[img]541|left|||no_popup[/img] I did not expect to hear these words from a room full of high school students, even if they did play string instruments. Yet, last week when I visited Santa Ana High School’s orchestra class, they chose Bach and Mozart over pop and rock songs.
I have lived in Santa Ana now for nearly four years, and until a few months ago, I didn’t even realize the high school down the street from my studio had an orchestra.
When I researched them online, I saw an award-winning marching band and mariachi group but no mention of strings. Knowing that the Orange County High School for the Arts is also in the neighborhood, I figured that string players all made the extra commute.
Not true at all.
These students were hungry for any insight I could provide into life as a professional musician or opportunities that might be available to those daring to make the lifelong commitment. Most of all, however, they couldn’t get enough of my cello.
I started with a few of my own songs mixed with some standard repertoire. They then began to shout out the names of their favorite composers and pieces, and I found myself responding with snippets of everything from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik to the Brahms E Minor Cello Sonata to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy theme with multi-part variations.
Everyone (myself included) seemed to enjoy my visit. As a bonus, I have even enticed a few of the cellists to join my cello choir for our August performance. I look forward to continuing to build my relationship with the students of Santa Ana High over the coming years and inspire these young musicians to keep their dreams alive.
Please join my students and those from the Santa Ana HS orchestra for our cello choir concert on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 11a.m. You can learn more at www.occellochoir.com.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
