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| Kristoffer and Emily warm up before rehearsal starts. |
While most students are home sleeping on a Saturday morning,
Kristoffer Caine and Emily Dunn are wide awake, tuning their instruments in preparation
for rehearsal to begin. The moment Professor Emeritus, Dean Angeles, walks onto
the podium, the music stops and all talking ceases. He instructs the principle
members of each section of the orchestra to lead the members in tuning their
instruments. Once that is done, he introduces himself and informs them his
latest direction was of the New York State All-State Orchestra.
Then practice begins.
This group of orchestra members was comprised of high school
students ages 15 - 18. Students of various
ethnic backgrounds and from all over the state converged at Sprayberry High
School in Marietta, Georgia, some from as far away as Savannah.
This gathering was the first time a Statewide Honor
Orchestra was formed. The orchestra was made up of students who auditioned for
the Georgia All-State Orchestra. It was not an easy road. First round auditions
for the All-State Orchestra started back in late September, early October of
2011, and were held at Mundy’s Mill High School in Clayton County. Hundreds of students
from across the state auditioned. The number decreased and competition for the
available spots grew fiercer as second round auditions approached in February.
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| Professor Emeritus, Dean Angeles, directs the orchestra. |
The number of talented students vying for the positions must
have been close, because for the first time, a Statewide Honor Orchestra was
put together for students who did not make the cut for All-State Orchestra.
These students are being recognized for their stellar playing abilities. As a
result, they were offered the opportunity to come together for one day of
practice, to socialize with their peers, and to perform for friends, family,
and the community.
Parents arrived early Saturday at Sprayberry High School to
drop off their kids. Some waited all day, while their son or daughter practiced,
until it was time for the performance later that evening. For six hours, the
kids practiced, taking two breaks for lunch and dinner, as well as short breathers
to stretch their legs, and at times find their focus again, before returning
for the intense practice the director put them through. Professor Emeritus,
Dean Angeles has conducted the Loyola University Chamber and Symphony Orchestra
as well as coordinated a comprehensive string program for the organization from
1980 to 2006. Most recently, he was inducted into the Southwestern College Fine
Arts Hall of Fame in Winfield, Kansas in April, 2011.
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| Minutes before taking the stage. |
After six hours of practice on music most kids had only
received five days in advance, they were ready to perform on stage.
Before a note was played, the director made this comment to
audience: “To put an orchestra together in six hours…you don’t even do that
with a professional orchestra. I am so very pleased with these young people for
what they’ve done….I’m impressed.” The first piece played, was Serenade for Strings, by Edward Elgar, a
three piece movement lasting ten minutes. When it was done, he turned around
and said: “You have no idea how
difficult that piece is. I have some of my university students in the Atlanta
area that teach (and) played that piece, and rest assured, we had at least 6
weeks to put that together. These young people had six hours…It’s very
impressive.”
Congratulations to Kristoffer Caine and Emily Dunn for
representing the Fine Arts Magnet Program at Mount Zion High School and the
Clayton County School System. Programs and opportunities like this are yet
another example why music should be kept in our schools.
*Side note, I am so proud of my son and his musical accomplishments this year!*
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