What was once a small string quartet of students has transformed over the years into a full string orchestra; this weekend, the music department will celebrate this transformation.
The Oklahoma Christian University Chamber Orchestra will present its 20th anniversary spring concert this Sunday, April 14.
Professor of Music and Conductor Kathy Thompson said the need for a chamber orchestra began when several students expressed interest in starting a string ensemble.
“I started teaching in 1993 with the faculty, and there were some string students that started talking about having a quartet,” Thompson said. “Since I was the only [person] among the faculty that was a string player, Dr. Adams asked me to work with them. At that time I hadn’t played in a number of years. So then I joined the Oklahoma Community Orchestra to freshen my skills. So it started that way.”
According to Thompson, this concert will differ from past concerts because it invites alumni who were a part of the orchestra.
“There are 74 alumni that we have contacted, and a few of them are coming back,” Thompson said. “We did this at the 15th anniversary as well; we invited all of the alumni to come back to play the ‘Ashokan Farewell’, which is something we have continued to play through the years.”
Junior orchestra member Lauren Wheeler said this concert is geared toward the alumni.
“We’re trying to put all of our best and most exciting pieces out there for our alumni to hear,” Wheeler said.
Senior Daniel Wheat said the orchestra concert is important because orchestra music embodies a part of history.
“Orchestra concerts on campus are essential because strings are a tradition from the Early Renaissance, and band music has only been around for about 200 years,” Wheat said. “It’s a part of history you don’t want to miss out on.”
Thompson said that it is significant to have an orchestra as well as a band on campus because it allows students the opportunity to expand their talent.
“It gives students a greater repertoire to play,” Thompson said. “Now we are getting to the point to where we can do some combined things. We will have a full orchestra of students playing one of Beethoven’s symphony movements at this concert.”
Wheat said he agrees with Thompson that it is important to have both an orchestra and a band on campus.
“It is really cool to hear some of the historical pieces that were written a thousand years ago performed exactly the same way they were intended in the mind of their composers,” Wheat said. “That’s an opportunity students should want to have.”
Wheeler said she is eager to play in the concert and encourages everyone to come out on Sunday to hear the performance.
“I am excited to perform with the past cellists and hear how wonderful the ensemble will be,” Wheeler said. “We will be performing ‘Mendelssohn’s Symphony in D’, ‘The Finzi Prelude’, some Bach and some Beethoven. My favorite thing about being in the orchestra is just whenever we get swept away in the music and everyone is playing their hearts out. I hope everyone else can share in this when we perform on Sunday.”
The concert will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the Adams Recital Hall.
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