A shared stage, a lasting memory
-
FHS orchestra students, Emily Bockman, left, and Camden Coffey play as they learn during the Knoxville Symphony orchestra Side By Side program. - Tammy Cheek
-
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra director Aram DeMirjian tunes his violin before the Side by Side session at Farragut High School. - Tammy Cheek
-
FHS freshman Liddy Price practices before Knoxville Symphony Orchestra arrives. - Tammy Cheek
Fifty to 60 Farragut High School’s orchestra students got a chance Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 30, to learn from 18 Knoxville Symphony Orchestra musicians in preparation for an upcoming concert 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, at FHS.
The concert is free and open to the public.
“It’s exciting,” FHS director of orchestras Rodney Brown said about the Side-by-Side. “It’s a lot going into it. This will be our second concert of the year, and we did some of the music on the first concert in preparations for this concert.
“We get to work with 16 to 18 professionals,” he said. “Five of them will be here today [Oct. 22] working with the kids. It’s been a challenge but it’s been a tremendous privilege and a lot of fun putting this music together.”
That music revolves around Americana in observance of the 250th birthday of America.
“Everything is American composers, American-based, and it’s quite diverse music, from Copeland to Berstein to Price and Mark O’Connor, the fiddle player,” Brown said. “A lot of music, a lot of different genres. Something for everybody at the concert.”
“It’s always great to see new generations coming in,” said KSO director Aram DeMirjian said. “I hope I can be of inspiration for them.”
“I feel like this is such a cool and amazing opportunity for everybody because KSO hasn’t done this [program at FHS] in years,” FHS freshman Liddy Price said. “Not only are they going to do it with our school, but Aram DeMirjian, the conductor of the KSO, is coming in to conduct us at our concert, and that’s just almost unheard of. It’s crazy. I’m super excited.”
“I’ve heard this is the first time they’ve chosen to do this in the Farragut area for a long time,” FHS freshman violin student Emily Bockman said. “I think that’s pretty cool.
“They’ve got a quintet or two coming in to help us,” she added. “I’m waiting to see what I can learn from them.”
“The KSO has been a big part of my life for a while,” freshman Layla Bennett said. “I’ve gone to see a lot of their shows with family. I’m just really excited overall.
“I would really like to work with professionals and love to know how I can get better,” she added.
The collaboration between KSO and FHS is a Side-By-Side program provided by KSO because “it’s a great way to connect with the students in our community,” said Maddie Helbling, KSO director of education and community partnership. “It’s a great opportunity to allow high school students who might have interest in becoming professional musicians or who love playing their instrument an opportunity to get to work with professional musicians.
“These programs are really special because it allows them to work one-on-one with professional musicians and learn new things about their instruments … learn what it’s like to be a professional.,” she said.
And, “this is really a lot of fun for the students and musicians,”Helbling added.
“For this particular performance, we’re partnering with Farragut High School,” she said, explaining KSO rotates the schools for the program.
“We try to do one in-county and one out of county,” Helbling said. “When we do it in county, the program is free to the school that is participating.”
KSO has been holding the program “for quite some time.
Helbling said KSO works closely with the high school orchestra director and set up sectionals with the students.
“So for the concert, instead of working with the whole group together, we’ll send a string quartet and a bass player in to work with each section individually,” Helbling said.
After sectionals, the day of the concert, they do a full orchestra rehearsal, “so they get a full hour and a half to work as a full orchestra
with all the parts playing together,” she said. “They get to work with our music director Aram DeMirjian.
“He will help coach them through this rehearsal, and then after the dress rehearsal, students and musicians will eat dinner together,” Helbling said. “Then, the students will perform a concert on their high school stage side by side with the musicians.”
Another aspect of the program is the students “don’t have to go anywhere,” she said. “We go to them.”
And, “it makes it special for them because they have this memory at their school,” she said.
