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February 9, 1999 |
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Musical Ambassadors: Oberlin Conservatory Winter Term Projects Take Students to Washington, D.C. and Panama Media Contact:
Linda
Shockley |
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PHOTOS AVAILABLE Music had no geographical boundaries in January, 1999, when one group of Oberlin College Conservatory of Music students performed on $50-million-dollar Stradivarius instruments at the Smithsonian Institution, while another group of Conservatory students rehearsed under banana trees in Panama. These are two highlights of recent Winter Term projects that had Conservatory students packing their instruments and sheet music, and taking it on the road. (Winter Term allows students to concentrate on one learning project for the month of January.) One group - the Marina Quartet - flew to Washington, D.C., staged two concerts at the Smithsonian Institution (one of these on magnificent Stradivarius instruments), and performed nine concerts at six Washington D.C. schools. Another group of 11 students, accompanied by Tim Weiss, associate professor of wind conducting, headed to Panama for the ninth annual Panama Project. The group worked with a 55-member youth orchestra, offered chamber music and orchestral coachings, private lessons, master classes and performances. Regardless of location, each project was a 24-hour immersion in music, beginning with early morning classes and performances, and ending with late-night musical activities. In the process, Conservatory musicians gained valuable performance experience in important and unusual venues, and honed pedagogical skills.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Michael Fenton, of Oakland, Calif., described the experience of performing on a Stradivarius: "The joy of playing on the 1695 viola was having all the things I struggle with on my instrument come so easily. Sound quality and even articulation virtually took care of themselves, and I was left with this incredible freedom to explore new sounds, to pay undivided attention to the music. Having that experience now leaves me with the task of trying to stretch my musical boundaries on my own instrument. "The day of the big concert was doubly memorable because I not only had the opportunity to play on the Stradivarius viola, but I also was able to meet the maker of my own viola - Robert McCluskie - who lives near Bethesda, MD. It was fascinating to talk with him and really get a feeling for the continuity between the 1695 Stradivarius viola I played that evening and my own 1992 McCluskie viola. After 300 years, the tradition of instrument making is still alive and well!"
The eleven Conservatory students of the Panama Project are: Henry Buchtel '01, Rodica Filipoi '99, Benjamin Fox '01, Elizabeth Freivogel '99, Katayoon Hodjati '99, Briana Knull '99, Kyle Lane '01, Joshua Rubin '99, Daniel Stachyra '99, Jennifer Wyatt '99 and Pieter Wyckoff '00. This visit was the second trip to Panama for violinist Filipoi, of Ridgefield, WA. "Perhaps you had to experience it firsthand to understand how much these young musicians look forward to our return," she said. "There's an amazing feeling of appreciation. For example, many families in Panama City donated time, food, transportation and lodging for our visit. In El Valle, the man who drives the chicken truck - "the Pollomobile" - donated his time, his driving and his truck to get us to rehearsals. We all crammed into the back of the chicken truck with our instruments tucked under our feet and sang as we went to rehearsals. "It's almost overwhelming to listen as a village church bell rings to signal the beginning of a concert and then watch as people immediately come outdoors and head down the streets to attend. Many of these people had never seen instruments like ours. Many had never heard classical music performed live. There's a wonderful feeling of satisfaction in contributing to a larger musical world. I feel like I've done something important in sharing something that I love: music. As a bonus, I've made lasting friendships." The Conservatory works closely with the National Concert Association in Panama, a non-profit organization that each year provides vital project coordination (scheduling, room and board, performance venues, ground transportation and partial funding). |