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News & Photos
Sixth Grade Attends Open Rehearsal of the BSO
The sixth grade got the inside scoop recently when they visited the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall during an open rehearsal conducted by Maestra Marin Alsop. Students were present for the rehearsal of Starburst, a new piece by local composer Jonathan Leshnoff, and the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham as soloist.
Several days before the rehearsal, first violinist Greg Mulligan came to McDonogh to give the students a sneak preview of the pieces they would hear. He played snippets from the world premiere of Starburst as well as some of the Stravinsky piece. To help students develop an ear for contrasting styles, Mulligan pointed out the unpredictability of the 20th and 21st century music as opposed to more a predictable melody by Bach.
The day of the open rehearsal, students sat in the orchestra section of the Meyerhoff, with students from a few other schools who were invited to this event. Mulligan greeted the sixth graders before going onstage to rehearse.
Some of the students who play orchestral instruments got to sit in the box seats, where they were close to the players and could hear Maestra Alsop’s directions and comments as she conducted.
Afterward, when the orchestra took a break, Maestra Alsop, Jonathan Leshnoff, and Gil Shaham answered students’ questions.
Students thought it was an usual and exciting experience.
“I liked seeing the players getting ready in everyday clothing, and the piece called Starburst was really good and very exciting. I loved it, and I liked being there to hear it first before the premiere,” said Ellen.
“I liked seeing the process of how the music gets from the rehearsal to the performance, and I liked hearing the comments and directions to the orchestra,” said Alyssa. “We would never get to see that.”
The sixth grade got the inside scoop recently when they visited the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall during an open rehearsal conducted by Maestra Marin Alsop. Students were present for the rehearsal of Starburst, a new piece by local composer Jonathan Leshnoff, and the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham as soloist.
Several days before the rehearsal, first violinist Greg Mulligan came to McDonogh to give the students a sneak preview of the pieces they would hear. He played snippets from the world premiere of Starburst as well as some of the Stravinsky piece. To help students develop an ear for contrasting styles, Mulligan pointed out the unpredictability of the 20th and 21st century music as opposed to more a predictable melody by Bach.
The day of the open rehearsal, students sat in the orchestra section of the Meyerhoff, with students from a few other schools who were invited to this event. Mulligan greeted the sixth graders before going onstage to rehearse.
Some of the students who play orchestral instruments got to sit in the box seats, where they were close to the players and could hear Maestra Alsop’s directions and comments as she conducted.
Afterward, when the orchestra took a break, Maestra Alsop, Jonathan Leshnoff, and Gil Shaham answered students’ questions.
Students thought it was an usual and exciting experience.
“I liked seeing the players getting ready in everyday clothing, and the piece called Starburst was really good and very exciting. I loved it, and I liked being there to hear it first before the premiere,” said Ellen.
“I liked seeing the process of how the music gets from the rehearsal to the performance, and I liked hearing the comments and directions to the orchestra,” said Alyssa. “We would never get to see that.”