Student soloists mix seamlessly with IV Symphony.
mix seamlessly with IV Symphony
For casual listeners of classical music who may hear it as highbrow indulgence the final program of the 43rd season of the Imperial Valley Symphony is as soul stirring as any A-list act from the Beale Street Music Festival.
The Saturday performance at the Jimmie Cannon Theater for the Performing Arts juxtaposed light and thoughtful pieces. During rehearsal, the symphony could be heard playing Johann Strauss Jr.’s “The Gypsy Baron,” followed by “Soar” Marimba Concerto and second movement “Rainbow’s Lament,” with soloist Mia Torres of Imperial High School, and both conducted by Joel Jacklich, IV Symphony founder.
The next performance is Franz Josef Haydn’s “Piano Concerto” in D major, first movement, with piano soloist Dane Drewery from Imperial High School and conducted by Matthew Busse, Southwest High School director of orchestras.
Dane noted the rehearsal went great and he especially liked that the majority of music was drawn from the Romantic Era of the second half of the 19th Century. Dane remarked it is interesting to have the IV Symphony where adults are still inspired to perform. He added that this concert is one of the few opportunities to play with a symphony of this caliber.
“I don’t feel like a peer, but playing with this orchestra is definitely good experience,” he said. “Classical is the root of all modern music we listen to now. Every composition is like a piece of history.”
Busse hoped the concert is an opportune chance for the audience to understand the hard work students put into it and the talent they already possess and display. Busse noted it is his job to make the performance as good as it can be as it is “the musician in me” that compels him to never walk away from something that does not approach perfection since there is always something to improve upon. The SHS orchestra program was the first in the Valley but recently Heber implemented a program too.
“We want to make sure the Valley appreciates this under-the-radar gem and hope it inspires more schools to adopt orchestra programs and that parents support them,” said Busse.
The final pieces include Bela Bartok’s Rumanian Folk Dances conducted by Brandilyn Davidson, followed by “Violin Concerto” in D minor by Max Bruch with Nicole Shue of SHS, soloist. And then, Edvard Grieg’s “Piano Concerto” in A minor with Anthony Mayor, piano soloist and conducted by Busse.
Playing with this orchestra since seventh grade, Nicol Shue commented the concert was one more chance to play with a group of friends. “I hope the audience thinks this is a worthy final performance before I go off to San Diego State University as I’ll continue music studies and hope to teach and have some performances in my life,” she said.
“Symphony music is very complex. It’s stood the test of time - and it makes me happy.”
Exhibiting a stunning performance with the Grieg piece, soloist Anthony Mayor remarked the opening bars proclaim a here-I-am introduction. “This performance is a lot like exploring what I can do and also, how much more do I need to learn,” he confided. “Tonight’s program is very exciting. The literature is energizing, demanding and the soloists are capable of handling it.”