The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Andrews Osborne welcomes music ensemble
Aimed to “galvanize artistic awareness through performance, education and community engagement,” Andrews Osborne Academy welcomed PROJECT Trio to its campus to inspire young musicians and vocalists alike.
The chamber music ensemble, from Brooklyn, New York, is comprised of three composer/performers, and culminated its residence at the school on April 5 with a community concert of its own music and collaboration with Andrews Osborne and Hathaway
Brown students.
The proceeds will benefit the Andrews Osborne Art and Music Boosters, which strives to bring additional opportunities like PROJECT Trio’s residence in support of the art and music programs.
Andrews Osborne Music Director Meghan Paul, in her second year at the school, said collaboration with Laura Webster, music teacher at Hathaway Brown, brought the trio to Andrews.
“Laura actually knew them from college, that’s how this great residence came to happen. Laura’s son attends Andrews Osborne Academy and when the idea of PROJECT Trio came up, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ We’ve been planning it since August of 2016.”
Members of PROJECT Trio are: Greg Pattillo (flute), Eric Stephenson (cello) and Peter Seymour (double bass). The trio met at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“PROJECT Trio is different in that they are more currently based in music,” Paul said. “We’ve had an African drummer here from Ghana and a Hawaiian drummer. They were established, set in what they are doing. PROJECT Trio is focused on beginning and younger musicians. They still gig and know what the real world is like for musicians. They also bring the current (musical atmosphere) and revamp it, working with current technology with composers.”
Citing music as an influence that’s always been a part of her life, Paul, believes teaching it reaches students in multiple capacities.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, ever since I was in the seventh-grade band, and that’s why we love having PROJECT Trio here,” she said. “They give a unique perspective because they are open to different styles, merging them to create their own art and sound. Their main message to the students is to practice and improvise, to feel and create the music, not just to read and play it. If a kid can improve, they have confidence in what they’re doing.
“And PROJECT Trio embraces those different avenues not seen in a traditional band or orchestral setting. Creativity is one of our core values at Andrews, it’s what we strive for, to take the knowledge of what you have and make it something new, to manipulate it to something different. The trio also urges practicing outside of school because it leads to exploration. It’s nice to have our young musicians receive that message.”
With PROJECT Trio and hopefully additional residencies in the future, Paul feels Andrews Osborne can be the premier arts school in the area.
“We want to bring more to the community, we want people to know of us more,” she said, adding exposing international students to different music styles and systems embraces diversity, another core value of the institute.
“It’s cool for our students to see the trio doing funky stuff, to see what’s possible and what’s to come. Usually, classically trained musicians are very rigid and PROJECT Trio changes that up. How many times do you see a flute player beatboxing?
“It’s also cool to be a part of this evolutionary, artistic and globally aware school,” she said. “We’re not the finishing school of almost 10 years ago. We’ve continued to develop connections with people and the community, reflecting our values. AOA is a hidden gem. We have a great performance space. The Cleveland Ballet performs here three times a year for a discounted price. We hope to bring in more series, even if they aren’t resident artists.”
Andrews Osborne Upper, Middle and Lower School students all agreed the trio was amazing, and noted the fun the group had while performing.
“They’re really different and exciting,” said fourthgrader Camille Lovins, who wants to learn piano. “They used the instruments to do different things other than just playing. It sounded cool when it all came together.”
Xavia Fields, a violinist in the 11th grade, said performing with the band was challenging but ultimately fun.
“You can really tell they are comfortable with each other. They really hear each other and create something new based on it. We only got to practice, really, with them one time (before the concert), but it was great playing with professionals.”
“It’s cool for our students to see the trio doing funky stuff, to see what’s possible and what’s to come.” — Andrews Osborne Music Director Meghan Paul