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WHAT’S UP // ENTERTAINMENT Pulling My Strings

WHO IS THE ALBANY STRING ORCHESTRA?

By Cecilia Greene

Choir and band have always been the face of music at West Albany, but not many people know about the string orchestra music program and what goes on behind the scenes of the Albany Strings Orchestra. Unlike West Albany’s extracurricular activities, the orchestra program isn’t run through just one school, but is available to schools from cities from all over Oregon. Albany Youth Orchestra requires auditions to get in and join specific groups that are available in the program. Depending on what group someone may be looking for, a group can be less than 25 people together. Sessions and practices take place at Browser’s Bookstore on Pacific Highway and usually contain eight to nine people due to audition cuts. With such a small room to perform in, each practice results in more accomplishments for the performers, but this also means mistakes are more noticeable. Students that range from middle school to high school are encouraged to keep their heads up and keep on trying no matter what mistakes are made. When difficult parts are given for certain players, Denver Spelman, the instructor of the Chamber Orchestra, takes his time to see what the main struggle is while reassuring his students. As small as Spelman’s group is now, freshman Logan Falotico expressed the need for a bigger one to create a lot more opportunities and a bigger audience. “It’d be cool if we could get more members to make the groups bigger and provide more chances for everyone to get noticed,” Falotico said. With such a hectic year, the program is set to have one performance for this year. Prior to COVID, groups from the Albany Strings Orchestra would have up to two performances per year, but have minimized it to one for the safety of everyone. Spelman’s group specifically is the highest of all in the orchestra program and he takes pride and joy in the work he’s helped his students with. As professional or stern as an orchestra may sound, soundtracks from video games and classical music are the main genres that are covered throughout practices and concerts. For now, the small group hopes for a safe year so that they can recruit more members and create a better and heartwarming space for everyone.

The Chamber Orchestra during practice at Browser’s Bookstore.

Colds and Blues

COMEBACK FOR THE YEAR?

Much like students at West Albany, Band and Choir have dealt with major adjustments throughout the past 2 years because of COVID. Fewer performances, online practices, and less socializing would also have a major impact on the students that are involved in the programs. With limited access to having a normal class dynamic, many students lost motivation for certain classes in band or choir, and just stopped showing up in general. This would continue throughout 2020 and 2021 after so much stress and confusion. Since the start of this school year, events and traditional activities have slowly started coming back in the picture to help create a transition into a somewhat normal school year. For the most part, some groups in band and choir have made their efforts to head back into district and eventually state competitions against groups and individual people from different schools across Oregon. Junior, Mason Chambers, who’s been in the Jazz group for West Albany’s band had spent his time in quarantine has been in band before and during the pandemic as the program is making a comeback. 19

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