March 2015 Vol. XV No. 4

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Providing a challenging, fully integrated music experience for the young musician because of support from people like you.

SOGO cellist Maura Phelps will perform Boccherini's Concerto for Cello No. 4 at the SOGO concert on March 1. Maura took time out from her preparations to talk about her experience.

When did you first pick up the cello?SOGO was my beginning for music. I started playing the cello when I was seven years old and I started SOGO that same year. I didn't have a school orchestra like many other kids, so the weekly rehearsals were my only oppor-tunity to play in a group until I was a freshman at Timberline.

How is performing a solo different from playing as part of the orchestra? Playing in an orchestra requires a whole different focus than in a solo. In an orchestra you must blend, listen, and sacrifice your own spotlight to benefitthe rest of the group. But playing a

solo puts you in the hot seat. Not only is projection [of sound] a whole new challenge but maintaining the phrasing of the piece despite what is going on behind you is difficult. (Cont'd on p.2)

When you're 3300 miles away a small [video] segment like this really lifts your spirits. Thank you. ~SOGO relative

Vixen Plays with Hearts“Loud, emotional, and fun!” laughs Maestro John Welsh as he describes the overture to Richard Wagner's opera Rienzi, the piece with which the Conservatory Orchestra will begin their performance on March 1.

Rienzi is loosely based on the life of Cola di Rienzi, who led a short-lived people’s revolt in 14th-century Rome. The overture begins with a trumpet call to arms, moves on to a melody representing Rienzi’s prayer, and ends with a military march.

Violist Erica Anderson is enjoying preparing Rienzi. 'It’s something to sink your teeth into. There’s always something going on in that piece – something crazy somewhere!'

Rienzi is something to sink your teeth into, playing wise. There's always some-thing going on in that piece - something crazy somewhere!

In the Hot Seat with Maura

Media on the Mezz ii: Return of the HashtagMedia on the Mezz is a great way to interact with the orchestra during the concert or to share the concert with far away friends and family.

Customize Your Experience for the March 1 Concert:• Purchase tickets in the Mezzanine section on Olytix.org.• Have a Facebook account to see video feed and photos.• Have a Twitter app set up. (Requires a free Twitter account).• On Twitter, follow @SOGO_OLY and set notifications to ON.

Concert Night:• Silence your phone as a courtesy for audience members and performers.• You will receive updates visually through the Twitter and Facebook apps.• Click on Hashtag #SOGONOTES to follow the conversation.

The MEDIA ON THE MEZZ is a grant from the WA State Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts and is part of a pilot project of the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia.

Next the Conservatory Orchestra will perform Luigi Boccherini’s Cello Concerto No. 4, featuring Maura Phelps (see In the Hot Seat with Maura, right). ''Boccherini was a cellist and decided that he needed to write for himself,' explains Welsh. 'Sort of like Mozart, who wrote piano concerti for himself to play.'

'Maura is a very accomplished cellist and it has been a joy watching her develop over the years,' Welsh continues. 'She has been such a loyal member of SOGO and I am so happy that she is planning on studying music as she begins her college experience.'

Perhaps most familiar to audiences will be selections from Georges Bizet's Carmen, the most performed opera in the world. Car-men is a vixen who toys with the heart of Don José. According to Bizet biographer Winton Dean, 'The music characterizes Don José’s gradual decline … from honest soldier to deserter, vagabond and finally murderer.'

Please join us on March 1, 4 p.m. at the Wash-ington Center. You will be humming Carmen’s Habanera and Toreador Song for weeks!

Celestine Galli-Marié as Carmen, by Henri Lucien Doucet

Conservatory trumpets rehearsing 'Rienzi'

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Hot Seat, cont'dWhen playing a solo you are exposed to a whole different type of interaction with the orchestra as a whole. It opens your eyes to a completely new idea of what the orchestra is really capable of.

What has being a part of SOGO meant to you?Being in a group with kids who care about the music, and aren't just in it for an easy 'A' is what I love about SOGO.

Maura PhelpsMarch 2008

Being in a group with kids who care about the music, and aren't just in it for an easy 'A' is what I love about SOGO.

I have met some of the greatest people I know through SOGO as well as been mentored by musicians who I will al-ways look up to. SOGO gave me the opportunity to play music I would never get the chance to see in a high school orchestra. I am so excited to see it grow and continue to have such a positive effect on the community.

Join us March 1, 4 p.m., at the Washington Center to hear what SOGO and Maura are really capable of.

We first connected Maura to SOGO when she was in third grade so she could experience playing with other young musicians in a group. As time passed I came to appreciate how the SOGO programs helped young people that love music develop and grow. I hoped by joining the Board that I could help ensure that many other young musicians could gain the experiences my daughter loved.

~ Dana Phelps, mother of soloist Maura Phelps and SOGO board member

Bridget LongMay 2012

SOGO oboist Bridget Long will treat audience members to Alessandro Marcel-lo’s Oboe Concerto in D Minor at the March 1 concert. Bridget will be accompa-nied by the Academy Orchestra. Academy Conductor Jeff Lund talks about what a great opportunity this is for Academy musicians: 'Bridget's presence in this piece is its strongest attribute to help the Academy Orchestra strings develop an interest and appreciation for music of this time period: the Baroque era.'

Bridget is also an accomplished pianist and Irish dancer (think Riverdance) and plans to study music. She says, 'I heard an oboe for the first time in 5th grade and I chose it because I loved how it sounded.'

Bridget's interest in dance comes out in the rhythmic integrity of her solo voice.

