ensemble categories. Stu-dents performed their solos and received valuable critiques from Maestro Welsh and each other.

SOGO Represents at State Competition

What do you believe is SOGO's place in our community?Anyone who believes in the arts at all should support SOGO. And they should not feel like they have to support it - they should want to support it at any level they are capable. So many people say, 'I don’t have the money.' $5 is still supporting SOGO. You do what you can do and that’s all that we can ask of anyone. It’s too important and it has ben-efits that may not have anything to do with music but have to do with the vitality of our community. Hb

Cousins, cont'dWillow joined SOGO this past fall and has been a won-derful addition to the orchestra. '

Willow has certainly grown in his classical music "chops" this year, and has become a very significant member of the SOGO brass section,' says Brass Choir conductor Greg Allison. 'We are very pleased to feature him with Nathan on this selection penned by the cornet soloist of John Philip Sousa's band.'

We hope you'll enjoy this fun brassy piece at the May 17 concert.

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Dress Rehearsal May 17Washington CenterBrass Choir load-in 11:00 a.m.Brass Choir 11:20 a.m.—11:55 a.m.Debut 12:00 p.m.—12:45 p.m.Academy 12:50 p.m.—1:35 p.m.Conservatory 1:40 p.m.—3:10 p.m.Concert Call Time 3:30 p.m., Concert dress required at call time.

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1. Ryan Clark (violin, N. Thurston HS) has begun attending Centralia Community College studying music education. He plans to transfer to Central Washington University to complete his bachelor in music educa-tion with a minor in audio engineering.

2. Sydney Soetenga (bassoon, Capital HS) is going to George Fox University in Oregon to study biology. 'SOGO gives a great opportunity for young musicians who are looking for a challenge and are interested in learning real classical music.'

3. Bridget Long (oboe, Capital HS) will study oboe performance at one of several music conservatories to which she has been accepted.

SOGO's Seniors Reflect on Their Time with SOGO and Tell Us Their Plans for the Future

SOGO Cellist Headed to China

SOGO cellist Nolan Welch has been selected to join the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) this summer. Although he is a talented cellist, he will participate in the NYO-USA as an Apprentice Orchestra Manager. Nolan will leave his cello behind as he travels first to New York, then on to China.

'The [orchestra manager] position was created to give experience to people who are interested in a career in music but not necessarily interested in playing. I like the management aspect of it. The job of an orchestra manager, done well, goes unnoticed,' says Nolan.

Read the full article about Nolan's exciting opportunity on Thurston Talk at http://goo.gl/WA3hXp.

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Cabinets by Trivonna: Beauty in Function

Cabinets by Trivonna owners Ross and Trivonna Irwin first heard about SOGO at a morning Bible study with Greg and Krina Allison. Cabinets by Trivonna soon began advertising with SOGO and this year became a concert sponsor. Ross says, ‘I have a love for music and young musicians getting exposed at a high level.'

Left: SOGO Debut Orchestra Conductor Lantz Berets and his wife, Karen, in front of their Cabinets by Trivonna living room fireplace.

'I am a wanted-to-be musician,' Ross continues. 'I grew up in Portland and excelled at the trumpet in my high school,’ says Ross. But he wasn’t able to participate in a youth orchestra. Then when he majored in music at college he discovered that ‘I can do theory – I got A’s in theory and composition, but it was all mathematical and I didn’t have a good ear.’

Cabinets by Trivonna became a SOGO concert sponsor in order to help other musicians have the youth orchestra experience that Ross didn’t. ‘I want to see kids get what I didn’t get. I want to see kids that love music be challenged to the point of knowing if they can really make a career of it.'

Ross and Trivonna pride themselves on being a family-owned local business. ‘We are unique in this market because of Trivonna’s skill level and that we care for the customer.’ Trivonna has been designing over 20 years and asks a lot of questions of her customers to find out how people use their space.

‘We focus on function as well as beauty,’ says Ross. Although their designs are beautiful to look at, Ross believes the ‘beauty is more in the function than the appearance.’

4. Landon Mueller (French horn, Capital HS) will be attending Norwich University in Vermont to study criminal justice and join the Cadet Corps program. 'I was invited to a Side By Side at SOGO by a friend and from there my interest and playing took off. Other musicians should participate in SOGO because it helps build a large repertoire of classical music and a foundation of music theory.'

5. Nolan Welch (cello, Timberline HS) will attend Central Washing-ton University to study cello performance. 'Musical experience pays off. Imagine a four year degree at a university, $80,000. Putting in the invest-ment to private lessons and youth orchestra can give a student the opportu-nity to get half or full scholarships to universities, just like I was awarded at CWU. Not only does a solid music education save money in the long run, it creates solid human beings that understand the importance of the creation of art as an expression of human development.' See below to learn about Nolan's summer plans.

6. Katee Hertter (bassoon, Tumwater HS) plans to move to California to study massage therapy.

7. Maura Phelps (cello, Timberline HS) plans to attend Western Michigan University and double major in cello performance and music therapy. 'SOGO is an opportunity for young musicians in our community to grow and connect with equally hard working peers in all of the SOGO orchestras.'

8. Nathan Yang (trombone, Olympia HS): 'I’ll be going to the University of Washington for electrical engineering or chemical engineering. At UW you don’t have to be a music major to play in their ensembles, so I can audition and join an ensemble.'

Also pictured: 9. Willow Miller (trumpet, Black Hills HS); 10. Belinda So (violin, Olympia HS); 11. Sydney Creel, cello, Centralia HS

I have a love for music and young musicians getting exposed at a high level.

I want to see kids that love music be challenged to the point of knowing if they can really make a career of it.

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OLYMPIA, WAPERMIT NO. 358

SeaSon ConCertSunday May 17, 4 p.M.WaShington Center

SponSored by

scheduleeventSeason Concert

Sunday, May 17, 4 p.m.TICKETS: $6-$15* | 360.753.8586 | Olytix.org6 and under free | *plus $3 Center surcharge

Placement Auditions for 2015-2016Wednesday, May 27Sunday, May 31Monday, June 1Sign up online at www.studentorchestras.org.

Conservatory Chamber WorkshopAugust 30 & 31, 2015

2015-2016 Season Music Pick-Up 8/30, 4-8 p.m.Tuition $350 Academy & Debut | $400 Conservatory

Tuition is due at the time of music pick-up. Tuitions paid by 8/15 receive a free ticket voucher.

Season Concerts 11/1, 3/6, 5/15, Ho Ho Brass Choir 12/12, Messiah 12/21, Arts Walk 4/23

Media on the Mezz: Get the Inside Scoop on All the Performances

Use your smart phone during the May 17 concert and be more in-volved in the full concert experience! See pictures and videos of your favorite performers. Follow SOGO on Twitter and you will receive exciting messages about the music in real-time.

Customize Your Experience for the May 17 Concert:• Purchase tickets in the Mezzanine section on Olytix.org.• Have a Facebook account to see video feed and photos.• Have a Twitter app set up. (Requires a free Twitter account).• On Twitter, follow @SOGO_OLY and set notifications to ON.

Concert Night:• Silence your phone as a courtesy for audience members and performers.• You will receive updates visually through the Twitter and Facebook apps.• Click on Hashtag #SOGONOTES to follow the conversation.

The MEDIA ON THE MEZZ is a grant from the WA State Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts and is part of a pilot project of the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia.

Watching the SOGO Facebook page for a buy one – get one FREE TICKET to participate in Media on the Mezz.