Blog

Life Changing Experience in the Big Easy

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:25:26 -0400

There are those experiences in which words are not adequate. When life gets tough, all you have to do is take a trip to New Orleans, talk to the people, see what they have endured, then everything gets put into perspective. “Resilient” is a word that kept going through my mind the entire week. People’s lives completely turned upside down and here we are putting together a concert. The passion and energy that these students exhibited all week was nothing short of astounding. Many members of the Louisiana Philharmonic coached the students in a very caring way. Marianna Roll, Executive Director, was simply remarkable. I asked everyone I came into contact with how their lives were impacted by the devastation. Story after story of everyone giving was so inspiring. I can’t help but think of a book by Bruce Adolphe called What to Listen for in the World. I remember one entry about how grief needs music. To top it off, I even received gifts from some of the families....plants, Louisiana Hot Sauce, New Orleans T-Shirts, Beignet mix, and so on. I was simply blown away by the love, passion, giving, and appreciation of everyone involved in this wonderful summer festival. I miss you all a great deal. Thanks for teaching me so much!

Here is a link to the festival recap.

http://www.gnoyo.org/greater-new-orleans-youth-orchestra-news/gnoyo-summer-festival-recap.html

Here is an excerpt.

“The full orchestra had the exciting opportunity to work with Jeffrey Grogan, Education and Outreach Conductor for the New Jersey Symphony. Due to Jeff’s experience working with both professional level orchestras and young musicians, he provided a distinct rehearsal approach. He treated students with professionalism, while injecting playful anecdotes into the rehearsal. His stories of composers and colorful analogies sparked the imagination of the musicians. For example, at one point he asked the musicians to portray the energy and excitement of the famous Looney Tune character, the Tasmanian Devil. The full orchestra’s Friday performance was a combination of mature musicianship and pure enthusiasm. Before closing the concert with Marche Slave, Jeff expressed admiration for the intensity and emotion students from the New Orleans region were able to convey- based on their experiences following Hurricane Katrina. He said GNOYO’s students performed Marche Slave with a level of maturity that was rare among young musicians.”

Cal-Poly All-State Festival

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:17:38 -0400

Thank you David Arrivee for inviting me to conduct the festival in beautiful San Luis Obispo. So many wonderful memories working with the students on some great repertoire.

I had the honor of meeting and getting to know composer/conductor Stephen Melillo. We have had some amazing correspondence since then, some of which is posted on the forum.

Thanks to all the wonderful students,faculty, and people of Cal-Poly and San Luis Obispo.

Indianapolis!

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:52:09 -0400

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Wauwatosa School District

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:42:26 -0400

OK...imagine 800 plus strings, Fourth - Twelfth grade, performing all together at the same time! Well, that’s exactly what happened several weeks ago just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I worked and conducted each of the groups separately throughout the week, then we put it all together on the big night. At the end of the concert, we performed the “Ode to Joy” in mass. WOW!

I encountered some amazing teachers and students. The teachers were all so committed and dedicated, and the students were benefitting tremendously.

“Everything’s Bigger......

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:33:53 -0500

AND better in Texas!” OK, I am slightly biased (I was born a few miles from Texas Stadium, home of America’s Team), but I was completely blown away by the music programs in Katy, TX! I just spent 5 days working with some of the hardest working students in the world.

Get this....high school orchestras are playing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, Wagner’s Overture from Die Meistersinger, Sibelius’ Finlandia, just to name a few. Not only are they attempting these works, they are playing these pieces well! One school, Seven Lakes High School, has even programmed Ives’ Unanswered Question....wow.

Monday began with the Katy High School Bands. Katy HIgh was where it all started, the first of six high schools now open in Katy. I worked with three different bands, all of which were well prepared, professional, and hard working. Terry, Bruce and Philip teach these wonderful students every day. These children are in great hands! Some of their rep. included Ticheli’s Postcard, Milhaud’s Suite Francaise, and Chance’s Incantation and Dance. Thanks Katy High!!

Tuesday brought a full day at Taylor High School, a long standing tradition of musical excellence. J.D., Timothy, and Chris run a tight ship. J.D.’s group was sight reading Bernstein’s Profanation from the Jeremiah Symphony - amazing.

Later that afternoon, I had the PLEASURE of working with the Taylor High Full Orchestra. Probably about 100 musicians in all, fantastic experience. Mr. George Engleman is the orchestra conductor who picked great repertoire (Wagner, Elgar’s “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations, and von Suppe’s Light Cavalry Overture. Frederick, the concertmaster, was a really good sport. I had a new name for him each time I called on him (Fred, Freddy, Fredelicous, we had a fun time). I hope to hear a recording of the final product sometime (hint hint).
Morton Ranch High School Strings.

Wednesday was crazy, beginning with Morton Ranch High School Orchestra in the morning. We worked on string orchestra rep. by Telemann and Elgar (Serenade). This school is so new, they don’t even have seniors yet! It is most impressive how much they have progressed in one year! Mr. Paul Sikes, their conductor and my very dear friend, hosted me during my time in Texas. Paul is an amazing teacher and human that I am proud to call my friend.
The students from Morton Ranch were a lot of fun and we got some great photos together.....thanks!!

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And then Thursday was the busiest day of the week! All day with the Seven Lakes High School Music students.

The bands in the morning were really well prepared, had great energy, were sensitive, and performed very well. We worked on Wagner’s Trauersinfonie, an homage to the great von Weber. One of the most memorable sessions of the trip! We circled up and they performed without a conductor, like great chamber music with an entire ensemble! That afternoon, by the end of our session, they performed Chance’s Blue Lake Overture with a conductor, amazing students! That piece is difficult enough even with a conductor! Congrats Seven Lakes Bands.

Mr. Archer conducts the flute ensemble in Ives’ Unanswered Question.

The trumpet soloist in the Ives. Great player!

In the afternoon, and earlier in the week, the Seven Lakes Orchestra worked on the Ives, Verdi’s Nabucco Overture and the Finale to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony..!!
Thanks for all the hard work Seven Lakes Orchestra! Ms. Overee is a fantastic teacher who is engaging, high energy, and just a great musician. What a fun time!