String Project Spring Concert

The String Project Spring Concert was wonderful today!  

Jeremy dropped Sylvia off at 8:45 for rehearsal, and went to pick up Mom and Dad at their hotel.  I brought Annah over to the CPA after her band performance, and she was able to be there for most of the Sinfonia rehearsal in Kemp Hall.  

We were able to get into the hall early and caught a little bit of all 4 groups rehearsing their final number.  Well over 100 string players...

The 7th and 8th graders from all groups played a fun little piece together today.

And the 8th graders who are "graduating" from the String Project program were recognized as well.  It was a little bittersweet to know Annah is finished with this awesome experience, but neat to see her 4 years or participation recognized.

I really like this piece.  It's very cool the way the jig and Greensleeves are juxtaposed and traded between the sections many times over the course of the performance.  Also, I like that this is not a simplified arrangement, but the original composition.  The kids listened to several other performances of it, and studied it quite a bit while learning and rehearsing it.

One of the current ISU students who is working with Sinfonia is also a teacher in one of the local high schools.  His concentration is jazz, so he had the ensemble work on jazz.  It was quite interesting to hear an all-string ensemble play jazz.  Sylvia found it very challenging.

The Grand Finale of the concert was all 4 of the String Project groups (Dolce, Allegro, Vivace, and Sinfonia) performing Beethoven's Ode to Joy together.  It was great!

Taking a bow...

We are so grateful Annah and Sylvia have had the opportunity to be part of the String Project!