May 2010 Vol. 10 No. 5

SOGO

1629 22nd ave se olympia wa 98501

studentorchestras.orgstudentorchestras@gmail.com

360.561.2080

S T U D E N TO R C H E S T R A SO F G R E A T E RO L Y M P I A

2010SEASON CALENDAR

May10,11,13 - Auditions16 - Season Concert25,26 New memeber auditions

So Y’Know Newsletter

CONCERT TICKETSBox Office: 753.8586. Tickets: $7-$19 / 8 and under free* (*plus $2.50 Center surcharge).

Avoid long lines, purchase early!

Let optimism wash over you as you listen to great American composers evoke our country’s character in their symphonic works Sunday, May 16, 4 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

SOGO will showcase Aaron Copland’s brilliant score for An Outdoor Overture, pure Americana. Also included on the program are Charles Ives’ lively and sometimes shocking Variations on America, and George Gershwin’s playful An American in Paris, complete with horn honks and images of bustling Parisian streets. There will be some John Williams Star Wars and Cole Porter favorites mixed into the evening concert.

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 4 P.M.CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSIC!

AMERICAN

MUSIC

AUDITIONSPanic, Process and Progress!Yes, we all know that auditions seem to be a dreaded part of the season and preparation for the next. Let’s think together for a few moments, though, and discuss fears, the true value of the audition process and how it will be slightly different this year.

Everyone gets nervous for auditions to varying degrees, but all struggle with some form of anxiety. Those listen-ing to the audition know this, take it into account and try to make the event as safe and nurturing as possible.

Members will not need to select an orchestra for which they are auditioning. They will be grouped upon hearing their prepared audition and sight reading skill. Everyone is required to take the theory exam. The exam does not have a significant impact on the student’s placement.

The entire audition process is an opportunity to improve in many ways. As conductors, we encourage students to take advantage of any opportunity to take an audi-tion (i.e. scholarships, summer camps, All-State, Junior All-State), as it gives a goal to strive for and forces more careful preparation.

Audition reminders:1. Select literature (well in advance) that you can play very well and shows your technical skill as well as musi-cality.2. Perform your selection in front of an audience (par-ents, friends) before your audition.3. Work on sight reading now and as a regular part of your practice. An etude book might be purchased for just sight reading use. Sight reading literature is avail-able from the music store.4. Invite friends from your school to audition. You are the best ambassador SOGO has.

Greg AllisonSOGO Artistic Director (reprinted article 05)

Pernambuco TreeChildren’s Book...page 2

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Eco composer and SOGO think alike! For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in April, com-poser Steve Heitzeg celebrated by writing Ecology Symphony, an “ecoscore” honoring threatened and endangered animal species, with each movement dedicated to a different species, such as the leather-back turtle, Javan rhinoceros, and mountain gorilla. The non-standard score by the Minnesota-based composer is as much a philosophical statement and piece of art as it is a work of music, with a giant panda “black on white” chord that looks like a pawprint, and the Pacific walrus depicted with two tusks that go from pianissimo at the narrow end to fortissimo at the wide end.

SOGO will bring attention to the pau-Brazil, which is now an endan-gered tree growing in the costal region of Brazil. The pernambuco wood from the pau-Brazil tree has been used by luthiers to make bows for string instruments for 250 years. Forests are being cut down for more profitable gain, making the wood scarce.

The International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative was organized to bring the knowledge of this endangered tree to the forefront. As

a partner to IPCI, SOGO commissioned a work titled The Little Pernambuco Tree by local composer Mark Thome to accompany a child’s story, written by Robert Ray of R.L. Ray’s Violin Shop. The story is about a baby pernambuco tree (pau-Brazil) growing up in the forest and how he longs for his inde-pendence from the parent trees. The music and narration of the story was debuted two years ago by the Academy Orchestra and has since been performed on many occa-sions on concert tours to rural schools.

SOGO will open its 2010-2011 season with a Children’s Concert Saturday, October 2, 1 p.m. at the Washington Center. The Con-

servatory Orchestra along with community musicians will perform The Little Pernambuco Tree; bringing this heart-warming story to the young audience in attendance. Following the concert and hands-on activities, SOGO will unveil its first children’s book and CD of The Little Pernambuco Tree. Audience members will have an opportunity to purchase and have the book signed by those involved with producing the work.

Presently, K-12th graders will be invited to participate in creating illustrations for the book. Artwork will be taken now through June. Information about the project is on line, or call the SOGO office at 360.561.2080 and a brochure about the project can be mailed. Those individuals chosen to help complete The Little Pernambuco Tree book project are invited to the October Children’s Concert and book signing after the show.

Tickets, $7-$19 and 6 and under $2.50 with an adult, will go on sale in September and can be purchased through the Center Box Office at 360.753.8586.

Young

Children’s Concert

Saturday,

October 2, 1 p.m.

Little PernambucoChildren’s Book

Project

K-12 Artists are neededto complete the project!

studentorchestras.org

Judge Diane P. Wood plays the oboe. What betterquality can there be in a potential nominee to the Supreme Court?By Meghan Daum

Probably only one thing matters when it comes to Diane P. Wood,

the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge and University of Chicago law professor who is believed to be among the president’s top picks to replace outgoing Justice John Paul Stevens. It’s a trait more reflective of her character than any childhood experience or religious conviction. It might even be more important than her stance on moral issues.

Wood is an oboist.

This is no minor detail. The oboe isn’t just an instrument; it’s a way of life. Wood plays the oboe (and its bulbous cousin, the English horn) in two orchestras, the Chicago Bar Assn. Symphony and the North Shore Chamber Orchestra in Evanston, Ill. Playing the oboe means living your life entirely at the mercy of tiny wooden double reeds that crack at inopportune moments (more awful yet, you’re supposed to make them yourself as though you were a 19th century artisan). It also means blowing so hard into them that you risk a brain aneurysm every time you try to hit a high D.

