Lights, Cannons, Action!
November 2023 Vol. 24 No.2
Fall is here, and the first concert of SOGO’s 24th season is right around the corner! Our students and staff are hard at work preparing a variety of musical selections to share with the community, performed by our three orchestras, brass choir, and chamber ensembles. As always, the brass choir will call us to order at the top of the show, and the first half will also feature our Debut and Academy orchestras. My colleagues Greg Allison, Dan Craig, and Liz Ward have been working tirelessly and deliberately to help our students develop the knowledge and skills they need to tackle this first set of repertoire. This year, we have invited three orchestra teachers from our local community to guest conduct the Debut Orchestra over the course of the season, and I am very pleased to share that my friend and colleague Paula Fairchild – who teaches at Salish Middle School and Lacey Elementary in North Thurston Public Schools – will be conducting a piece on our fall concert.
After intermission, the Conservatory Orchestra will take the stage performing an exciting mix of old and new works. We have two musical “rides” in a row: Joyride by Michael Markowski and Music for a Midnight Carriage Ride by local composer and music educator Austin Schlichting. Carriage Ride is receiving its first-ever performance at this concert and Mr. Schlichting labels it as an “eerie waltz” – perfect for a concert that takes place just a few days after Halloween! Joyride is a piece I have been waiting to perform for over three years. I first heard it in February of 2020 and bought the score a month later (I wonder why we couldn’t perform it at the time?!).
One of my responsibilities as a youth orchestra conductor is to introduce the students to works of the standard classical repertoire that they are likely to encounter in their future musical endeavors. The Conservatory Orchestra’s final piece on November 5 will be Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, written in 1880 to commemorate Russia’s successful defense against Napoleon in 1812. Some believe it’s inappropriate to perform this piece in the present political climate; however, it’s important to look at the larger picture. Yes, this piece celebrates a Russian victory, but France’s Napoleon was the formidable tyrant of the day. Tchaikovsky’s 1812 has thus taken on a greater meaning, with the War of 1812 seen as a shining example of a country prevailing against an authoritarian enemy. The music’s use in patriotic celebrations and dystopian movies alike reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right and remaining steadfast in times of trial. Plus, the composition is a spectacle in and of itself and rightfully part of the classical canon performed by orchestras all around the world.
SOGO’s fall concert on November 5 promises energetic performances by nearly 150 students from around the South Sound region. See you there!