Kathy

IndyGirl02

I just saw your FB status about going to CHS for an orchestra concert tonight.  So then I went to the CHS Orchestras website, specifically to the page with all the YouTube recordings of performances.  !!!  Have you seen this?  They're so FREAKING amazing.

https://www.carmelorchestras.org/Home/Recordings.html 

The first three pieces (Prokofiev, Mahler, and "Jupiter") are the performance from ISSMA state finals last year, where they won of course.  Seriously... goosebumps.  This director is so so so awesome, SO much better than that clown that was in charge right after Mr. D!ck retired, who didn't even enter them in ISSMA because he wanted them to learn entire symphonies instead of shorter pieces.  (Booooo.)

That's all, just wanted to share.

lemen99

I didn't know the recordings were online! I'll check it out - thanks!

They were pretty amazing. I was definitely impressed.  

I was surprised - their program now seems huge, which is cool.  They have a freshman orchestra, then 3 levels above that.  I kind of felt bad for the lowest level b/c it was a much much smaller group and the talent level was much below the other 2.  I kind of liked how ours were more mixed (just the 2 orchestras, philharmonic mainly freshman though).

The top orchestra - the Symphony - did a great job.  

I had no idea about all the drama with the director.  Wow that is SO FAIL he didn't enter ISSMA.  I'm glad my sister has a great director. (She's in the orchestra below the SYmphony whatever that is called.)

There is a "Camerata Concert" sometime next year.  I might go b/c I'm curious to hear how awesome they are. 

Oh, and they just got new dresses Black...and no bows.....no satin....and they have BACKS.

MommaMcG

*cough* Carmel sucks! *cough*

(Coming from a bitter rival who swore to hate the Carmel Symphony for the rest of her life.) 

IndyGirl02

Kathy, did you hear something?

::drumming fingers on table while three state championship rings clink together::

 

Come on, MommaMcG.  Don't hate.  I started violin lessons at age 7 and continued through half of college, I absolutely cherish my years in the CHS Symphony (not to be confused with the "Carmel Symphony," the community orchestra that can't hold a candle to the CHS Symphony).  The repertoire we played as high schoolers blows my mind, and we played it well.  Whenever I go to an ISO or any other concert, I really really miss the ensemble experience.  Playing my violin alone in my living room just isn't the same.

lemen99

IndyGirl02:

Kathy, did you hear something?

::drumming fingers on table while three state championship rings clink together::

 

Come on, MommaMcG.  Don't hate.  I started violin lessons at age 7 and continued through half of college, I absolutely cherish my years in the CHS Symphony (not to be confused with the "Carmel Symphony," the community orchestra that can't hold a candle to the CHS Symphony).  The repertoire we played as high schoolers blows my mind, and we played it well.  Whenever I go to an ISO or any other concert, I really really miss the ensemble experience.  Playing my violin alone in my living room just isn't the same.

ditto!  I miss it too!

I didn't start until 6th grade :-) But I did play through Purdue (which wasn't all that awesome bu tnot bad).  Of course Amy you rocked.  I friended Ed today.  I played with him at Purdue too!  

I keep thinking I need to keep playing.  It isn't the same but I stll miss it.  My dad wants me to play at church and the directors are so talented I really should. I just can't seem to find the time right now.  Maybe in a couple of years?  

 

MommaMcG

IndyGirl02:

Kathy, did you hear something?

::drumming fingers on table while three state championship rings clink together::

 

Come on, MommaMcG.  Don't hate.  I started violin lessons at age 7 and continued through half of college, I absolutely cherish my years in the CHS Symphony (not to be confused with the "Carmel Symphony," the community orchestra that can't hold a candle to the CHS Symphony).  The repertoire we played as high schoolers blows my mind, and we played it well.  Whenever I go to an ISO or any other concert, I really really miss the ensemble experience.  Playing my violin alone in my living room just isn't the same.

Haha, I'll hate for the rest of my life.  ;-)  Like I said, bitter rival and all.  I went to Pike and we went to state every year...and lost to you guys each time.

