For three days, the halls of Imig Music were filled with new voices and new perspectives as members of the Cleveland Orchestra spent time in residency at CU-Boulder.
Orchestral students and faculty at the College of Music are winding down a busy and exciting week. For three days鈥擲eptember 14-16鈥�15 members of the renowned Cleveland Orchestra were in residence here; the halls of Imig Music were filled with new voices, new perspectives and new ideas to help students on their road to the professional music world.
鈥淚t brings a different energy to school,鈥� says sophomore bassoon performance major John Kempsell. 鈥淭o play for someone who isn鈥檛 your teacher, who hasn鈥檛 heard you play every day for the last couple of years, has been a great learning experience.鈥�
For the second time since 2013, principal players of the Cleveland Orchestra came to Boulder for three days of master classes, panel discussions and side-by-side rehearsals, working with large ensembles and individual sections alike.
Principal Second Violin Stephen Rose says this week has been a way to supplement the world-class education students receive here. 鈥淭he students receive wonderful instruction throughout the year. We really enjoy adding to that by imparting the experience we鈥檝e had as orchestral musicians, and everything that goes along with it.
In several cases, master classes encompassed multiple sections. Principal Timpani Paul Yancich and Principal Trumpet Michael Sachs taught percussion and trumpet students together. 鈥淭hat gives students an idea of not only what it takes to become a member of the orchestra, but maybe more importantly what the job is like and how we work together,鈥� says Rose.
For students, it鈥檚 been a transformative experience. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been really hands-on,鈥� says senior tuba performance major Brian Kemble. 鈥淚 think the biggest lesson I learned was when one of the musicians leaned in close, while I was playing, and reminded me to really experience the music. That was really powerful.鈥�
The string sectional work with Rose and First Associate Concertmaster Peter Otto made a lasting impression on sophomore violinists Danielle Valdez and Allison Charles. 鈥淲e think of these professional musicians as if they鈥檙e on a pedestal,鈥� says Charles. 鈥淏ut getting to work with them that closely we learned that they鈥檙e just regular people who happen to be really, really good musicians. The experience made me more excited to maybe be in that same position some day.鈥�
鈥淚 learned the importance of communication,鈥� adds Valdez. 鈥淚t can make all the difference during rehearsal and performance.鈥�
For College of Music faculty, the week has been a chance to reconnect with colleagues in a new setting. Assistant Professor of Violin Harumi Rhodes knows Principal Cello Mark Kosower from college. 鈥淲e played in a student string quartet together and were reunited this summer when we both served as faculty mentors at the Toronto Summer Music Academy,鈥� says Rhodes.
鈥淏eing able to work together again through our mutual students at CU is the kind of connection that makes the music world so vast and so intimate at the same time!鈥�
In addition to providing tips on technique and performance, visiting orchestra members led a discussion on audition strategies during a Career Launchpad event, held weekly by the Entrepreneurship Center for Music. Finally, members of the local community got a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of these professional musicians during a public panel discussion.
鈥淭his week's visit from members of the Cleveland Orchestra has fully met and exceeded our expectations,鈥� says Dean Robert Shay. 鈥淭hey have energized our students' experiences and given them a lot to think about for the future.
鈥淚t's a great example of the College of Music advantage鈥攈ow we are able to augment our excellent core training with really meaningful exposure to the professional world.鈥�
The residency was made possible by several donations, chief among them from The Clinton Family Fund. Bruce Clinton is a longtime philanthropist and supporter of orchestras nationwide.
