This is our 3rd season of Youth Orchestra of Central Virginia which is made up of three separate orchestra groups: Junior Strings, Rita M. Evans Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. This was Caleb's first year in Evans Orchestra and Gavin's first in Junior Strings. Last night they participated in a combined final performance at what we affectionately call the "Milk-Pack" but is technically known as the Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center (MLKPAC).
Junior Strings played first and did a stellar job in their two songs: Kings Bridge March by William Dyson and Arlington Sketches by Elliott Del Borgo which was a lengthy piece with a great deal of rapid finger movements. I loved watching Gavin in his true to ultra-focused form shifting those little fingers into all their positions, and all the while his tongue is moving around outside of his mouth. Caleb had (still has on occasion) the same trait, and at age 6 yrs had a Suzuki teacher tell him to keep his tongue "in the cage". :)
Liam played exceptionally well and I must note that something has clicked with this child. There is passion in his playing, there is strength and confidence in his finger movements, and there is this sense of self-assurance that he's playing very well. I credit this mainly to his amazing Suzuki teacher who seems to have taken his playing to a whole new level the past two years. She expects great things out of him which she communicates clearly to him, and he keeps rising to and even exceeding her expectations. She has decided to put him in a summer Ensemble that meets twice a week for 90 minutes (on top of his lesson) and he will be the youngest student by a few years. She has been working with him to try out for the Evans Orchestra in May by perfecting his Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor piece. During lesson the two of them always go through it once and it takes my breath away it sounds so amazing. What I'm excited for next is that we'll get Jonah's 1/4 size violin this week and he gets to start with Ms. Julie this summer. Twinkle, twinkle, anyone?? :)
Next was the Evans orchestra, which is the middle group of the three, Youth Orchestra being the most advanced players. Caleb was tucked towards the back next to the other 1st season cellist and played very well. They played four pieces with their grand finale being the James Bond Theme song and the Junior Strings members joined them on stage for this piece. Although, Jonah was most excited about the Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring arrangement which too was amazing. A note the next day from the director talked about how there were moments when he could hardly believe they were a youth orchestra (middle schoolers none-the-less) playing these pieces and Caleb's cello teacher was there and he too felt they played exceptional, even better than the more advanced Youth Orchestra. Bravo Caleb!
There was a moment when I was watching them warm up that I thought to myself that I never imagined the orchestra being such a big part of my life, ever. I don't play a single instrument, or know how to read music beyond the basics.....thanks goodness for Liam who helps me out a great deal in the ward choir! But here I was in the MLKPAC watching 3 of my 4 kids perform with a string instrument in an orchestra! I'm grateful for their musical talents and gifts and I'm so grateful that we can provide this opportunity for them.
We have good friends in the neighborhood who we share carpooling with and between the two families there are 4 violinists and 2 cellists. All the violinist have the same amazing teacher. Their oldest Isabella is the Concert Master and when she told Gavin she practices for two hours every day he decided (on his own) to start taking his own practicing more seriously :)
Violinists:
Evan's players and carpool buddies.
The whole crew lined up by height and I think age:
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