Dance Rhythms Revealed in Oboe Concerto

Lund notes, 'Bridget's interest in dance comes out in the rhythmic integrity of her solo voice, and paves a solid path through the light and bouncy orchestral accompaniment.'

Bridget joined SOGO in 7th grade and is now finishing her senior year at Capitol High School. She will be auditioning for conservatories across the country this spring. Bridget credits SOGO for this decision: 'SOGO has helped me grow tre-mendously as a musician and has exposed me to many different musical environments; without it I probably would not have chosen music as a career path.'

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SOGO iS COmmunity SuppOrted

DISTINGUISHED SPONSORSOlympia Federal Savings

Olympic Dermatology & Laser ClinicR. L. Ray Violin Shop

SPONSORSCabinets by Trivonna

Tumwater Eye Center & VUE

GRANTSNational Endowment for the Arts

Washington State Arts Commission

FOUNDATIONSCharneski Charitable Fund

National Federation of Music Club

ADVERTISERSAndrew J. Kapust, DDS, PS

Annie's Quilt ShoppeBischofberger Violins, Ltd

Cooper Moss Advanced DentistryDavid T. Stone Violins

Donald Sampson, DDSEdward P. Case, MD

Evergreen Brass QuintetJennifer R. Case, Sound Advantage Realty

Law Offices of Connolly, Tacon & MeserveMusic & Arts

Music 6000Old School Pizzeria

Pioneer TechnologiesSouth Sound Women’s Center

TAGS Awards & SpecialtiesTanasse Chiropractic

WSECU

rem

inde

rpa

rent

Dress Rehearsal March 1 Washington CenterBrass Choir load-in 11:00 a.m.Brass Choir 11:20 a.m.—11:55 a.m.Debut 12:00 p.m.—12:45 p.m.Academy 12:50 p.m.—1:35 p.m.Conservatory 1:40 p.m.—3:10 p.m.Concert Call Time 3:30 p.m., Concert dress required at call time.

We Call Them Oly FedLong-time SOGO sponsor Olympia Federal Savings ('Our Friends Call Us Oly Fed') has a reputation for commitment to our community. Why is it important to Oly Fed to support so many local organiza-tions? Sandy DiBernardo, VP/Marketing Director, tells us, 'As a local bank, Olympia Federal Savings genuinely cares and is committed to doing the right thing for our customers, our employees and our community. By providing support to non-profit organizations, we are helping to create a more vibrant and thriving culture that ultimately improves the quality of life for us all.'

DiBernardo continues, 'I believe SOGO approached Olympia Federal back in 2002 and expressed an “out of the box” concept that would provide young musicians with challenging orchestra and chamber music experience. This idea was fresh, exciting and inspiring and would provide a value to our youth and our community. SOGO has continued to be successful and have developed some wonderful musicians we are so proud of…and a relationship began!'

Congratulations to SOGO’s All-Northwest, All-State and Junior All-State participants. They spent February 13-15 in Spokane rehearsing with musicians from around the state and northwest region.

The weekend culminated in honor group performances attended by music educators, family, and friends. All these students have worked hard and auditioned in the fall for this honor.

Someone told me It's all happening At the zooIt starts out on the street in front of the Washington Center with parents, grandparents and children of all ages - sometimes looking for it - sometimes just stumbling onto it. What is "it"? Well, the SOGO Instrument Petting Zoo, of course!

The seekers, the curious, and the just plain lost wind their way into the Center where they first encounter a doorway fringed in grass and faint jungle sounds waft toward the entrants. As they near the instrument pet-ting area, the jungle sounds are mingled with a variety of tones emanating from string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. SOGO musicians are helping children and those attending with them to properly bow, blow, buzz and strike the instruments in an appropriate manner to draw out the best sound from each instrument.

Smiles and screeches of delight are seen and heard as children and adults coax a tone out of a flute, cello, French horn, or suspended cymbal.

Comments from children of all ages heard at the zoo:'That was cool!''It vibrates when I play.''My lips tickle.''I haven't played that in 20 years!''Can we go around again?!'

The Zoo would not be possible without your support and friends at the Washington Center, R. L. Ray Violin shop and Music and Arts for instruments, and all of the great "zookeepers" from SOGO guiding the new musicians through their paces on a variety of instruments.

L-R: Sandy DiBernardo, Olympia Federal VP/Marketing Director; Lori Drummond, Olympia Federal President/CEO; John Fleckenstein, SOGO Board President;

Sandy Sinnett, Olympia Federal Marketing Specialist

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scheduleeventSeason Concerts

Sundays, March 1, May 17, 4 p.m.TICKETS: $6-$15* | 360.753.8586 | Olytix.org6 and under free | *plus $3 Center surcharge

Instrument Petting Zoo Saturday, April 25, 2-4 p.m.Washington CenterFree and open to the public

Is your favorite young musician interested in joining a youth orchestra?

All SOGO rehearsals are open for prospective members. Students can sit in and play along with SOGO's Conservatory, Academy, or Debut Orchestras for free.

Prior arrangements are preferred but not required. Email studentorchestras@gmail.com or visit ww.studentorchestras.org for rehearsal times and more information.

You can help provide a valuable experience for a young musician: Donate to SOGO. Donations are gladly accepted via PayPal at www.studentorchestras.org (click the "Donate" button) and by cash or check mailed to 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia 98501.

SOGO has helped me grow tremendously as a musician and has exposed me to many different musical environments.

~Bridget Long, SOGO oboist

I hoped by joining the SOGO Board that I could help ensure that many other young musicians could gain the experiences my daughter loved.

~ Dana Phelps, SOGO parent and board member