On Nov. 15, for strings and full orchestra, including a new work by Jessica Mays, Maurice Ravel鈥檚 鈥淢a m猫re l鈥橭ye鈥澨齛nd Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 in D Major/minor, Op. 107.
鈥淗ow great and refreshing it has been for students to come together this year鈥攖o listen and play together as a group again,鈥澨齭ays Philharmonia Orchestra Director and Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies Joel Schut, who also conducts the Denver Young Artists Conservatory Orchestra.
鈥淭he College of Music is special in that we have two full orchestras,鈥澨齢e continues. 鈥淎nd the Philharmonia Orchestra is unique in that it's primarily comprised of undergraduate students, which provides great leadership opportunities for all instruments鈥攚inds are able to play major solo parts and string students are able to step into leadership roles where there might not be as many opportunities in the orchestra comprising primarily graduate students.鈥�
As well, the Philharmonia Orchestra has a strong commitment to programming at least one underrepresented voice on each concert cycle. 鈥淚 want to expose our students to different styles of music,鈥澨齟xplains Schut. 鈥淔or our November concert, we鈥檝e prepared a brand new piece in a modern style, a classic French-style work and a traditional classical symphony鈥攁ll requiring different techniques and ways of creating music.鈥�
Specifically, the upcoming program includes Mays鈥� 鈥淎nthem for Go,鈥� Ravel鈥檚 鈥淢other Goose Suite鈥澨�(note the many woodwind solos and the famous violin solo!) and Mendelssohn's four-movement 鈥淩eformation鈥澨齭ymphony, one of the composer's most-performed scores.听
In particular, the Philharmonia Orchestra鈥檚 performance of Mays鈥� 鈥淎nthem for Go鈥濃�攐riginally commissioned for the Denver Young Artists Conservatory Orchestra鈥攊s all about a desire for risk taking and change. Mays puts it this way:听
Within my piece, 鈥淎nthem for Go,鈥澨齣s an expansion on a theme that for me has embodied the spirit of overcoming hardship and listening to our burning desire for something more, something better. This piece is a tribute to both our heartbreak and resilience鈥攐ur tears inspiring the conviction to move forward. Our desire to break down those systems that divide and rob us of our rights. It鈥檚 about our blind determination to push for something better for ourselves, our communities and our shared place on this miraculous planet. This is an anthem for that brilliant fire that lives in us all.听
Schut further encourages concertgoers to listen for the unique voice of each part, marching forward to the end of the piece, bursting with energy and excitement.听
Join us!听
