Ohio University’s campus and symphony orchestras held winter concerts Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, respectively. The music played by students encapsulated the essence of places and spaces globally through superb sound.
Jose Rocha, associate professor of instruction in cello and director of orchestral activities, leads the orchestras. Rocha said the winter concert was incredible and included various music.
“There’s always a theme that ties what we play,” Rocha said. “This concept was the inspiration that people get from a place.”
For the concert, the symphony orchestra played “Karelia Overture” and “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius, an 18th-century composer. The orchestra played “Sight and Sound” by Noah Mallett, a contemporary composer and percussionist, and “The Polovtsian Dances” by Alexander Borodin, another 18th-century composer.
When selecting music for the concerts, Rocha likes to pick challenging pieces for his graduate conducting assistants while ensuring it’s attainable for the rest of the symphony. Rocha first comes up with a theme before selecting the music.
“In this case, it was inspiration by places,” Rocha said. “And then I form the repertoire thinking, ‘OK, we have a really strong string section or a really strong brass section, so what music showcases that better?’ Then we put together a program.”
The biggest difference between the campus and symphony orchestras is the level of commitment required for each orchestra. The campus orchestra plays one concert a semester and the symphony orchestra plays three concerts a semester.
“The symphony is more like you come in and you’re driven by wanting to play this incredible repertoire, and you’re committed to excellence,” Rocha said. “The campus orchestra is a little bit more for the experience of continuing playing.”
Kaylie Paugh, a sophomore studying music education, is a percussionist in the orchestra and enjoys learning under Rocha.
“I love Dr. Rocha,” Paugh said. “He is such an inspiration to me. As a music educator getting to see somebody, he is a string player, but he has so much passion for it.”
Oftentimes, percussion tends to move in and out in an orchestral setting, Paugh said, so she appreciated Rocha’s dedication to the section.
Alyssa Feller, a sophomore studying human biology, plays the violin in the campus orchestra.
“It’s been really fun,” Feller said. “I have my friend in there … it’s fun to play the violin with her.”
Feller enjoyed the winter concert and the variety of music she got to play.
“It was really cool,” Feller said. “We played, I think it was six or seven different songs, and they’re all pretty different.”
Rocha has begun preparations for the orchestral events in the upcoming spring semester.
“I am very excited,” Rocha said. “In March, right after spring break, we have Mike Mills. He is the founder of R.E.M. He is going to be here so we are going to play his music.”
For this spring concert, Robert McDuffie, a renowned violinist, is joining the orchestra to play the orchestral arrangement of R.E.M. music. The second half of the concert will feature the concerto written by Mills.
The orchestra is also collaborating with the choir to perform a concert together. In addition, the orchestra is •traveling to Ironton, Ohio in April for the first time to play a concert for Ironton’s performing arts series.