Concerts- past and future

There is a chamber concert coming up! In only 11 days, members from the CSO will perform at the Hal Bogle Theater in the Chandler Center for the Arts. Jack will be conduction The date for that fun event is February 19th at 2pm. Make sure to check the tabs on the website to keep abreast on all information. I plan on attending so there will be a personal write up coming.

Chandler Symphony Orchestra just had our winter concert. The weather was quite chilly so it really felt like a winter concert. Grieg’s “Triumphal March” was a fun way to start the concert. A loud march is a good way to get the blood flowing. Nancy Smith beamed after her masterful and great clarinet playing. She played the solo part for Claude Debussy “Premiere Rhapsodie”. Gregory Schaefer was the other soloist. My mother described the piece as “moving” and Sharon Ash, the trumpet principal, also really enjoyed Ralph Vaughan-Williams “The Lark Ascending”.

Schumann’s 3rd Symphony in E flat major finished up the concert. I’ll admit in rehearsals I struggled. I found it boring in parts. I took the time to listen to recordings and it grew on me. I got into it by the concert and I immensely enjoyed playing it.

Hope to see you all at the chamber concert! (come early – the last one was filled to capacity)

Missions

I am running late. I have to be ready to play at rehearsal in 25 minutes so this will be quick.

My first mission is still to get more info about the concerts that occurred two weekends ago. I chatted with some bass players about the chamber concert. There were some interesting Tuba with another instrument pieces. I believe one was worked around the story of Pinocchio. I am even planning on making another announcement which I will ask if anyone would like to write a review of it. If not, I will interview folks.

Periodic emails are sent out by Frank Darmiento to keep CSO members updated. Apparently, YSA Butterfield was elected to the Board of the Directors. She is a community member who has been helping with projects for two months. Who are the Board of the Directors? I will find out! In down times, there will appear a short blog entry about a Board Member and what they do.

CSO is also doing a good deed. Find out more… tomorrow!

Come Meet the Composers

The Symphony took a break for most of December since our Holiday Fund raising Concerts on December 5th. Not all of us took a break. Some performed in the Nutcrackers. Others most likely practiced their music for the upcoming Chamber concert.

When is the chamber concert?

Saturday January 6th at the Chandler Center for the Arts in the Hal Bogle Theater.

That is right! I am giving you almost two full days notice. The CSO website provides great information about upcoming concerts. Chamber dates can be found under the Chamber Series tab. Chamber music involves fewer musicians which results in a different sound. This one is featuring Arizona composers. A name I recognize is Frank Darmiento – composer and trombone player in the symphony.

The Arizona Republic wrote a short article about the Chamber concert coming up.

Everyone who can should attend because it is always interesting to hear classical music written by people who are alive.  I will have to be at work but maybe someone who attends can write an article here or I will interview folks.

Nutcracker!

It is that time of the year.  Christmas lights shine, and dancers and musicians come together to perform the Nutcracker.  The Southwest Youth Ballet dances tonight!  There will also be two performances tomorrow – one in the afternoon and another at night. The music is performed by us, the Chandler Symphony Orchestra.  The venue is the Higley Center for the Performing Arts.

It is not the full symphony.  For example, there is normally six or seven in the bass section.  There are only three of us playing in a pit partly because of limited space.  Playing in a pit feels very different than playing on stage.  We only can see each other.  We know there is a ballet going on above us, sometimes footsteps can be heard as someone runs off or there is applause, but it feels so disconnected. It becomes just about the music.  Are we all together or can something be tweaked?  What has been said over and over is “if there is a solo part, play down so they can be heard”.   We have to play slower or quicker and we do not know if we are with the dancers unless we ask or are told.  Last year, I asked my friends and family what it looked like.  I still wanted to see it so I ended up attending a performance of the Nutcracker at Symphony Hall.

The Chandler Symphony Orchestra is actually getting paid for this gig.  It changes the stakes and my motivation.  It really does become all about the music.  I’m listening to the Nutcracker right now and have listened to it probably everyday outside of hearing it when we rehearse it.  We have rehearsed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights together. We are really serious about the music during the performance, but there are also fun moments because we really cannot be seen.  The basses stand right in front of the percussion and we cover our ears during the “gunshot”.  I have it marked in my music when to cover my ears.  Last year, the tuba player got up and did his own Chinese dance.  He did not have to play in that section and it was a bit more difficult to play it because I kept dancing.  I’m excited for the hard work and fun that will be had.  Hopefully some of you will join us and can tell us how it looked.

CSO’s website – Hacked!

