Above : Conductor Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
From America’s North West, Washington and Minnesota, part of the Upper Midwest, two of USA’s leading exceptional orchestras, part of an international exchange programme offered Sydney audience a privileged opportunity to revel in a specially curated event.
As a seasoned attendee to the Concert Hall I’m always prepped for the excitement of visual and auditory stimulation. But nothing prepared me for the titanic appearance of over 140 youthful musicians whose output was a wow personified. Talk about stacking a concert stage with a staggering composition of 12 basses, 43 violins, 15 violas, 10 oboes, a brass section of 18 and percussion numbering 7. A MUSICAL VOYAGE, part of the global Music Masters Concert Series, offered an inspiring prospectus spanning masterpieces by Wagner, Brahms, Haydn and Prokofiev, alongside music by Aaron Copland, John Williams and contemporary American composers.
The Spokane Youth Symphony USA from Washinton wove a mosaic of music, conducted by Dr Roberta Botella, as they launched into a jaunty, uplifting melodies by Copland’s Down a Country Lane and Old American Songs plus Camille Saint-Saens’ A Night in Lisbon. A quick change of conductors saw Dr Phillip Baldwin take the baton for Haydn’s Symphony No.82 “The Bear” and Brahms’ Serenade Op.11, No.1. The talented orchestra whose members are in the gifted program will graduate into professional studies or teach, accrued many kudos judging by the overwhelming clapping and foot- stomping.
After interval, a moving tribute to all those who served in defence of both countries and the cadres of First Responders was presented by Kelliegh Jackson. “The Last Post” was bugled by Gusztave Belansky and the “Lone Piper Lament” bagpiped by Andrew Hearn. “The Ode” read by Andrew Shegog was accompanied by a soldier wearing the Anzac uniform bearing the Australian flag was poignant. “Lest we forget”.
When 140 musicians of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies file in to occupy the total concert stage, it caused a frisson of excitement. Into their 54th season, The GTCYS pronounced (git-seez) is the largest youth orchestra program in the USA, under the helmsmanship of conductor Maestro Mark Russell Smith broke the sound barrier with Wagner’s Die Meistersinger: Prelude followed by John Williams’ Music from Lincoln. Trumpeter extraordinaire, Cristian Garner explored magnificently with ‘Malice Towards None’. The orchestra’s robust energy and musical prowess led us into Michael Abel’s 1962 composition Delights& Dances showcasing the exquisite talents of violinists Lorelei Schoenhard and Layla Chakhvashvili as well as, the magical output of viola player, Emily Alexander and cellist, Sophia Alexander. Following them was the lovely Luke Soneral 2008 composition, An Overture: The Mouse and Its Shadow.
To cap the afternoon’s excellent repertoire, the orchestra brought out their big guns with Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet with a cannonade of brass and strings fanfare that cast a spell showcasing the muscular power of this exemplary orchestra- polished and disciplined with precision and unquestionable musical dexterity. The full capacity of these talented musicians was rewarded by the thunderous applause of the appreciative audience at the conclusion of the concert.
MUSIC MASTERS – A MUSICAL VOYAGE, presented by the Music Masters Concert Series, was performed at the Concert Hall Sydney Opera House on the 29th June 2o26.
