WRITTEN BY Angela Yeung
From holding weekly rehearsals to hosting monthly soirees and annual seasonal concerts, the KAS String Orchestra has presented itself as a prominent extracurricular activity at Kaohsiung American School. Led by Ms. Chen on February 8th, 2018, the KAS String Orchestra presented a captivating performance in the main lobby on campus, just one of many monthly soirees. The enthralling repertoire presented pieces from a wide variety of eras, ranging from classical well-known pieces to more contemporary works.
The program opened with “Bolero” by Maurice Ravel, a delightful Impressionistic piece that made use of short accentuated percussions interwoven with a consistent melody from the violins, and layered with gentle harmonies from the violas and cellos. Contemporary work “Palladio” by Karl Jenkins effectively transformed the mood of the program into something slightly darker and anticipating with its steady rhythm and overcast melody. “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”, a leading work of Haydn’s, paved the way for the finale of the performance, a strings edition of “Carmen” by Georges Bizet. Not only did this stunning performance enrapture parents and teachers alike, the lower grades also showed up in support. Arranged in two neat rows and cheering enthusiastically at the end of each piece, they served as one of the primary motivations for the string orchestra to play well.
Another motivation for additional orchestra practices would be the upcoming US tour, of which 23 members of the 50 member orchestra will be attending. An international showcase of KAS’s musical talent, the KAS String Orchestra will be touring several universities in the US, including Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Emerson College, Bowdoin College, and Northeastern University. Moreover, members will be performing at the University of Maine and Colby College. To prepare for this event, the number of orchestra practices have increased from once a week to twice a week. On Tuesdays, members going on the trip would be rehearsing for a collaboration (Haydn Symphony 104 “London”) with the University of Maine Orchestra. With four movements (from a slow, dramatic Adagio movement that intensifies into a climactic finale), the piece is certainly challenging to play, not to mention difficult to conduct. Meanwhile, Thursday practices continued for the entire orchestra to prepare for the Spring Concert coming up in April, and future lobby soirees.
The members of the KAS String Orchestra could not be more excited for the impending trip! When asked about the potential benefits of going on the tour, sophomore Katherine Chen stated, “I think the experience of performing at universities is unique in a sense that there will be people outside of our community listening to us play. Music connects us despite our race, appearance, and environments. I believe knowing that we’ve been practicing and preparing for months and it will pay off in the end definitely motivates me to devote more time into the orchestra. And that knowing there are many more people outside of our community to learn from definitely prompts me to refine my skills and to become more open minded towards new things. Lastly, going on this tour will be important for me as it helps me to become more comfortable with crowds. Having to perform in front of many people is absolutely frightening; however, I sincerely believe that by the end of the tour, I will be more comfortable with stages and help me grow as an individual.”
On the other hand, Ms Julia Chen, conductor of the KAS String Orchestra, hopes to spread the reputation of KAS’s musical talent to universities so that it would be more likely for aspiring KAS musicians to be recruited to prestigious universities. Moreover, she hopes that KAS students receive the opportunity to earn college credits before university acceptance. Leading the orchestra can also be quite challenging, from improving players’ chemistry to scheduling rehearsals according to everyone’s schedules. Not only did Ms Chen manage to meticulously arrange and organize practice times for members each week, especially for the Haydn symphony, she also makes sure that everyone practices both individually and as a group. Last but not least, Ms Chen especially emphasizes cooperation and team spirit as well as the concept of fair leadership. On this trip, she hopes to acquaint KAS students with the college lifestyle and perhaps even assist them in their search for a suitable university.
Through exploration and exposure to a diverse, international musical community, the KAS String Orchestra strives to bring joy to its audience through music, whether it be classical, contemporary, or Broadway.