Music, Teaching, Learning, and Life

Last night’s all Beethoven concert with the West Suburban Summer Festival Orchestra was a fantastic experience!  I love playing clarinet in community groups, both bands and orchestras.  It’s inspiring to perform with dedicated adults who love music and their instruments enough to practice and rehearse, in addition to other full-time responsibilities they may have, without monetary compensation.  Because of schedule conflicts of the regular 2nd clarinet player, I’m fortunate to be able to play this entire summer season.

The WSS Summer Festival Orchestra, a part of the West Suburban Symphony Society, is a newer group in Chicago’s Western suburbs.  Auditions began in February, 2008, and the very first concert was July of last summer:  Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.  I auditioned last year when the group was forming, but didn’t make the final cut.  However, I was placed on the guest/sub list.  Imagine my excitement when I received the e-mail asking about my availability to play the very first concert last July, 2008.  Of course, I accepted without hesitation!  

After that first concert, I wrote the following about the experience (Monday, July 21, 2008).

Carmina Burana

How do I begin to put into words my thoughts about Saturday night’s concert? I was a small part of the very first performance of a new group in the western suburbs–”a part of history,” as the conductor, Peter Lipari, described it. I was only subbing for the 2nd clarinet player, but somehow, that doesn’t seem to affect my sense of truly being a part of something great. Was the final performance Saturday night perfection? No. However, the faults I heard seemed pretty small in comparison to the overall picture.  

The West Suburban Festival Symphony is a volunteer/audition group. I don’t believe any of the musicians received compensation. In fact, all of the orchestra participants had to pay a $20 fee in order to cover the cost of the music rental. Each member of the 100+ voice choir purchased their own music in order to participate. We sold tickets, helped advertise by word of mouth, put up fliers, etc. The success of the concert was definitely a group effort on all fronts. The conductor, the president of the organization, and several others, took a big risk to get the group started. Would the initial auditions, fundraising, and scheduling of concerts, venues, and rehearsals produce enough of a payoff? Would the group be well received? Would ticket sales be sufficient? Would the members of the chorus and orchestra show enough commitment to produce a successful performance? Fortunately, the answers to all of those questions was a resounding YES! In fact, at the end of the last movement, the audience of over 450 people immediately rose to their feet for a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. Were they just tired of sitting for over an hour? (I’m asking the question a cynic might ask!) I don’t think so. There was something truly moving about the whole performance. The soloists were fantastic; the choir sang beautifully; and the orchestra played their hearts out.

Why did it all work? We worked under the leadership of a charismatic individual who helped us all feel a part of a “family,” a person who was also able to spur us on to play, sing, and work to the very best of our ability. Peter was able to run rehearsals in such a way that we all had a great time while working to produce the very best performance possible. As I played during rehearsals and at the performance, I had the sense that I was playing under the direction of a TRULY creative person. Every member of the group with whom I talked spoke of how much they love playing in Peter’s group. Yes, it was a group effort with many people doing vital jobs behind the scenes, but no one would have done their work with as much enthusiasm and effort if it hadn’t been for Peter’s leadership. I think they all know that, too!