Symphony orchestra undertakes Brahms

Home Culture Symphony orchestra undertakes Brahms

The Hillsdale College symphony orchestra will perform Thursday, March 6 at 8 p.m in Markel Auditorium in the Sage Center for the Arts.

Due to complications scheduling around spring break and parent’s weekend, the orchestra will only perform one Thursday night concert instead of two weekend concerts as in years past.

“It’s always fun to see what happens slightly differently when there are two performances,” junior Claire Ziegler said, “but it’s fun to know there’s only one performance, one shot to give it our best.”

Ziegler is a winner of the 2014 student concerto/aria competition and will be singing soprano as soloist for “Kommt ein Schlanker Bursch Gegangen” from the opera “Der Freischutz” by Carl Maria von Weber.

“It requires a lot of facial expression and gestures to tell the story along with breath support and vocal agility,” Ziegler said. “It is very challenging, but if it is done well, it is meant to look effortless.”

In addition to the aria by von Weber, the orchestra will also be performing “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” by Johannes Brahms.

“This is along the vein of the great books in the English department,” Professor of Music and Orchestra Director James Holleman said. “It is one of the great works.”

The symphony has four movements, the first being the longest. Those in the audience should take in the grandness of it, Holleman said.

“The musicians will be mentally, physically, and emotionally drained at the end,” Holleman said. “It’s a large undertaking.”

The orchestra this year is larger than ever, Holleman said, allowing him to choose a work as large as the Brahms’ symphony.

Senior Ellen Georges, who plays the French horn, said that being in the back of the orchestra made it challenging to stay engaged, but Holleman had the sections face each other in some rehearsals to help them blend.

“It was kind of weird, but it helped our listening,” Georges said.

The concert will also feature two of the other concerto competition winners, with senior LaRae Ferguson on the violin for a Mozart concerto and senior Jacob Martin on the oboe for a concerto by Bohuslav Martinů.

“It’s been a long time –– if ever –– that a woodwind won the competition,” Holleman said. “It’s unique that he was chosen.”

The concert is sold out, but Holleman said if students do not have tickets, they should still show up and be patient.

“There’s no guarantees, but we tend to seat everyone,” he said.

Ziegler said she has heard parts of the orchestra’s other pieces, but not the whole concert.

“I am really looking forward to hearing the whole thing,” Ziegler said. “Professor Holleman has chosen challenging music that is pushing them. They get better every time I hear them.”​