THE ART OF LISTENING
July 31-August 3
Have you always wanted to take a peek into the mysteries of making music?
Here's your chance to indulge yourself in lively discussions and observation experiences led by a team of music professionals and designed to appeal to the inquisitive audience member, novice musician and avid radio listener. Taking advantage of the musical opportunities this summer during Saratoga Orchestra’s Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute and the Whidbey Island Music Festival, we invite you to join us in a fun and unique adventure designed to increase your perception, enhancement and enjoyment of music. No formal music background required, just bring your enthusiasm and inquiring mind. $225/person
Limited seating Registration fee includes:
All special sessions, topic discussions and TWO performances! August 2, 7:30pm - WIMF's Handel's Roman Holiday Concert August 3, 2pm - PNWCI's 2019 Finale Concert |
A partnership of:
Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island Whidbey Island Music Festival Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute 
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ART OF LISTENING
Schedule
(times may adjust slightly)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31 @ Langley United Methodist Church |
10- 11:30a - Introductory Overview - The Art of Listening 1-2:00p - Behind the Scenes of PNWCI - Observation of String Quintet and conductors 2:15- 3:15p - Beyond Floor, Wall, Wall, Ceiling 3:30- 4:30p - Q&A, Daily Wrap up |
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1 @ Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and St. Augustine's Church, Freeland |
10:15-11:30a - Behind the Scenes of PNWCI - Full Orchestra rehearsal observation 11:45a- 12:45p - I’m laughing so hard it Hertz! - Audio with Alan 2- 4:30p - Don't fix it if it ain't Baroque - A behind the Scenes at Whidbey Island Music Festival. Rehearsal observation, Q&A and Daily Wrap Up |
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 @ Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and St. Augustine's Church, Freeland |
10:15- 11:30a – Behind the Scenes of PNWCI - Full Orchestra rehearsal observation 11:45a- 12:45p - Shake, Rattle and Roll - A Plethora of Percussion 2:30- 3:30p PNWCI Full rehearsal 3:30- 4:00p - Q&A with guest artist, Walter Gray 7:30p- Whidbey Island Music Festival - Handel’s Roman Holiday (admission included) |
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 PNWCI @ WICA WIMF @ St. Augustine's Church, Freeland |
1:15 - 1:45p - PNWCI Pre-concert chat 2-4:30p- PNWCI Finale Concert featuring PNWCI 2019 Conducting Fellows (admission included) OPTIONAL: 7:30p - Whidbey Island Music Festival – John Dowland - Time Stands Still (additional ticket required) |
Discussion topics include:
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Beyond Floor, Wall, Wall, Ceiling:
Behind the scenes of the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute 2019 and understanding the basics of the conductor/orchestra relationship |
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We’ll use the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute 2019 as our in-house lab.
Slip into a rehearsal and observe the conductors at work.
Watch how musicians shape and adapt the evolving music with different conductors and conducting styles over several sessions.
Do musicians really pay attention to the conductor?
Gain an overview and better understanding of the PNWCI 2019 repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Rossini to Ravel.
How is a concert programmed?
Meet this year’s soloist, Walter Gray, cellist with the Seattle Symphony and founding member of the Kronos Quartet, for a Q&A on the complex, perhaps 'contentious',relationship between the conductor, the orchestra and soloist.
SPECIAL GUEST:
WALTER GRAY has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Mexico, the Far East, and Europe, including performances in Moscow, Odessa, Zagreb, Seoul, and Tokyo. He was a founding member of the Kronos Quartet and for over five years presented hundreds of concerts including numerous world premieres. He has continued to be a new music enthusiast performing with the New Performance Group, Quake, and Music of Remembrance. A member of the Seattle Symphony since 1979, Mr. Gray has performed as soloist with the orchestra several times. He has taught at the State University of New York at Geneseo, Mills College, Cornish College of the Arts, Western Washington University, the University of North Texas, and Seattle University.
More information on the conducting workshop may be found HERE.
