Classical music does not come easy. A single performance is the tip of an iceberg, with the hours and hours of careful practice behind it remaining unheard by audiences. Even the most elaborate and ornate performances of monumental art music begin with individual musicians learning the piece note by note, phrase by phrase.
The performers that make up the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra each represent a lifetime of concerted effort toward mastery of an instrument, yet each musician had to begin somewhere, usually with a private music teacher during childhood. It wasn’t until years of study under a mentor’s guidance that each artist was ready to perform and collaborate in a large ensemble.
In that vein of mentorship and collaboration, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s Season Finale concert will feature three young artists, the winners of the junior concerto competition. The teenagers—pianist Jack Raventos, violinist Amy Sze, and flutist Ilana Shapiro—will each perform a movement from a famous concerto.
Concertos are concert works written for both the orchestra and the soloist, designed to showcase the talents of a skilled soloist. Mozart’s Concerto No. 8 in C Major, K. 246, to be performed by Raventos, is a perfect example this. Penned and performed by the genius composer when he was only 20 years old, the piece requires energy and agility that suites a youthful spirit, Raventos said.
“Mozart’s concertos were known to be some of his best works,” he said. “It’s relatable to me, being 15, because it’s a very lively, active piece.”
Raventos, a freshman at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, has prepared for the concert with hours of grueling practice, perfecting each beloved note of Mozart’s concerto. With the help of his teacher, Santa Maria Philharmonic Society vice president to the board Lynne Garrett, he has prepared by performing the piece with a recorded orchestra track and with Garrett performing the orchestra part on another piano.
A recording or orchestral reduction doesn’t properly emulate a full orchestra, however. Collaborating with a room full of musicians while acting as a soloist is something new to Raventos, explained his teacher Garrett, but it’s a challenge the 15-year-old is ready to meet.
“Preparing for something that is so challenging, it’s just a completely different ballgame when you are playing a concerto, because you are collaborating with 60 other people and everything you are doing impacts them,” Garrett said. “It’s also hard to manage the stress as you approach this kind of event, so that’s something we talk about a lot, too. It’s not just learning the music and being prepared, but it’s also managing how to prepare for a concert of this magnitude.”
Performing a concerto with full orchestral accompaniment is a luxury afforded to only the finest soloists in the classical music world, and chances for young soloists to perform a concerto are very rare. Providing opportunities like this to deserving, upcoming artists aligns with the Santa Maria Philharmonic’s dedication to youth outreach.
The orchestra recently performed Peter and the Wolf for thousands of local fourth graders and still sends the music van out to local third grade students. Next year, Garrett explained, the Philharmonic will begin offering a live performance of The Nutcracker for fifth graders. Early youth outreach can inspire younger generations to pick up an instrument, but maturing music students still need guidance and a chance to perform, Garrett explained.
“It’s crucial, because we have to close the gap between the professionals and the up-and-coming professionals,” she said. “These are the future musicians, so we are thrilled to be giving them this opportunity, and this is our way of encouraging more music.”
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 16-23, 2015.
