CENTERblog

A Night of Young Talent and Professionalism at the Discovery Theatre

by Kyla Cook - Chugiak High School

On December 7 at 7:00 PM. Patrons at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts waited excitedly to see some new talent on the Discovery stage. No, this was not some band or theatre troupe from out of town. These patrons were hoping to catch a glimpse of the local young people playing in the Anchorage Youth Symphony and Junior Youth Symphony.

The night started with the Junior Youth Symphony, the best of the best from local middle schools. They appeared on stage, many of them dwarfed by their basses or cellos, and sat silently. These performers were not messing around.

The professionalism continued throughout the night. Their repertoire included Glorioso by Robert W. Smith, Fantasy on “Sleepers, Wake” by Johann Sebastian Bach, and El Relicario by Jose Padilla. The Conductor, David Hagen, made sure to let the audience know if a piece was particularly difficult or if the violinists were using a newly learned bowing technique.

Over all the “tweens” of the Junior Youth Symphony were very professional, it will be exciting to watch as they mature in their playing and performing.

After the intermission came the Anchorage Youth symphony, a group of talented high school musicians from Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. They were led through surprisingly difficult pieces by a very charismatic conductor, Linn Weeda, who could be seen mopping his forehead from the perspiration collecting due to his energetic conducting style.

The musicians began with L’arlesienne: Suit No. 1. The audience was so enthusiastic, many members clapped between movements, a faux pas that seemed to amuse the conductor and giggling orchestra members alike.

Next on the program was Swedish Dances, Op 63, by Max Bruch, a surprisingly difficult piece. It was executed well, prompting uproarious applause from the audience.

Before their next piece, Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo, by Aaron Copland, Conductor Lin Weeda, sought to educate the audience. To explain Copland’s “uniquely American style” and “Cowboy ballets” he asked different orchestra members to play different parts independently of the orchestra, so the audience could recognize the tunes once they were woven into the ballet.

Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo opened with a crash from a cymbal and continued energetically until the third movement Saturday Night Waltz, a slower piece meant to bring to mind a cowgirl dancing alone. The ballet ended with Rodeo, arguably Copland’s most famous piece, and a standing ovation from proud parents and impressed audience members alike.

The night was not without its flaws, but they were not memorable. What was remarkable was the effort and professionalism shown by young performers from the Anchorage Youth Symphony and Junior Youth Symphony.

Fall Concert

Anchorage Youth Symphony

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 @ 7:00pm

Discovery Theatre