And don't put down the Carmel Symphony.  They have 7 concerts a year and don't meet every day like the HS (they meet like 3-4 times for each concert).  It is made up of caring community music educators, and a lot even went to Carmel!  That kind of attitude is why I (and people who competed against you guys) don't like CHS Symphony.  

I started playing the cello at 9, majored in it, and am now an orchestra director.

*Steps off soap box*  ;-) 

IndyGirl02

MommaMcG:

That kind of attitude is why I (and people who competed against you guys) don't like CHS Symphony.  

Fair enough, I'll restate it as my own opinion: for my money, I'll go see ISO (or CHS Symphony) 100% of the time over Carmel Symphony, because I don't enjoy their product as much.  Plain and simple.  I get that it's a community orchestra.  With the experience as I have, I'm generally not going to enjoy the product put out by *any* community orchestra, because my tastes are on a higher level.  It doesn't mean I have an "attitude."  It just means I like what I like.

Since that's MY personal opinion, it certainly shouldn't reflect on CHS Orchestra members/alums as a whole.

 

And really, we never had the impression that other orchestras "hated" us.  I'm surprised to hear it.  We knew we were good, and we were proud of it.  We were a bunch of smart, relatively nerdy, goody-two-shoes kids who enjoyed the talent level and success of our ensemble.  I remember crying onstage during our ISSMA state finals performance of Barber's Adagio for Strings, literally tears rolling down my face as I was playing, because I love the piece and I loved how well we were playing it.  I assume there would be a sense of rivalry from other closely competing orchestras (like Pike, North Central, Floyd Central), but "hate" is a surprise to me.  ::shrug::

MommaMcG

Haha, hate is probably too strong of a word.  :-)  Strongly dislike. 

MommaMcG

IndyGirl02:

MommaMcG:

That kind of attitude is why I (and people who competed against you guys) don't like CHS Symphony.  

Fair enough, I'll restate it as my own opinion: for my money, I'll go see ISO (or CHS Symphony) 100% of the time over Carmel Symphony, because I don't enjoy their product as much.  Plain and simple.  I get that it's a community orchestra.  With the experience as I have, I'm generally not going to enjoy the product put out by *any* community orchestra, because my tastes are on a higher level.  It doesn't mean I have an "attitude."  It just means I like what I like.

Since that's MY personal opinion, it certainly shouldn't reflect on CHS Orchestra members/alums as a whole.

 

And really, we never had the impression that other orchestras "hated" us.  I'm surprised to hear it.  We knew we were good, and we were proud of it.  We were a bunch of smart, relatively nerdy, goody-two-shoes kids who enjoyed the talent level and success of our ensemble.  I remember crying onstage during our ISSMA state finals performance of Barber's Adagio for Strings, literally tears rolling down my face as I was playing, because I love the piece and I loved how well we were playing it.  I assume there would be a sense of rivalry from other closely competing orchestras (like Pike, North Central, Floyd Central), but "hate" is a surprise to me.  ::shrug::

You really think CHS Symphony is better than the Carmel Symphony?  Taking into consideration that the HS works on their pieces (esp ISSMA songs) for a semester...and then it's just 3 pieces.  Most everyone in the Carmel Symp has a music degree and are better players than high schoolers.  And like I said, they rehearse 3-4 times as a group for each concert.  Apparently the city of Carmel thinks they are pretty great seeing as how they are making a new concert hall for them...

NDwife07

i'll be visiting the site as soon as i'm back on my laptop...i always loved hearing you guys (as in kathy and amy, along with junell and my other orchestra friends) play in concert. so fun! what a great program to have been a part of.

 

i hate how greyhound pride is often misinterpreted as rich kid snobbery. 

MommaMcG

I dunno, I don't think greyhound pride equals rich kid snobbery.  The thing that is rubbing me the wrong way with this is the underlying undertone that other orchestras weren't great as well (and I may be interrupting this wrong).  I was first chair cello, and symphony was the only thing that got me through high school.  Pike Symphony (back in the day when it was actually a great program) also had pride and we all loved the music we played. 

And to say the Carmel Symphony is bad also makes me mad.  A lot of my string teacher friends are in that group (and I could be but don't have the time right now).  Not everyone can be in the ISO or other professional groups, so they play where they can.  And they love to play.  To say they don't meet your standards seems snobby.  I am a full blown orchestra nerd with the degree to go along with it, and I think Carmel is great.  Geesh.   

