SOGO June Newsletter 2021

Orchestrating Lifelong Participation in the Arts 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | 360-352-1438 | studentorchestras.org studentorchestras@gmail.com | facebook.com/studentorchestras | June 2021 Vol. XXI No. 10

“Take Advantage of the Technology” Join Us for the Spring Virtual Concert SOGO musicians will present an exciting and dramatic program, including works featuring student soloists Helen Hauschka, viola, and Justin Baek, trumpets (yes, trumpets plural!) at the Spring Virtual Concert on Sunday June 6 at 4:00PM. “The three Conservatory pieces on the June concert are all quite different from one another,” says Music Director Cameron May. “Adoration is the only slow piece we’ve played all year. It presented a particular challenge for the students because though the 'Adoration' student notes themselves soloist Helen Hauschka are not especially difficult, there are several places where the tempo stretches, which is harder to line up with a click track.”

“On the other end of the spectrum, Bugler’s Holiday is the fastest piece we’ve played all year, and I think the greatest challenge for the students was just keeping up! Finally, I picked Sea Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams because of the connection to the TikTok sea chanty craze earlier this year. Sea Songs is more in line with the other pieces the orchestra played over the course of the season: steady tempo, not too long, straight ahead and predictable. This made it a great fit for our students.” (Continued on p2) Thank you to our 2020-2021 Advertisers

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Graduating Seniors Reflect on Their SOGO Experiences

“One of my favorite things about SOGO has been getting to work one-on-one with my teaching artist and really being able to perfect my skills.” ~ Annabel, percussion “I've learned so much and I've had a blast getting to do what I love, which is sharing music with my friends, family, and people in our community. It's been an awesome privilege to be a part of SOGO and I'm very grateful for your help in making that possible.” ~ Noel, violin

“One of my favorite SOGO memories has to be playing the Messiah. I love getting to play the piccolo trumpet while coming together as a community to create such wonderful music.” ~ Justin, trumpet “I appreciate so much the donors and supporters for providing me an opportunity to participate in a great music program, especially in such a hard time like this.” ~ Ji, violin “It is thanks to donors that SOGO is able to support student musicians by giving them an opportunity to experience being in a full orchestra and in specialized ensembles.” ~ Jenny, violin

“We were playing the Messiah concert.

There was terrible traffic and our soloist was going to be too late to perform!

Instead of hanging our musical heads in defeat, we played an encore of Hallelujah for the audience.

A special thing happened as we all waited for good music together in the Washington Center. I felt a kinship with the audience and the 4th wall was broken.” ~ Helen, viola

“Playing at the Messiah Sing-Along and SOGO HO HO are two of my favorite days of the year and it's such a wonderful experience getting to share my joy with others through music.” ~ Natalie, French horn Natalie was featured in Gershwin's Someone to Watch Over Me at the March virtual concert. She says, "The nature of recording a piece Student soloist Natalie [virtually] made it a McVay, March concert challenge to work on musicality and expression within very strict rhythmic confines. I thought it was a lovely piece in a style I don’t typically get to perform in, and I was grateful for the opportunity to do so."

SO-GO Virtual Concert - Sunday, June 6, 4pm at StudentOrchestras.org

Visit StudentOrchestras. org to donate online.

June 6 Virtual Concert June 21 Auditions for 2021-2022 July 12-16 SOGO Summer Music

“Take Advantage of the Technology” cont'd

“Adoration was suggested to me by Helen’s teacher, SOGO viola Teaching Artist Anne Edge.

Anne has a particular interest in Price’s music, and we both thought this was a great fit for Helen. Many thanks to Mark Thome for taking a piece originally written for organ and making a beautiful edition for solo viola and full orchestra!”

Helen says it was “refreshing to learn about and perform Price’s Adoration with my talented peers. I especially ‘adored’ playing double stops. I’m elated that SOGO supports quality music by diverse people.”

“We chose Bugler’s Holiday partly because it’s a fun, flashy, showstopping piece,” continues May, “and partly because it presented an opportunity to do something that was only possible in the virtual environment: have Justin learn all three solo parts. Rather than lamenting what isn’t possible virtually, this gave us an opportunity to actually take advantage of the technology.”

Student soloist Justin Baek

Tune in for the Spring SOGO Virtual Concert on Sunday, June 6 at 4PM. The concert is free to view. Please consider making a donation to SOGO as a virtual ticket.

“Getting to play all three parts was very fun and interesting,” says Justin. “If we were in person, I wouldn't have the opportunity to have played this piece.

With this piece, I learned the challenges of recording music such as staying together (with myself).”

"Bugler's Holiday presented an “Helen and Justin are both long-time members of opportunity to do something SOGO who have consistently demonstrated a high that was only possible in the level of musicianship and commitment to their virtual environment: have performances,” says May. “They have both put in a lot Justin learn all three solo parts. of time and effort on these pieces, and I can’t wait for Rather than lamenting what our audience to hear the results of their work!” isn’t possible virtually, this Also appearing will be the Brass Choir and the gave us an opportunity to Academy and Debut Orchestras. Tune in Sunday, June actually take advantage of the 6, 4PM, at StudentOrchestras.org. The concert is free technology.” to view. Please consider making a donation to SOGO as ~ Cameron May, Music Director virtual ticket.

Congratulations Jenny Jang and Justin Baek - SOGO Senior Scholarship Recipients

Student musicians from one year experience to advanced high school are invited to audition for the 2021-2022 SOGO Season. All auditions will be held remotely via ZOOM. $45 audition fee or pay what you can during the COVID-19 hardship. Visit StudentOrchestras.org today for more information and to register for an audition!

July 12-16

Every year SOGO awards a scholarship to a graduating senior (or seniors) who demonstrates many years of leadership and service to SOGO, and who acts as an ambassador for SOGO in the Greater Olympia community. This year’s recipients are Jenny Jang, violin, and Justin Baek, trumpet.

Thank you TwinStar Credit Union for underwriting the 2021 SOGO Senior Scholarship.

The Orchestra Composes In collaboration with local composer Mark Thome, the Debut and Academy Orchestras had a special project this spring. The students were in a set of melody writing exercises. Then, they were given the opportunity to write an 8 measure melody that Mr. Thome would compile into a one minute composition for full orchestra. The Debut Orchestra students were to write an eight measure march and the Academy Orchestra students were to write an eight measure waltz.

Examples from the standard literature were explored and a set of parameters were given to the students. Thirteen students submitted melodies that were extremely varied and creative. Mr. Thome has arranged the melodies into pieces that we will share in synthesized format during the Spring Concert on June 6 and plan to perform next season.

Future Music Makers Scholarship

Elementary through high school students can explore and experience all kinds of fun classes at the 2021 SOGO Summer Music at Jefferson M.S. July 12-16! There are 14 in-person class offerings, including Fiddling, Beginning Violin, Bucket Band, Swap Band, Music Theory, Woodwind and Brass Class, Jazz for All, and much more. Visit StudentOrchestras.org today for more information and to register for some musical summer fun!

Although our fees to participate in SOGO are reasonable, they are still a barrier for many families. We believe the benefits young musicians gain from participating in SOGO’s programs should not be prohibitive because of economic circumstances. For that reason, SOGO is reaching out to help begin building the Future Music Makers Scholarship Fund.

The Future Music Makers Scholarship Fund is supported by committed community members to prevent financial circumstances from becoming an obstacle to any young musician’s participation in SOGO’s orchestras. A robust fund will ensure that all young musicians will have equal opportunity to experience the high-quality programming SOGO offers the South Sound area.

Your generous gift will expand access for young musicians in the South Sound community. Become a Future Music Makers Scholarship Partner today!