not only in their professional development, but also in their quests to fulfill their dreams.” Each of the two orchestras performs three or more concerts a semester. While Rachleff decides most of the programming, he does seek input from the performance faculty at the school, who regularly drop by orchestra rehearsals to listen and offer suggestions. He tries to balance old and new works, challenging students to study all types of music. Playing in an orchestra is definitely a team effort and one that requires many small elements to fit together to produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. To give students a well-rounded musical education, Rachleff structures the orchestras in a way that maximizes students’ experiences. Typically, orchestras have a hierarchy in which particular musicians permanently reside as principal violin, principal cello and so forth. The Rachleff-led orchestras, however, are more egalitarian, with members in constant rotation. Students prefer Rachleff’s rotating system because it keeps the orchestra alive and different and keeps jealousies to a minimum. The benefits are obvious for a program that is so rigorous. In addition to shouldering a regular course load, orchestra members rehearse five to seven hours a week and take repertoire classes for brass, percussion, woodwind and string instruments. Students audition for concertmaster positions — coveted spots — and rotate on a regular basis so each player must learn multiple roles. The students relish the experience. Macelaru sees two primary advantages. One is time. “In preparing for each concert,” he said, “we have time to really focus on one or two pieces in-depth for nearly a month and gain incredible insight into the music.” The second is dedication: The student’s dedication to the work required, the faculty’s dedication to support this unique program by giving so much of their time in aiding with rehearsals, and a dedicated and supportive community that fosters such a great school, both financially and with their presence at our concerts. “These all together make for a very rare and unique orchestral program,” Macelaru said. “Our orchestra members are highly gifted, intelligent and dedicated, and they bring a special and unique energy to what they do,” Rachleff said. “My job is to help them give great performances balanced with the learning process, and both require an environment that is nonthreatening and inspiring as well as challenging.” Although the symphony rehearsals and performances are demanding, most students wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Orchestral training is required for all Bachelor and Master of Music degree candidates, and they understand that professional-sounding results are the product of hard work. They also know that the effort will pay off when it comes time to seek employment with professional orchestras. And pay off it does. Among American music schools, the Shepherd School’s job-placement rates are impressive. Shepherd School alums and faculty comprise more than one-quarter of the Houston Symphony, and other alumni have won appointments with the New England Conservatory, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to name a few. “I recently was guest conducting in Kansas City,” Rachleff said, “and 10 or 12 Shepherd School alums were there.” Recent graduates also have secured
“Our orchestra members are highly gifted, intelligent and dedicated, and they bring a special and unique energy to what they do. My job is to help them give great performances balanced with the learning process, and both require an environment that is nonthreatening and inspiring as well as challenging.” —Larry Rachleff
faculty positions at Texas Christian University, Duquesne University, Texas Tech University, and Roanoke College, among others. In addition to providing excellent training for its students, the Shepherd School Symphony provides a showcase for Rice. “The fact that our concerts are free brings a lot of people here who might not otherwise have access to really high-quality music,” Yekovich said. “That’s good for the community, for Rice and for the Shepherd School.” It also sends a very strong message to the outside world about what Rice values. “One of the driving factors of the economy of major metropolitan areas — one of the attractions for people to live and work in a metropolitan area — is its cultural life,” Yekovich said. “To say that a university in Texas actually cares deeply about culture and the arts is an important statement about the university and about Houston.” For Rachleff, though, the most important thing is the process of the journey. “It’s a constantly invigorating, inspiring, stimulating, challenging experience,” Rachleff said. “If it has a great love, care and dedication, the rest will have freedom and fire.”
Rice Magazine
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No. 10
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2011
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