Providing a challenging, fully

integrated music experience

for the young musician

because of support from

people like you.

1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 360-352-1438 studentorchestras.org

May

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Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.

Like us at Facebook.com/studentorchestras. View the newsletter in color at studentorchestras.org.

By Thomas Malm, SOGO alumnus

Hello readers! My name is Thomas Malm and I am honored to be serving you in our nation’s armed services in the Quantico Marine Corps Band as a bassoonist.

I didn’t start by playing the bassoon. In fact, my mom forced me to be in band, a band under the direction of a certain trumpet-playing music teacher with a killer Kermit the Frog impression.* First came the clarinet,

Your Donations Paying it Forward: From SOGO to USMC Band 150 musicians hit the Washington Center stage

Sunday, May 15 for the spring SOGO concert, which features a flute duet led by two talented SOGO musicians (see p.2), Russian dances, brass sur-round sound, and a dash of West Side Story.

During intermission SOGO pulls out all the stops to bring creativity to its best with a silent auction of the unusual including a violin lamp and musi-cal flowers - a floral arrangement made by SOGO musicians from sheet music. You won't want to miss these classical flowers!

“Trivonna and I consider it a great privilege to sponsor SOGO," says Ross Irwin, owner of Cabinets by Trivonna, which is this concert's * Hi, ho, Corporal Malm is referring to SOGO Artistic Director Greg Allison.

Your Scholarship Donations Needed to Keep the Vision Alive

This year we saw a 25% increase in our membership and we know that it will continue to grow. Each SOGO musician pays tuition, but it only covers 50% of the total program cost. We don’t turn anyone away because of financial need, so we need to maintain a robust scholarship program to ensure that all children have access to this orchestral experience.

Your donation of $15 supports one child for a rehearsal ($60 for a whole month), and $420 provides a scholarship for an entire season.

SOGO started because two high school students wanted a student orchestra and we have celebrated their vision for the past 16 years. Help keep the vision alive. Use the Donate button at the bottom of our website (studentorchestras.org) or send a check to 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501. Please donate today!* Includes tickets, concert advertising, poinsettia sales, and other miscellaneous fundraisers.

(Cont'd, p.2)

"We know that music – especia lly classical music - exercises the young mind better than most anything else."~ Ross Irwin

150 Musicians Hit the Stage...

(Cont'd, p.2)

Cpl. Thomas Malm was a member of SOGO for 3 years. He graduated in the 2008-2009 season.

Tuition 50% Contributions 25% Fundraising* 25%

then the saxophone, and when I finally realized that two reeds are better than one, the bassoon.

I joined SOGO because music is about sharing a bit of ourselves and at the same time experiencing something far grander than any one musician can achieve by themselves. The experiences SOGO afforded me, the friends I made, and the lessons I learned all helped to mold me into the musician, individual, and citizen I am today.

2Like us at Facebook.com/studentorchestras. View the newsletter in color at studentorchestras.org.

SOGO to USMC Band, cont'd

Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.

"Duets are a balance between being a good technical player yourself and being able to listen to and interact with the other person," says SOGO's Morgan Hurtado. She and Brynna Paros will be featured in SOGO's May concert performing Andante and Rondo for Two Flutes by Franz Doppler.

Brynna likes the melodies of the piece. "It's very pretty and fun to play. There’s definitely some challenging parts - how

SOGO Alumnus Corporal Thomas Malm receiving his promotion to USMC Corporal.

My most powerful musical moment came recently during the NYC fire house 10/10 911 memorial last September just feet from Ground Zero where we performed only for first responders and their loved ones. Normally we would start a program with the National Anthem, but here taps began, immediately followed by a moment of silence, then the Star Spangled Banner and a ballad.

While none of the small gathering knew the name of the ballad nor we their names or those of their fallen comrades, every face revealed the impact the music had on each person: unweathering resolve and a fellowship stronger than any of our differences.

SOGO gives each of us a piece of that experience, as musicians, as audience members, as teachers, as humans. The ability to begin these experiences through SOGO and school music programs is as crucial to our development as any core curriculum, nay, more so.

Best regards and Semper Fidelis,Thomas Malm

The experiences SOGO afforded me, the friends I made, and the lessons I learned all helped to mold me into the musician, individual, and citizen I am today.

TWO FLUTES ARE BETTE

• SeaSon ConCertS 11/6, 3/5, and 5/21• Ho Ho BraSS CHoir 12/11• MeSSiaH Sing-along 12/19• artS Walk inStruMent Petting Zoo 4/22* Dates subject to change.

