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February 8, 2010

Orchestra to 'kick off' national festival

By CAROL SOUTH

TRAVERSE CITY -- Twenty-five local high school musicians will be kicking off a national conference in ten days.

Members of the Traverse City Central Philharmonic String Orchestra were selected as the "kick off" group for the American String Teacher's Association four-day National Orchestra Festival. Their prestigious, early-morning performance on Feb. 18 will be held before 2,000 teachers from around the nation.

Conductor and orchestra director Ellen Boyer showcased the group's talent and potential last spring by submitting three years of programs and recordings to the organization. While this is a first-time opportunity for the school and students, Boyer has previously attended this annual professional gathering.

"I always come away inspired and ready to raise awareness and skill for those interested in the art of string playing," she said. "My hope is that the students will see what is out there in the larger world and have some of that inspiration and joy affect them."

Boyer and her students, who comprise the school's top string ensemble, will present their program Thursday at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium. The California Concert includes "Canzona for Double String Orchestra," "Holberg Suite for String Orchestra" and "It Don't Mean a Thing."

The group will leave Traverse City on Feb. 16 and return Feb. 21, packing in some sightseeing around an intense festival schedule. After their performance, which will be adjudicated, one adjudicator will work with the group for an hour.

Throughout the next few days, Central students will attend master classes and concerts as well as observe other groups -- all rich opportunities for learning and growth.

"I'm planning on taking some jazz classes and their teachers are top notch," said Quinn McKay, a senior string bass player. "I'm excited to see some of the other groups play."

"It isn't every day that high school students get to go to a conference, a big conference like this, and play in front of all these adjudicators," he said.

Maria Frick, the ensemble's principal cellist, is one of two students attending the festival for only a day and a half. These two members of the Trojan ski team will fly out with a parent chaperone after the Thursday morning performance. The state championships are that weekend in Marquette.

"We get to spend all day there Wednesday and do some sightseeing, too," Frick said.

For the trip, Boyer has managed a mountain of logistics, from approvals and fundraising beforehand to arranging transportation, meals and lodging. Not to mention the challenge of flying with instruments -- some medium- to over-sized -- and the required instrument manifests.

"We weighed the bass travel case with the instrument inside and it's 110 pounds," she said, noting the cost for that piece is $185 each way.

Local businesses, individuals and families have pitched in throughout many fundraisers to make this dream a reality for the students.

"They've been very generous, really the whole town has been," Boyer said.

The Traverse City Central Philharmonic String Orchestra will present their California Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium. Admission is free although donations will be accepted.

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