Can you imagine a fourteen-year-old performing Dvořák’s New World Symphony? To clarify for those non-music-geeks among us, it’s fast. And it’s hard. And it’s among the greatest musical works of all time. Just last year, this feat was accomplished by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Orchestra (CCOYO), a group comprised mostly of high school students from ICSD and surrounding districts. Since its formation a year and a half ago, CCOYO musicians have been challenging themselves to play and to be exposed to difficult repertoire. Students get the opportunity to play in a full symphony orchestra with combined wind and string sections.
The CCOYO’s conductor, Kirsten Marshall, is a professional violinist who plays with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (CCO), the “parent” orchestra of the CCOYO. Maestro Marshall formed the CCOYO as an advanced regional orchestra to give young musicians a chance to play great music in a full symphonic setting. Reflecting on the second year of the CCOYO’s existence, Ms. Marshall remarked, “Our level of playing has soared throughout the orchestra, because each musician has really invested the time and effort through steady practice.”
Like any time commitment, either for music or sports, consistent effort is always the key component. Everyone knows that they should practice. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen. Sitting down with a six-page symphony orchestra part may be intimidating, but the only way to get better is through relentless practice. From middle school musicians to high school seniors and beyond, there is always more to learn. Tricky rhythm? Spend some quality time with a metronome. Key signature and accidentals tying you up in knots? Work it out slowly. Switching clefs every three measures? Try harder. Without a great deal of persistence, the occasional individual frustration, and a lot of hard work, the CCOYO would never have been able to come as far as it has in the last two years. As Ms. Marshall can testify, consistent practicing is key.
Looking towards the future of the youth orchestra, what will happen remains to be seen, but Ms. Marshall continues to set a high bar in the repertoire she chooses. On March 16 at Ithaca College’s Ford Hall, the CCOYO will be playing a thrilling piece by Arturo Marquez, “Danzon No. 2”, alongside the CCO. The concert will also feature a saxophone concerto by Alexander Glazunov, Alberto Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes, and a performance of a ballet by New York composer Karen LeFrak. In the years to come, Ms. Marshall hopes to continue collaborating with other groups and to find more performance venues for the CCOYO.
Of course, beyond the many hours of rehearsal and practice, the most exciting part of any great musical work is discovering the underlying heartbeat of the piece itself. Beneath the many layers of technique and practice, the most rewarding experience of being a musician in the CCOYO isn’t learning how to play the music; it’s learning how to bring the music to life.