November 13th & 14th, 2024
7:00PM in EPAC Auditorium!
Ticket Price: $7 Adult / $5 Students & Seniors. ($1 e-ticket fee)
All district orchestra students FREE!
Fall ORCHESTRA CONCERT #2:
Thursday, November 14th at 7:00PM. EPAC Auditorium
Featuring 9th grade Repertory, Chamber, Sinfonia, and Concert Orchestras
directed by Jack Reynertson & Nick Gaudette
PROGRAM NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR - CONCERT #2:
Greetings, Friends, Family, and Patrons of our second of the Edina Orchestra Fall Concerts!
Tonight's performance features a curated selection of works that reflect our orchestras' recent musical journey, particularly our enriching fall tour to Cleveland, Ohio which included students in Sinfonia, Varsity, and Concert Orchestra. During this tour, our students had the privilege of working with Max Dimoff, Principal Bass of the Cleveland Orchestra, whose influence has profoundly shaped several of tonight's musical arcs.
Sinfonia Orchestra will kick off the 2nd half of the concert with “Midnight Ride” composed by the local & legendary director Lucas Shogren (Mounds view, Minnesota Youth Symphonies). This exciting work propels hte group into a musical adventure with memorable memories, driving rhythms, and dramatic dynamic changes.
Following Sinfonia’s opener is the toe tapping and swinging “I Wan’na Be Like You” from the Jungle Book. This song allows us to explore syncopated and percussive rhythms with a familiar tune as we call upon the help of our thumping synthesized drummer.
Returning to our tour theme, Sinfonia Orchestra will be joined on stage by Concert Orchestra to perform “Themes from Mahler Symphony No. 1, Movement 3”. We begin our homage to Mahler and the upright bass, starting with a haunting timpani ostinato (reflrected by cellos and basses), followed by the familiar "Frère Jacques" theme transformed into a minor key. Under Max’s guidance, our students have developed their interpretation through refined bowing and phrasing techniques. This piece holds special significance as our students later experienced the Cleveland Orchestra's magnificent performance of Mahler's Third Symphony in it’s entirety.
Continuing our Mahler celebration, “Adagietto from Mahler's 5th Symphony” will showcases our talented harpist, Ash, whose presence allows us to fully realize the composer's vision. While seemingly simple, this piece has challenged our students to think beyond traditional rhythmic structures. Rather than viewing note values as mathematical divisions, we've explored the relative relationships between notes and the weight of each melodic line. We have spent a fair amount of time deconstructing how to approach the phrasing with care, compassion, support, and continual focus. This type of higher conceptual thinking challenges all young musicians to think beyond their understanding of pulse, rhythm, and time by uncovering the world of intention and interpretation fueled by the emotional existence of the their surroundings - which is just a different way to say “let’s play it again, but this time with more feeling”!
Concert Orchestra will continue with one of Saint-Saëns most famous tone poems, “Danse Macabre”. This spine-tingling waltz written to portray a visit from death on Halloween night will feature one of our accomplished senior violinist, Pedro Pacheco! Pedro and the orchestra will collectively transcend our sound into realm of spirits and haunts that come out to roam during that single night of the year.
Continuing on, our seniors of Concert Orchestra are thrilled to share with you their conductor-less version of William Hofeldt’s “Lullaby”, followed by one more combined treat from our our gig book signature songs by Bill Withers "Lean on Me" We offer this final song to you and each other as way provide space and support to those who may benefit from having their spirits lifted in this moment of time.
Thank you for joining us tonight as we share the remarkable musical journey this ensemble has embarked on. Through incredible focus, dedication and artistic growth, we believe that tonights performance is an exceptional showcase that we can't wait to share with you all!
-Nick
9th Grade Repertory Orchestra
Riverside Celebration
composed by Brian Balmages
Many Miles Away Across the Sea
composed by Susan Day
Wheels of Fury
composed by Chris Thomas
Chamber Orchestra
Capriccio Espagnol
Alborada
Variazioni
composed by Rimsky Korsakov, arr. Sandra Dackow
EHS “Nonet”
Point Lookout
composed by Brian Balmages
Sinfonia Orchestra
Midnight Ride
composed by Lucas Shogren
I Wan’na Be Like You
music by Sherman & Sherman, arr. Larry Moore
Sinfonia & Concert Orchestra Combined
Theme from Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 3.
