Letter from Jack (12/15)
Dear Concert Orchestra,
Woohoo! What a great end to our semester. I hope you are all as pleased as I was with your performance last night. It was calm, collected, prepared, and musical- all thanks to your hard work, attention to detail, and open hearts. I’m so proud of you for putting your best foot forward to tackle some very difficult repertoire so early in the year.
I am eagerly awaiting our next meeting in January, when we will start climbing our next “musical mountain”. Here is the tentative program for the start of 2nd semester:
- Beethoven Symphony 7, Movement II. This will be a big artistic lift for us, but you are up for the challenge.
- Libby Larsen: Overture for the End of a Century. This piece will change you. I guarantee that it is unlike anything you have performed before. More than any other work, you will need to commit to coming to rehearsal very prepared. The best thing you can do to prepare over break is to listen to recordings of this piece.
AND…. ponder the following question: What is it about this piece that will make it challenging to perform? What makes it challenging to listen to?
- Tchaikovsky: Waltz from Sleeping Beauty. We might just sight read this one, or we’ll have it on one of our programs.
There are other pieces that may find their way into your folders soon. Stay tuned….
Winds, Brass, and Percussion
- Please be on the lookout for an email from me with part assignments. You may have to go online to our parts folder to practice your specific part over break. We WILL hold seating auditions after a few weeks of the new semester. More info coming soon. Stay tuned.
I hope you have a time of peace and rest over the next few weeks, and safe travels for those of you who may visit relatives.
I can’t wait to make MUSIC with you in January.
With gratitude and a warm heart,
Jack.