By ANN RICHARDS
- Mid-Michigan Band and Orchestra Day attracts 280 participants
- See video of combined bands and orchestras performing evening concert
- Young musicians learn techniques to improve performance
Originally planned for 250 participants, interest in the Flint Institute of Music’s (FIM) first-ever Mid-Michigan Band and Orchestra Day was so enthusiastic the event stretched to include an additional 30 high school musicians.
“Opportunities like this are scarce for young people and so important to their development as individuals, musicians and leaders,” said Paul Torre, president of FIM, noting that the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation granted $17,500 to help make the day possible.
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Mid-Michigan Band and Orchestra Day of Music
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To watch this video in YouTube click here.
Video Production by Zoom Digital Media
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“For the most part, high school music programs are isolated from each another and students — and their music directors — rarely have the chance to meet and spend time with each other. We also thought this would be a great way to introduce young people from east-central Michigan to
Flint’s Cultural Center (FCC) and all the resources available to them and their families.”
“You couldn’t ask for more,” said Amanda Thoms of the day, which included 12 hours of master classes, rehearsals, workshops and sectionals that culminated with an evening concert featuring Peter Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” Thoms, an orchestra teacher at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, was one of 16 high school band and orchestra directors to bring students to the event, which she hopes will be offered again next year.
“This event is a big deal for me and my students,” said Thoms. “There aren’t a lot of orchestral programs nearby and this has given us a rare chance to connect and learn from other musicians. The caliber of work we’ve been exposed to is very impressive.”
That sentiment was echoed by students.
“It’s been awesome,” said Jazzlynn Clark, a clarinet player from Flint’s Northern High School. “I’ve never performed with a group as big as this. I learned a lot I’ll take back to the classroom.”
The Mid-Michigan Band and Orchestra Day ended up being “bigger than any of us imagined it would be,” said Davin Pierson Torre, director of the Flint School of Performing Arts (FSPA) at FIM.
“We’ve wanted to do something like this for a couple of years,” said Pierson Torre, who is celebrating her 25th year as director of the Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra (FYSO). The idea for a regional band and orchestra day grew out of a partnership with the Limonest (France) Conservatory Youth Orchestra, she continued.
“A couple of years ago, we started an exchange program between Limonest and our youth symphony. The music director from Limonest encouraged us to take advantage of his time here in Flint by sending him out to some local schools. As word got around, several more high school music directors inquired about being part of the exchange — and that got us to thinking about how we could extend the resources we have at FIM with other young musicians.”
“The grant allowed us to bring in Cormac Cannon from Michigan State University (MSU) and Bruce Uchimara from Western Michigan University (WMU) as guest conductors and Michael Gillespie from Oakland University (OU) to teach a technique class,” Pierson Torre said. “Because of the grant, we were able to offer a full day of practice and instruction free, which brought in schools that might not otherwise have been able to participate.”
The diversity of schools — urban, suburban and rural — was particularly satisfying, said Pierson Torre.
“Everything and everyone came together in ways we never could have anticipated. To be able to provide so many young musicians with the opportunity to play a big concert hall like The Whiting and to see them work so well together was very satisfying.”
But the most satisfying outcome was helping make area high school musicians and music directors aware of the FSPA and the FYSO, said Torre.
“There are a lot of young musicians out there who want more — a lot of big dreams hanging out there. We wanted them to be aware of the school of performing arts and our orchestra and youth wind ensemble — and the opportunities we offer.