Bothell High chamber orchestra tunes up to play in the ‘Windy City’

While most students will be sitting in class the last week before holiday break, Bothell High's 22-student chamber orchestra will be playing in the “Windy City,” Chicago. From Dec. 12-16, director Philip Dean and the chamber orchestra will be attending the 65th Annual Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference with the goal to raise the standards of music education. Approximately 15,800 students, educators and professionals from about 30 countries attend the clinic each year and participate in or attend the 30 concerts. The concerts include performances by elementary, middle-school, high-school, university, military and professional groups.

By Alexandra Graff • December 5, 2011 7:12 pm
Bothell High chamber-orchestra director Philip Dean.
Bothell High chamber-orchestra director Philip Dean.

While most students will be sitting in class the last week before holiday break, Bothell High’s 22-student chamber orchestra will be playing in the “Windy City,” Chicago.

From Dec. 12-16, director Philip Dean and the chamber orchestra will be attending the 65th Annual Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference with the goal to raise the standards of music education. Approximately 15,800 students, educators and professionals from about 30 countries attend the clinic each year and participate in or attend the 30 concerts. The concerts include performances by elementary, middle-school, high-school, university, military and professional groups.

chamber

The clinic also includes about 535 booths and more than 350 exhibitors representing organizations, ranging from colleges and universities to instrument manufacturers and recording companies.

After submitting a DVD and CD of its performances, Bothell’s chamber orchestra was chosen as one of only nine orchestras selected from worldwide submissions invited to play and is the second orchestra to attend from Washington.

“This is the biggest deal for the orchestra,” says Dean.

The orchestra will be playing at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 and will be performing a number of songs, including Seattle composer Samuel Jones’ “Elegy,” “Suite” by Janáček and a solo, Percy Grainger’s “Youthful Rapture,” played by Bothell High senior cellist Tim Pizzichemi.

In preparation for the clinic, the chamber orchestra has been busy putting in extra time during after-school rehearsals and performances.

“We’ve been preparing every day and have had sectional rehearsals every Thursday night,” says senior first chair viola Michelle Sturza.

Pizzichemi has also put a lot of time into his solo. “I slowly played through the piece while closely listening to the intonation,” he says.  “After I had worked on preparing the notes, I incorporated the musical phrases and the spirit of the piece.”

In addition to attending the conference, the orchestra will spend time sightseeing in Chicago.

Senior viola player Chris Masciotra says, “I’m excited for the trip, as well,” commenting that they plan to attend a Chicago Symphony concert and a performance by the Blue Man Group.

“I’m looking forward to Chicago pizza the most,” says Pizzichemi.

Alexandra Graff is a Bothell High senior.