September 11, 2002

Musicians audition for orchestras

Tryouts draw players from six counties in northwest Michigan

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

      The Fine Arts Building at Northwestern Michigan College resonated Sunday afternoon with the sounds of violins, violas and cellos as youth from six counties around northwest Michigan auditioned for a place in one of three Traverse Youth Orchestras.
      Coming from as far away as Manistee, Charlevoix and Grayling, 12 students auditioned for the orchestra Sunday and six auditioned on Thursday at West High School. A previous competitive audition in the spring helped fill the needed 120 players.
      The Traverse Youth Orchestras are an offshoot educational program of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra began in 1998 for high school level players but was soon expanded to include younger players.
      This year the program includes the following components:
      - Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra, a premier full orchestra for players ages 15-22 that includes string, woodwind, brass and percussion.
      - Traverse Area Junior Orchestra for intermediate string players between ages 12-15
      - Traverse Area Kids Orchestra, which is geared to beginning string players ages 8-12.
      - This year also marks the debut of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra Honors String Quartet (see sidebar).
      Elizabeth Bert, principal cellist for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, is the principal conductor of the youth program. She works directly with the older students while Jean Coonrod, a cellist with the TSO, conducts the Traverse Area Kids Orchestra.
      Getting the younger students started in the orchestra is an exciting challenge for Coonrod, who is also a private cello teacher in the area.
      "Most of the youngsters have never played in an orchestra together," she said. "The thrilling thing is seeing the total chaos and confusion at the first rehearsal and then seeing the concert and how they play."
      "They come a long way in a short time," she noted.
      Many of the students involved in the youth orchestras delight in the chance to play the music they love and challenge themselves among like-minded musicians.
      "I love playing the violin, I really do," said Will Arnold, an eighth-grade student at Traverse City East Junior High School who auditioned Sunday afternoon. "I love the types of music and songs you can play."
      Despite being on the wrestling team and having a part-time job, playing the violin is the cornerstone of Arnold's life. He plays in the East Junior High orchestra and was a member of both the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Traverse Area Junior Orchestra last year.
      Playing in the youth orchestra provides an opportunity for sharing that excitement about the music.
      "I like the experience of the orchestra, it is fun music and always challenging," said Arnold, who was auditioning to determine his placement.
      Emmalyn Helge drives weekly from Manistee to participate in the youth orchestra programs as well as take private lessons. Or, more accurately, her mother Sarah, does, bringing along her younger brother, Chas, a sixth- grade student also studying the violin.
      "It's a family commitment, we're having a great time," said Sarah Helge. "They do homework, we talk during the drive."
      Helge, a tenth-grade student at Manistee High School, has been playing the violin since kindergarten. A veteran of three summer camps at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Helge also plays in the Benzie Area Symphony and gives violin lessons to nine students in Manistee.
      The Traverse Youth Orchestras program is special to Helge because she relishes the chance to play with other string musicians her age - something not possible in Manistee because the schools there lack a symphony program.
      "I just like playing this music and it is really neat here because in Manistee, there are no other string players," said Helge, who practices every morning for more than an hour before school.
      Giving students from schools that do not have string or symphony program an opportunity to learn and grow with their chosen instrument is a great benefit of the Traverse Youth Orchestras program.
      "This is nice because it brings people from all over here," said Will's mom Alison Arnold, who also serves on the orchestra's education committee. "The link to TSO is highly motivating to the kids."
      Bert agreed that members of the orchestra are highly motivated, an attitude she considers a privilege to work with.
      "The difference between our program and a public school program is that the kids choose to be here," Bert said. "They need very little discipline - they are here, they work on their music and are motivated."

TYSO to feature Honors String Quartet

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

      A new feature of the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra this year is the Honors String Quartet, which will feature two violinists, a violist and a cellist playing a selection of chamber music.
      The Honors String Quartet will play at four concerts on the same schedule as the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra, with dates in November, March and May. In addition, the quartet will perform twice during the year at schools, hopes to play for residents at the Grand Traverse Pavilions and may help out at the TSO's Saturday Symphony programs geared to youth.
      The Honors String Quartet program replaces some informal quartet groupings that the youth orchestra had last year.
      Morgen Johnson auditioned for the quartet on Sunday afternoon at the Fine Arts building at Northwestern Michigan College. The home schooled senior has been playing the cello for nearly nine years. However, despite being an experienced musician, she said excitement competed with butterflies as she waited for her audition.
      After playing a piece she prepared, the required scales and a piece the conductor sent her in advance, Johnson was excited at the prospect of joining the Honors String Quartet.
      "It is a lot of fun being in an ensemble," said Johnson, who has attended summer camp at the Interlochen Arts Academy for the past two years. "It is tremendously harder, a lot more work than an orchestra. With ensemble playing, you are a lot more exposed with your intonation and ability to play together."
      "That's the fun of it," she added.
      Elizabeth Bert, principle conductor of the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra, will also conduct the Honors String Quartet. The smaller setting and different music played will provide an excellent opportunity for participants to increase their skills.
      "We are really looking forward to having that repertoire for the chamber music program," said Bert, who is the principle cellist for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and a private teacher. "There will be more coaching and more small group and individual attention that will hopefully allow them to grow faster."
      The musicians chosen for the honors quartet will also help lead the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra, serving as concertmaster, principal second violin, principal viola and principal cellist. The bottom line is that for these kids, who love to play and have steeped themselves in classical music for years, the Honors String Quartet is another opportunity to share their love of music.
      "It will mean more gigs, musicians always need more gigs," Johnson said. "We can provide music and joy to the public."