By Taryn Seidel ’29, staff writer
For the first time since pre-COVID, the chamber orchestra went on tour.
Departing on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and returning Friday, Oct. 16, the chamber orchestra performed at five schools in Loudoun County, Virginia. These schools included Simpson Middle School, where one of LVC’s former graduates teaches, as well as Tuscarora High School, Broad Run High School, Woodgrove High School and Stonebridge High School
“They are all schools that have really strong music programs and teachers who I think are doing exceptional work, so as far as a recruiting thing to do, they were really important schools to visit,” Dr. Johannes Dietrich, the Newton and Adelaide Burgner Endowed Professor of Instrumental Music Director of the LVC Symphony Orchestra, said.
Members of the chamber orchestra auditioned at the beginning of the semester as a part of the general orchestra audition and three group rehearsals were held before the tour. The same program of music was played at each high school, which provides a special experience for the musicians.
“When we do the symphony orchestra concerts here, we work hard all semester, and then we get one performance, and that’s it,” Dietrich said. “For this, we were able to perform the same piece, or the same program, five times. Every time you do a performance, you learn from it. Also, I think for the group to play in five very, very different performance spaces makes us listen very differently.”
The pieces they played included a Beethoven Overture, Mendelssohn, Mozart and a Hadyn movement. In addition to playing in the main chamber ensemble, students also played a few pieces in smaller ensembles.
“I really liked playing the Mozart piece with Dr. Cadieux and Dr. Dietrich and then a violist and a clarinetist because I’ve never played in a quintet like that,” Lauren Grabosky, a sophomore violinist, said. “We played Mozart, which is also amazing, and I really like playing with faculty because it makes us more connected.”
For students, playing with faculty not only makes them more connected, but also provides an opportunity to play at a higher level.
“When I was an undergraduate student myself, I had the chance to do some chamber pieces with my college professors,” Dietrich said. “It was an immensely rewarding and also challenging opportunity to be able to be part of that kind of an ensemble. And now, I think for our students to have the chance to play with me and also my wife, who’s our cello teacher, Dr. Cadieux, I think it raises the bar for them.”
The tour serves as a mix of recruiting opportunities and opportunities for the group to grow as an ensemble.
“[LVC] is a place where the musical standards are high,” Dietrich said. “We play really good music, and we play it really well. It’s also a place where we thrive on, you know, this kind of mix of music majors and non-majors which is really fun, and I think as far as colleges go, we’re a pretty special place in that we do have some exceptionally good non-majors representing all of the different programs on campus participating in the orchestra.”
Grabosky is one of these non-music major students who plays in the orchestra. She is a psychology major who picked up a music minor to keep her passion for violin alive.
“Music is kind of my getaway from the books, especially being a non-music major,” Grabosky said. “I get to learn and then also play in other ensembles, and it’s nice that orchestra provides a place where we all have one connection.”
The symphony orchestra will perform their fall semester concert on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. in Lutz Hall.