Discussion Leader and Facilitator:
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PATRICK HOLLAND has a varied career as a professional musician and educator. Notably, Patrick was music director, pianist and/or conductor for New York productions on Broadway of Hello, Dolly!, A Chorus Line, Sugar Babies, Raisin, La Cage aux folles, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha, and many more. In between opening and closing shows on Broadway, Patrick served as music director for legendary performers, Marlene Dietrich and Carol Channing. Perhaps he can answer if "Diamonds were Ms. Channing's best friend??" His passion for sharing the joys of musical creation and appreciation formed during his time working alongside producer Roger Englander and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas on New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts, the groundbreaking music education series made famous by Leonard Bernstein in the 1960's. With a flair for the dramatic, he has also provided music for the soap opera One Life to Live.
Having received advanced degrees in both music and adult education, Patrick is a strong advocate for life-long learning and believes we never stop wanting to be curious. |
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Don’t fix it if it ain’t Baroque
Behind the scenes at Whidbey Island Music Festival |
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Turn back the clock to the Eighteenth century and go behind the scenes of Whidbey Island Music Festival (WIMF).
Now in its fourteenth summer season, the Whidbey Island Music Festival is a beloved annual event that presents great performances of baroque and classical chamber music in relaxed and intimate venues on beautiful Whidbey Island. WIMF brings world-class artists to Whidbey Island and will feature repertoire from Renaissance England to 19th century Vienna for a two week residency this summer at St. Augustine's-in-the-Woods Church in Freeland.
Check out the complete schedule HERE.
What’s the difference between a modern violin and baroque violin?... besides a few centuries.
Meet musicians and witness the rehearsal process including a Q&A session with Tekla Cunningham, founder of WIMF and guests.
Rumor has it there may be a wine and nosh finale!
The experience concludes with a delightful performance of George Frideric Handel’s early Roman cantatas, on Friday, August 2nd, featuring the highly acclaimed and Grammy Award-winning American soprano, Amanda Forsythe.
Check out this delightfully talented soprano HERE. You won't want to miss her performance here on Whidbey!
Discussion Leader:
TEKLA CUNNINGHAM is the founder of Whidbey Island Music Festival, the popular summer early music series that brings world-class talent to the island and presents vibrant period-instrument performances of repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Beethoven. She is concertmaster of Pacific MusicWorks, principal second violin with Seattle Baroque Orchestra & Soloists, and plays regularly as concertmaster and principal player with the American Bach Soloists in California. Over the past five season, Tekla has served as a guest concertmaster with Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island, bringing her knowledge and skill in baroque performance and technique to Saratoga's chamber string concerts.
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Is it Live? Memorex?
or... I’m laughing so hard it Hertz! |
An audio engineer’s perspective on why we hear things differently from the concert hall to the stereo to the car radio.
Is there a difference in consumer electronics audio?
*Has technology changed the way we listen to music?
**Music on the radio, why it sounds different (dynamic range reduced)
What does BOSE really stand for?
**Recording techniques for ensembles and orchestras (microphone usage and placement)
**Modern delivery of music via streaming and downloads
**Observe excerpts of The Distortion of Sound and Sound City
Discussion Leader:
ALAN STRICKLIN’s love for music and audio was evident from an early age. He was 2 years old when he disassembled his first record player. Upon seeing the panic this caused his parents, he re-assembled it and was listening to a 45 when they returned to pick up the pieces.
Early in his career Alan worked at an AM radio station reading crop reports and playing soft rock between weather forecasts and news updates. In the mid-80s He transitioned to classical music and jazz, spending twenty years in Minneapolis – St. Paul working with local orchestras and ensembles, including Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Dale Warland Singers. He was the technical director of Saint Paul Sunday, worked as the satellite operator for A Prairie Home Companion, and also enjoyed being on the air as voice-over talent and live radio host.
Frequently on the road working with a wide variety of clients, Alan’s favorite spot now is the Warner Brothers Music Studios in Nashville. Alan discovered Whidbey Island in 2013 and has enjoyed a positive relationship with the Saratoga Orchestra and the Whidbey Island Music Festival.
