As orchestra members step on stage in their “magical clothes,” audience member may expect to be greeted by classical music, from famous composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Fredric Chopin or even John Williams. However, this is far from the case when attending an East Meck orchestra concert.
“Leading with this notion that all symphonic music is only produced by old dead white guys is such a disservice to the genre itself,” said senior Gabryiel Matthews, a cellist in the symphonic orchestra. “It obscures quality musicians that have been overpowered by the ‘classics’.”
East Meck’s orchestra director Amanda Turner has strayed from this traditional view of orchestral music. The orchestra performs pieces such as “For the Star of County Down,” which is a folk/
country composition. Through diversifying the style and composition of their repertoire, the orchestra hopes to expand its audiences. The orchestra performs an average of three concerts per year: in the winter, the clinic concert and in the spring. These concerts showcase the growing ability of members as the year progresses across the three class levels: beginning, concert and symphonic orchestra. Turner believes these performances are pivotal moments both for the audience and those on stage.
“[Before the concert]. we’ve spent so long working on the music, but also learning how to work together and play it as a group,” junior Campbell Carter said. Carter is a violinist with the Symphonic Orchestra.
The dynamic of the group can impact how well instruments blend and come together. This has a big impact on the quality of the overall sound.
“Putting all of these parts together is like listening to how everything combines together, how the parts interact,” Carter said. Through the long hours of practice, bonds form between members, and these shared experiences grow their relationships on and off the stage.
“I made a lot of friends through orchestra,” Carter said. “Multiple of which have already graduated that I am still very close with.”
The Clinic concert is held yearly before Music Performance Adjudication (MPA). East Meck’s orchestra had not gone to MPA since around 2016 due to financial constraints. In replacement they began the clinic concert. During the clinic concert, Turner invites a colleague to teach students for a day. At the end of the day they host the “clinic concert.”
While the orchestra had not participated in MPA since 2016, due to student initiative, they made their return last school year. During which the students earned a superior- the highest ranking achievable.
“Hearing and seeing that they can accomplish those things when they put their heart to it and holding them accountable,” Turner said. “Something that I really enjoy is when they feel accomplished.”