During every rehearsal, we get a break.  It gives us a chance to talk about music or more likely chat with our friends about our lives.  Cindy a bassist came up to Robert, a bassist and website manager, and started to thank him profusely.

Wait Why?

Robert had backed up all of our website’s data. Cindy had some of it but not all of it.  Apparently, our site got hacked. Robert told me there was a picture of someone in a hooded and a message that this site got hacked by someone in English. There was also some more writing in a different language.  Robert used the backed up data to replace the hacked website. At the same time he reset passwords and did whatever he had to do. Cheers to Robert!

Robert also put a link to this blog on the website.  Three Cheers for Robert!

Quick annoucement from Jack

Mahler’s 7th is showing on PBS (channel 8 ) tonight at 9pm.

The symphony will be playing Mahler in the fall – probably the first.

Announced by Jack the conductor at rehearsal. Written and slightly updated by Shilo

What is a blog?

My shoulders were set as I wheeled my bass once again into rehearsal. I had some goals that night. I unzipped my bass case and wrestled it off.  Some of the other bassists had arrived earlier and set up.  The bass section has a new procedure.  We will be changing stand arrangements every concert. Did I want to tell everyone about the new routine?  Not really, maybe someone else who knew would speak up.  I turned around. LeDawn, the president, was talking with Jack in the corner so I could not chat with her at that moment.

It could not be that hard to tell the other two basses that did not know.  I told them.  They moved into their positions and said cool.  Well, I blew that was way out of proportion in my head and it was not a big deal at all.  We all will have new positions because we all have different strengths and styles. If we move around, we can learn how to be better players by listening to others.

LeDawn started to walk past so I caught up to her.  We chatted about some blog ideas and basically what is coming up for the Christmas season.  I requested to make an announcement.  Throughout the first rehearsal, my brain stressed out about talking in front of everyone.  I lost count (or my place) a few times before I successfully stop dwelling on the upcoming announcement.

The time came.

Jack asked, “Anyone have announcements?”  I boldly stepped up and talked loudly enough so all of the symphony could hear me.  Basically, the announcement was so one of the goals of this blog could be met.  People cannot write entries into this blog if they do not know it exists.  They also will not know about it if the announcement is said so quickly that they cannot understand it.  I did that.  The symphony heard me but I went way too fast because of nerves.  It will all work out though.

During the break, Jason a viola expressed interest.  I wrote the info down with his pencil which was a long as my forearm.  I am not joking.  Russ joked that Shilo was shrinking.  Hopefully, Jason will write something and give insight into the viola section.  Frank, an Orchestra Committee member who facilitates communication in the symphony, also asked a few questions because of my too fast announcement. We are going to pound out some details so he can send an email to all the musicians.

He questioned what exactly a blog was.  I responded, “It is kinda like my journal but not.”  Well, that was a brilliant answer.  He said that he generally thinks of blogs as some random ramblings from people.  I looked around and said, “Ummm, yeah.  Maybe a little.”  I’m mostly joking because this blog is also about what the Chandler Symphony is doing but his question did make me curious. What is a blog?

A blog is the shorting of “web log”.  The gist seems that it is writing that is updated periodically.  If there are no updates, then it would be called an article (or a dead blog).  Here are a few links that explain it much better.

The first is a short blurb from the blog site blogger.com                                                              What’s a blog

WordPress’s explnation

Lastly a problogger who does what I want to do but so much better (there is even a video!) What is a blog?

Second Concert!

The Chandler Symphony Orchestra performed its second concert of the 2010-2011 season two Sundays ago.  It was a great concert.  It ran a bit shorter than our normal time, but all of us musicians were more comfortable with the music so that worked well.

The Russian piece “Festive” went well though it did not stick in my memory too much.  I was much too excited for the “Peer Gynt” Suite #1.  I enjoy every movement in that piece but my favorite is Anitra’s Dance.  Most people gravitate towards Hall of the Mountain King. The he constant struggle of keeping the beat while it feels like it should be getting faster is exhilarating, and then it is freeing to actually go faster.  It is a great piece.  I was introduced to Anitra’s Dance first though.  It was in a computer game I played as a preteen so it strikes a nostalgic chord. The music for the bassists is boring in Anitra’s Dance.  We pluck the downbeat for almost every measure.  That does not matter.  Like Russ the bass chair said when we have down time during the music that just means “we have the best seats in the house”.

The Haydn Symphony challenged the orchestra.  Remember this is from a bassist perspective, the symphony had some enough difficult passages note wise to keep it interesting without becoming overwhelming.  This meant that we had mental energy to focus on other aspects. We really played up the dynamics.  It was great to hear such contrast.