An audio engineer’s perspective on why we hear things differently from the concert hall to the stereo to the car radio.
Is there a difference in consumer electronics audio?
*Has technology changed the way we listen to music?
**Music on the radio, why it sounds different (dynamic range reduced)
What does BOSE really stand for?
**Recording techniques for ensembles and orchestras (microphone usage and placement)
**Modern delivery of music via streaming and downloads
**Observe excerpts of The Distortion of Sound and Sound City
Discussion Leader:
ALAN STRICKLIN’s love for music and audio was evident from an early age. He was 2 years old when he disassembled his first record player. Upon seeing the panic this caused his parents, he re-assembled it and was listening to a 45 when they returned to pick up the pieces.
Early in his career Alan worked at an AM radio station reading crop reports and playing soft rock between weather forecasts and news updates. In the mid-80s He transitioned to classical music and jazz, spending twenty years in Minneapolis – St. Paul working with local orchestras and ensembles, including Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Dale Warland Singers. He was the technical director of Saint Paul Sunday, worked as the satellite operator for A Prairie Home Companion, and also enjoyed being on the air as voice-over talent and live radio host.
Frequently on the road working with a wide variety of clients, Alan’s favorite spot now is the Warner Brothers Music Studios in Nashville. Alan discovered Whidbey Island in 2013 and has enjoyed a positive relationship with the Saratoga Orchestra and the Whidbey Island Music Festival.
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Saratoga Orchestra’s professional percussionists lead you through the plethora of instruments and toys.
From Cabasa to Crotales and Gungsa to Güiro, no other section of the orchestra has the vast number of instruments to learn and master as part of their craft.
Do you know the finer techniques of playing a tambourine, triangle or tam-tam?
Being relegated to the back of the orchestra, this often underappreciated section of the orchestra has the unenviable task of counting endless rests and be expected to play on cue, not to mention being first at rehearsal to set up and last to leave.
Dare you ask about the snare drum part on Bolero? or yell out "more cowbell"?
Drumming demonstrations and hands-on experiences will conclude with a participatory mini-recital of rhythmic exercises anyone can master.
Discussion Leaders:
ERICA MONTGOMERY and ANDREW POWER, are Washington's original Power couple, whose motto is, "We hit things and hope they don't break!" They are two of our newest island residents and so excited to call Whidbey Island home. Both Southerners, they hail from Louisville, KY (Erica) and Fort Worth, TX (Andy). Prior to moving to the PNW, they served our country in the best job imaginable—yes that’s right, Principal Timpanists with the United States Air Force Band, Washington DC - although, not at the same time. The USAF Band’s mission is to perform for the public at home and abroad, demonstrating the excellence representative of our military, and honoring our fallen heroes and Veterans at Arlington, National Cemetery.
Andrew attended The Juilliard School and Curtis Institute of Music, while Erica attended the University of Illinois and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. When not “geeking out” watching the Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall or Philosophy Podcasts, they are out looking for Sasquatch in Deception Pass State Park and searching from land or sea for our Southern Resident Orcas.
Their most meaningful memories while in DC include playing for the dedications of the Pentagon, World War II and Air Force Memorials, and honoring all Veterans who have and continue serve in our military. Prior to joining the USAF, Erica was Principal Timpanist with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Conductor and Andy was Percussionist with the Nashville Symphony.
BRANDON NELSON is currently the Band Teacher at Oak Harbor High School and principal percussionist for Saratoga Orchestra. He earned his Master of Music Performance from Portland State University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas, the largest music college in the country. Having worked as a band director and drumline coach in Oregon and Texas, Brandon is passionate about training the next generation of musicians to clap on beats two and four. Outside of the classroom, he can be found performing various gigs around the area on drumset, french horn, voice, and as a conductor & band contest judge. He and his wife, Eva, just recently had their first son, whom they have pre-enrolled into clown college.
Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island
P.O. Box 1524 | Langley, WA 98260
©2020
P.O. Box 1524 | Langley, WA 98260
©2020