If Wood ends up appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I hope they’ll cut to the chase and just ask her to play the Mozart Oboe Concerto. Or better yet, an A.

For a copy of the entire article posted 4/29/10, Meghan Daum, an oboist, has a day job working as a columnist for the Los Angles Times.

Reminder: SOGO earns 1% on your grocery shopping at Thriftway or Bay-view when you use your Community Rebate Card. We also earn a % from every purchase made through our website when using the Amazon.com button.

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SOGO Seniors...Here are 22 reasons to celebrate the success of Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia!

Year started...2000Dillon Welch, Violin (Timberline H.S.)

2002Sam Fleckenstein, Cello (Olympia H.S.)

2003Mary Benn, Violin (Shelton H.S.)Jason Syverson, Clarinet (Capital H.S.)Rachel Scholes, French Horn (Capital H.S.)Elliot Weeks, Trombone (Olympia H.S.)

2004Jenny Lee, Violin (Capital H.S.)SuzAnne Steben, Flute (Olympia H.S.)

2005Mariko Ota, Violin (Capital H.S.)So Jung Joo, Viola (Capital H.S.)Charlotte Marie Johnston, Cello (Capital H.S.)

2006Mackenzie Halbert, Violin (N. Thurston H.S.)Marissa Lewis, Cello (N. Thurston H.S.)Hannah Robinson, Flute (Olympia H.S.)Dane Webb, Bassoon (Olympia H.S.)Myunghoon Kim, Trumpet (Olympia H.S.)

2007Nathan Brown, Violin (Capital H.S.)Donovan Kochta, Violin (Black Hills H.S.)Jin Nam, Violin (Capital H.S.)

2008Ha-Young Lee, Violin (Olympia H.S.)Wendi Li, Clarinet (Capital H.S.)

2009Andrew Stutzman, Trombone (Black Hills H.S.)

There is no question, you will be all missed. We wish you well in your future endeavors.

Well, seeing as this is my last column, I thought I might talk about where I’m going next year, and how I came to that decision.

My junior year: I know what I want to do, but not where to go. There are a lot of music schools with great performance programs. I’ve heard some names tossed around, so I start to check things out, and get some ideas going. Senior year is going to be full of this stuff.

Summer before senior year: I’m starting to get a narrower scope on where I might want to go. By the end of the summer, I’ve basically narrowed it down to three choices: Indiana University (one of the biggest and best mu-sic schools in the country), University of Texas at Austin (I know the teacher there, Brian Lewis), and Northwestern University, north of Chicago.

September: I’m getting a hold on deadlines for everything. Make sure you keep tabs on these things. Find out early—some schools will make you available for scholarships if you apply early.

October: My first application is in at Indiana! Most applications require extensive information, references, and essays. You also must pay a fee for most applications. These are not necessarily get-it-done-in-one-day deals; it can take awhile, so pace yourself, and do not put the applications off, because it’s your education.

November: I’m going up to my violin teacher’s recording studio at Bastyr University north of Seattle. I have to record four pieces (about 25 min-utes of music) for prescreening recordings that will be sent to Indiana and Northwestern (actually, the recording for Northwestern will constitute my actual audition). Many schools want to hear you before you are able to come audition live for them.

December: My applications for Texas and Northwestern are in.

January 29-31: My mom and I fly to Austin, Texas. I have my audition for Brian Lewis on Saturday, and personally I think it goes pretty well.

February: It’s official: I’ve been accepted to the University of Texas into the Fine Arts program! That’s a load off my back.

March 4-7: I still have one more audition, at Indiana University. I think the audition goes well, and I fall in love with the campus.

About 2 weeks later: Unfortunately, I’m not accepted to the music school in Indiana…too bad.

April: I’ve been accepted to Northwestern’s music school! It’s a nice boost of confidence after Indiana, but oh… NU is really, really expensive. Texas of-fers me a really decent scholarship, about $105,000 over 4 years. I’m going to take it!

So, if you haven’t guessed, I’ll be attending the University of Texas at Austin next year, studying with the wonderful Brian Lewis.

I’ve had a great run my ten years in SOGO, and this column has given me a place to discuss what I really love: music. So, thank you, all those who have read and enjoyed this piece, and always remember to keep on listening!

MUSICALLY SPEAKINGDillon Welch, violin

“I see my life in terms of music.”

Albert Einstein

2009-2010 SPONSORSConstruct, IncOlympia Federal SavingsOlympic Dermatology & Laser ClinicR.L. Ray Violin ShopWashington Center for the Performing ArtsWashington State Arts CommissionAlan Wertjes and Mike Morgan, Attorneys at Law

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1629 22nd Ave SEOlympia WA 98501

SOGO Executive Board

Soo Myong Chung, PresidentColleen Welch, Vice President

Peter Despot, SecretaryJohn Fleckenstein, Treasurer

SOGO BoardJoan Armstrong

Christy BehanzonSusan Hill

Dana PhelpsFarrell Presnell

Dale SmithJason StahlTom Ward

Joel Williams

SOGO Student BoardDakota McRostie, violinHannah Robinson, flute

Rachel Scholes, French hornDillon Welch, violin

Music Director John Welsh

Artistic DirectorGreg Allison

Administrative StaffKrina Allison, Ex. Dir.

Pat Kabler, Finance Dir.Mary Jo Rydholm, Librarian

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Spread the word...SOGO is looking for young musicians!Invite fellow young musicians to audition for SOGO. Auditions for new members are be-ing held May 25 & 26. For details about auditions, visit the studentorchestras.org website or call for an audition at 360.561.2080.