The symphony gave away ten tickets to the Music Museum by having gold stars in the programs.  I feel disconnected when we have contests and giveaways because I never know who the winners are.  It would be very impractical to have people run up to the stage like the Price is Right but it sure would be fun. The concert ended with Jack, the conductor, giving some announcements and regaling the audience with some updates.  One of those announcements was that the next concert is November 14^th at 3pm!

On to other matters, I apologize for not updating last week.  I always struggle concert weeks since so much more of my time is taken up by playing music.  It seems I might need a definite deadline.  Every Wednesday will be the day that this blog should update.  I have also slacked on researching what is going on behind the scenes.  There should be some activities being planned. I will seek that information out. Lastly, there will be an announcement going out to see if any other people associated with the symphony are interested in posting.

Youth Piano Competition

Hello all,

I’m taking a slight break this week so that means there will be an announcement written by someone else! All youth piano players or people who know youth piano players should read this blog article.  Before you get to the main part, know that Chandler Symphony Orchestra is giving away 10 tickets to the Musical Instrument Museum at our concert on 10/10/10.  I love that date.  Concert is at the usual time of 3pm.

Youth Piano Competition

1st place – $400 + performance

2nd place- $150

3rd place- $100

The Chandler Symphony Orchestra announces a Youth Soloist Competition for piano students presently enrolled in grades 7-12.  The 1st place winner will perform with the Chandler Symphony on its Sunday, March 27, 2011 concert at Chandler Center for the Arts.  The winning soloist will also receive a $400 honorarium and publicity surrounding this event.  Second and third place cash awards will also be awarded.

Who: Competition open to any Piano player in grades 7-12.

Application deadline:         December 15, 2010.

Audition date:                       January 15, 2011

Location:

AZ Piano 4134 E Wood St. #200

Phoenix, AZ 85040 USA

Fee:  There is a non-refundable application fee of $25 to accompany the application.  Checks should be payable to the “Chandler Symphony.”

Audition times will be assigned.

Repertory:   Applicants are to select and prepare a solo work from the attached list.  All selections are standard repertory and represent common multiple movement works or a single movement work of 15 minutes or less.  If a work not on the list is desired for the audition it may be used upon approval of the Music Director of Chandler Symphony Orchestra.

Email ladawnlingard@gmail.com  or phone 480-773-4815 if you have an alternate choice of music to present for approval.

Contact:   480-773-4815    LaDawn Lingard- This number can be used in the event of an emergency on the day of the audition.  Examples include but are not limited to: need directions, family situation, taken ill, running late, etc.    The judges will have final right of decision on whether to give different auditioning conditions to an applicant who cannot make their assigned time.

Youth Competition Repertory Choices

Beethoven Concerto #1 (1st  or 3rd  mvt)                       Concerto #2 (1st  or 3rd  mvt)

Chopin Concerto #1 in e minor (1st  or 3rd  mvt)                 Concerto #2 in f minor (1st  or 3rd  mvt)

Grieg Concerto in a minor (1st  or 3rd  mvt)

Liszt Concerto #1 in E-fl at Major

Mendelssohn Concerto in g minor (1st or 3rd  mvt)

Mozart Concerto #20 (1st  mvt)                Concerto #21 (1st or 3rd  mvt)

Rachmaninoff Concerto #2 in c minor (1st  or 3rd)

Saint-Saëns Concerto #2 in g minor (1st  or 3rd  mvt)

Schumann Concerto in a minor (1st or 3rd  mvt)

Tchaikovsky Concerto #1 in b-fl at minor (1st or 3rd )

OR an approved alternate work.

Contact ladawnlingard@gmail.com, 480-773-4815 for approval.

2010-2011 Youth Competition Application

Name                        __________________________________

Address       __________________________________________

__________________________________________

Phone           __________________________________ Email ______________________________

School presently attending__________________________________________    Grade _________

Private teacher      __________________________________________Phone___________________

Selection to audition __________________________________________________________________

Alternate selection approvals: please email ladawnlingard@gmail.com

<span>Agreement</span>:             I understand that the winner of the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Youth Competition will be invited to play the selection auditioned upon at the March 27, 2011 concert. I understand that the selection must be one movement of a standard multi-movement work or a single movement work, chosen from the attached repertory list or an alternate work less than 15 minutes, as approved in advance by the Music Director.   I understand that I must attend any and all rehearsals to be arranged if I am the selected soloist.  I understand that the decision of the audition committee is final.