composed by Gustav Mahler, arr. Brad Pfeil
featuring Eric Zhao - Upright Bass
Concert Orchestra
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
composed by Gustav Mahler, arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle
Danse Macabre
composed by Camille Saint-Sans, arr. James ‘Red’ McLeod
featuring Pedro Pacehco - violin (detuned Eflat)
Lullaby
composed by William Hofeldt
featuring the Seniors of Concert Orchestra
Sinfonia & Concert Orchestra Combined
Lean on Me
words & music by Bill Withers, arr. by Larry Moore
***Concert #2 End***
FALL ORCHESTRA CONCERT #1:
Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00PM. EPAC Auditorium
Featuring Varsity and Concert Orchestras
directed by Nick Gaudette
PROGRAM NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR - CONCERT #!:
Greetings, Friends, Family, and Patrons of our first orchestra concert of the year featuring Edina High Schools Varsity and Concert Orchestras!
Tonight's performance features a curated selection of works that reflect our orchestras' recent musical journey, particularly our enriching fall tour to Cleveland, Ohio which included students in Sinfonia, Varsity, and Concert Orchestra. During this tour, our students had the privilege of working with Max Dimoff, Principal Bass of the Cleveland Orchestra, whose influence has profoundly shaped several of tonight's musical arcs. We will also present two contrasting works from our fall tour performance at the Roller Coaster Tycoon Park, Cedar Point, that capture the spirit of the season: “Ghost Riders" - a haunting adaptation of the country classic and “Danse Macabre" by Saint-Saëns - a spine-tingling waltz features our senior violinist, Pedro Pacheco!
“Themes from Mahler Symphony No. 1, Movement 3” begins our homage to Mahler and the upright bass, starting with a haunting timpani ostinato (reflrected by cellos and basses), followed by the familiar "Frère Jacques" theme transformed into a minor key. Under Max’s guidance, our students have developed their interpretation through refined bowing and phrasing techniques. This piece holds special significance as our students later experienced the Cleveland Orchestra's magnificent performance of Mahler's Third Symphony in it’s entirety
Continuing our Mahler celebration, “Adagietto from Mahler's 5th Symphony” will showcases our talented harpist, Ash, whose presence allows us to fully realize the composer's vision. While seemingly simple, this piece has challenged our students to think beyond traditional rhythmic structures. Rather than viewing note values as mathematical divisions, we've explored the relative relationships between notes and the weight of each melodic line. We have spent a fair amount of time deconstructing how to approach the phrasing with care, compassion, support, and continual focus. This type of higher conceptual thinking challenges all young musicians to think beyond their understanding of pulse, rhythm, and time by uncovering the world of intention and interpretation fueled by the emotional existence of the their surroundings - which is just a different way to say “let’s play it again, but this time with more feeling”!
The concert will wrap up with William Hofeldt’s “Lullaby” played conductor-less by our senior class, followed by one of our gig book signature songs by Bill Withers "Lean on Me" that we offer to you and each other as way provide space and support to those who may benefit from having their spirits lifted in this moment of time.
We thank you for joining us this evening as we share these musical experiences that have shaped our ensemble's growth and artistic development this year!
-Nick
Prelude in G Minor
composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arr. by Tanner Otto
Ghost Riders
music by Stan Jones, arr. by Larry Moore
Danse Macabre
composed by Camille Saint-Sans, arr. James ‘Red’ McLeod
featuring Pedro Pacehco - violin (detuned Eflat)
Theme from Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 3.
composed by Gustav Mahler, arr. Brad Pfeil
featuring John Jerney - Upright Bass
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
composed by Gustav Mahler, arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle
Lullaby
composed by William Hofeldt
featuring the Seniors of Concert Orchestra
Lean on Me
words & music by Bill Withers, arr. by Larry Moore
***Let us know if you’d like to hear another song!***
The Edina Orchestra Boosters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching our district's exceptional 5-12 orchestra program. With your help, we can continue providing life-changing opportunities like:
Sponsoring unforgettable programing of international artists such as last years Electrify Your Symphony
Supporting beginning and intermediate string players with the purchase of new instruments and repair costs of our growing fleet
Providing financial assistance for students' meaningful tour participation
Funding elementary, middle, and high school concerts, events, and receptions that create cherished memories
Please consider becoming an Orchestra Booster with a donation today! Or ask your employer to contribute on your behalf. Every gift makes a difference and will directly impact this year, and the years to come!
DRIVEN COFFEE FUNDRAISER
ENDING ON NOVEMBER 18th!
Need a last-minute gift AND want to support Edina Orchestra Boosters at the same time? Our Fall Driven Coffee Fundraiser has you covered!