2016-17 ConCert SCHedule*

SOGO is planning some of our most audacious program-ming yet for the 2016-2017 season. Students will be work-ing with special guest conductor Victoria Gau of Washing-ton DC's Capital City Symphony, experiencing mentoring and collaboration with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, and performing George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Advanced musicians within the community should audition to be a part of this epic programming. Book an audition time for May 22, 23, or 25 at studentorchestras.org.

audaCiouS PrograMMing for 2016-2017 SeaSon

distinguished sponsor. "We know that music – especially classical music - exer-cises the young mind better than most anything else."

We will be honoring our graduating seniors (see opposite page) and presenting SOGO scholarships. We will also honor these dedicated board members who are stepping down this year: Dana Phelps (8 years of service), Brad Carlson (4 years), Amy Schutte (4 years), Kirk Veis (4 years), and Janet Cherry (1 year).

We hope you'll join for this fantastic season finale us at the Washington Center this May 15 at 4 pm.

Hit the Stage, cont'd

3

Media on the Mezz: Follow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.

Like us at Facebook.com/studentorchestras. View the newsletter in color at studentorchestras.org.

SOGO Seniors Grateful for Y our Support

DavidZoeBrynna

AubreyEmma

Peter

MorganZhengyuan

Joining SOGO is definitely worth it. I was able to gain so much in terms of musicianship! ~ Brynna Paros, flute

John

Zach

SOGO taught me the importance of practice; if you set your mind to it and work on something, you can do just about anything, both inside the area of music and outside. ~ Morgan Hurtado, flute

SOGO Class of

2016

to fit the two flutes together, having to articulate short notes together at the same time. The two flute parts are very different."

Morgan agrees, "The more I listen, the more I like it. There's lots of play back and forth between the two flute players."

Brynna and Morgan both appreciate the chance to step in front of the or-chestra. "I was really excited and happy

that [Maestro Welsh] wanted me to do the duet," says Brynna.

Morgan adds, "I love being in the limelight and flute is one of the things I'm really proud of. I’m enjoying this opportunity."

We hope you'll enjoy the opportunity to hear Brynna and Morgan play Andante and Rondo on May 15 at 4 pm in the Washington Center.

R THAN ONE Watch for Us at the FREE Festival on the Capitol Green! SOGO is joining the Olympia Symphony Orchestra for the 10th anniversary of the Concert at the Capitol: July 31, 1-8 pm, by the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus. It will include many local arts groups, including Ballet NW and the Olympia Youth Chorus.

Don't worry about getting hungry, there will be a variety of gourmet food trucks. You might even hear SOGO play some popular movie music at this fun FREE outdoor concert!

Without SOGO I never would have gotten an education in orchestral playing. ~ David Hales, clarinet

Thank you so much for supporting SOGO! Without your help, I could never have the op-portunity to experi-ence such a fantastic fabulous [program]. ~ Zhengyuan Yang, flute. Zhengyuan is an exchange student spend-ing the school year in Olympia.

SOGO has been an incredible and integral part of my life since 5th grade, so THANK YOU. I wish I could give each and every donor a huge hug. SOGO is the reason I continued with music, and that decision has transformed my life. ~ Zoe Chapman, percussion

Thank you for giving me opportunities to play at the Washington Center and letting me learn what it is like to be in a full sized orchestra. ~ Zach Tepley, trombone

SOGO has turned me into better musician and helped me strength-en a lot of weak points I had in playing music. ~ Emma Eacrett, flute

Please post.

CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRAJohn Welsh, Conductor

Maslanka, World Music Doppler, Andante and Rondo for 2 Flutes featuring Morgan Hurtado and Brynna ParosBorodin, Polovtsian Dances

BRASS CHOIRGreg Allison, Conductor

Stone, Centennial FanfareBernstein, Maria Cheetham, Keystone Celebration

Also AppearingDebut Orchestra, Academy Orchestra

TICKETS: OLYTIX.ORG$6-$15* | 360.753.8586 | 6 and under free**plus $3 Center surcharge

MEDIA ON THE MEZZFollow along as we live-tweet our season concerts at Twitter.com@SOGO_Oly.Accepting Auditions | studentorchestras.org

us at Facebook.com/Studentorchestras

DistinguisheD sponsor: CABINETS BY TRIVONNA

SUNDAYMAY 154:00 P.M. WASHINGTON CENTER

Morgan hurtaDo anD Brynna paros, Flute

Featuring

BOGO Time! Watch our Facebook page for BOGO

ticket giveaways. You could receive 1 free

ticket when 1 ticket of equal or greater

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for MEDIA on the MEZZ. Pull out your

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and Facebook postings during the concert

about the music and the musicians.

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