This application must be accompanied by a non-refundable $25 audition fee, payable to the Chandler Symphony.

Signed as _______________________________________          Student applicant ________Date

_______________________________________             Parent/Guardian__________Date

First Concert of the Season!

The first concert happened last week.  We were part of the Grand Re-Opening of the Chandler Center for the Arts.  CCA is doing many performances to celebrate their re-opening.  This concert had lots of pieces to it and LeDawn, our president, put it all together.  The audience seemed to love it.   The concert was a fun but fuzzy affair for me because I was enduring the peak of my cold.  I used almost all my energy to focus on playing the music.

I arrived to dress rehearsal a few minutes later than I wanted to because almost everyone was on the stage and the tuning A was being given. I got to my place and saw men marching back and forth in the front of the stage.  They were wearing Revolution uniforms.  It was a bit surreal to be playing other pieces and have these men marching back and forth, some with bayonets. This concert had a Master of Ceremony – Trinity Donovan, the Sons of the Revolution as the color guard, the children’s choir, a narrator for Lincoln Portrait, and a slide show during the second half.  That is a lot going on in an hour and half.  Mike, our stage manager and percussion player, did a great job of making it run smoothly. It just meant there was always someone or something going on as the symphony played through our pieces.

We got done with dress rehearsal and the hall was opened to the public.  Most of us are already in concert gear but some wear street clothes to dress rehearsal. Those of us in street clothes have to go downstairs and get ready.  I usually wear regular clothes so I hurriedly put my dress on while thinking only one thought.  Candy!  The green room always has candy.    This concert had so much delicious candy.  There was also a vegetable tray, water, and pencils which was different but added bonus.

I got back on stage and wow, the house is completely full.   That is a nice surprise.  The concert then starts with the color guard presenting the flags and then we started to play the national anthem.  Halfway through, I realized that the audience was singing with us.  A bit of patriotic pride swelled in my chest.  The children choir came on stage soon after and performed really well.  Most of the children wore white with bright red which was so cute.

The narrator of the Lincoln Portrait read it differently than he had ever done before.  His deep voice rose and fell depending on the mood.  He ended with dramatic passion.  It was a brilliant surprise.  After the piece ended, he cheered and raised his arms.  The symphony can feel like that after a piece but we put on our stage faces to try to be demure.  It was great to see Victor motioning at us, cheering, and just be so excited in front of the audience.

The lights came up in the house.  I have this tradition where I wait on stage until my mother comes up and then we walk up to the lobby together.  I waited.  I went off stage for a moment and others told me my mother had just been there.  I went back and I did not see my mom.  I decided she went to the lobby without me.

The Chandler Center for the Arts has an art gallery next to the lobby.  I always check out the art there first.  This time it was mostly depictions of the Grand Canyon and it was fine.  It just was not the type of art that I really like.  I wandered back to the lobby where there was a volunteer fair going on.  All of the organizations in the concert had a booth – the Chandler Symphony Orchestra, the Chandler Children’s Choir, and the Arizona Society Sons of the American Revolution.  The other organizations that attended were the Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler Christian Community Center, Boy Scouts, Friends of the Chandler library, Desert Sounds, and a booth for unexpected pregnancy.

AS I wandered the booths, I heard my name.  Ah, there was my mother.  She put in perspective for me how busy our first concert truly was.  My mom came at her usual time and could not find a spot to park.  She found some parking across the street.  She went for one spot but another woman told my mom that it was her parking spot.  My mom moved and then started to walk over to the Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA) with that woman.  My mom finds out the woman is the wife to Alex, the associate conductor of CSO.  The only reason my mother made it in to the lobby is because she happened to be walking with the right person.  My mom did not even get in but had to wait for a sit till the second half.  I hope the concerts keep on being well attended, but I do not want people turned away.

My mother and I found her an open seat inside.  I went backstage and chatted with the other bassists.  Ray invited his group, the Arizona Latino Republican Association.  They so enjoyed the first half that they were planning on making it a scheduled event. I always enjoy when musicians increase our audience.

The second half included a slide show as a 9/11 Tribute as we played an Elgar piece.  LeDawn made an interesting point where she talked about how her 1st grader has no real understanding of 9/11.  I remember that morning quite well. It is weird to know think of people who remember Pearl Harbor or the assassination of JFK while it was just history to me.  There are now kids growing up whom history is my life.  A six grader that attended said he liked the concert except for the slide show.  I wished I had talked to him directly about this because I would like to know why.  Someone guessed that is was because it made history more of a reality.

Overall, this concert was a success.  I look forward to the next one.