MommaMcG

And I'm done highjacking this post!  ;-)

It's great to have school spirit and all.  Glad to see them doing well. 

lafelts80

People people!  Let's all just agree that none of this matter anyways because band members were far superior and be done with it. 

IndyGirl02

MommaMcG:

I dunno, I don't think greyhound pride equals rich kid snobbery.  The thing that is rubbing me the wrong way with this is the underlying undertone that other orchestras weren't great as well (and I may be interrupting this wrong).  I was first chair cello, and symphony was the only thing that got me through high school.  Pike Symphony (back in the day when it was actually a great program) also had pride and we all loved the music we played. 

And to say the Carmel Symphony is bad also makes me mad.  A lot of my string teacher friends are in that group (and I could be but don't have the time right now).  Not everyone can be in the ISO or other professional groups, so they play where they can.  And they love to play.  To say they don't meet your standards seems snobby.  I am a full blown orchestra nerd with the degree to go along with it, and I think Carmel is great.  Geesh.   

Sorry, but I'm being misquoted. 

1. I never said a THING about other HS orchestras.  There WERE other great HS orchestras from across the state (I listed a few above).  I discussed the pride we had for our own music, and never once put down any of our competitors.  I said those things to explain that our focus was on our own pride, not ill feelings towards other groups.

2. I never said the Carmel Symphony is "bad."  I said that I choose to spend my money to see other groups (namely ISO and occasionally CHS) perform because I don't enjoy the Carmel Symphony product as much.  I *know* that CHS works on their pieces for a whole semester and CS works on theirs for 3-4 rehearsals...  but as an audience member all I see is the end result, and yes, I like the final product put out by CHS better than that of CS.  And ISO above all, of course.

3. I also didn't say anything about "standards."  I said I like what I like.  Guess what, I choose which ISO concerts I attend by what they're playing.  If I'm going to spend money on a concert, I want to see a group that I like playing something I like to hear.  I don't care much for Bach or Haydn, Mozart is all right but I don't love it, and I don't go to pops concerts... but I love me some romantic period composers (Tschaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Beethoven, Dvorak, etc).  If that means I have an "attitude" about musical periods too, then so be it.  What's wrong with knowing what you like?

 

PS - The Palladium isn't being built for Carmel Symphony.  They're going to play their concerts there, which will be awesome -- and great that they'll finally have a home instead of playing in various locations -- but it's not just for them.  It's designed to attract world-class artists, and so far it's apparently working -- Vienna Boys Choir and Kronos Quartet are two of the groups set to perform there.  Cool!  And The Charlie Daniels Band and Clint Black, among others.  (Other artists for whom I don't particulary care but are nationally if not internationally known.)

MommaMcG

Haha, I totally have an attitude about musical periods.   I can't stand modern music.  At all.  I like the stuff you do.

IndyGirl02

MommaMcG:

Haha, I totally have an attitude about musical periods.   I can't stand modern music.  At all.  I like the stuff you do.

See?  We can be friends. 

I guess I just don't see a huge difference between preferring one musical period to another, and preferring one musical group to another.  We all have our opinions, and I put my money where my mouth is by supporting the group(s) I prefer to go see/hear. 

Joshua Bell was here a couple years ago with ISO, and I was all excited to go see him, but then I saw he was world-premiering some brand new violin concerto.  I totally didn't go.  But I played hooky from work a couple weeks ago to go see a matinee performance by the ISO with Midori playing the Beethoven violin concerto.  ::swooooooon::

lemen99

I think that the Carmel Symphony has lots of talent, but maybe, because of the nature of what they do (community orchestra) maybe do not have the time to prepare like other groups do. My guess is that reflects in their performance, or at least that's what I think Amy is trying to say.

 I actually went to 2 of their rehearsals and was going to join.  Everyone was very talented.  Coming from Purdue and CHS, I was told I could walk on.  I did feel rusty compared to everyone.  But the reason I didn't stick with it was because they wouldn't meet for long periods of time, and then they would have like several 3 hours rehearsals close together to prepare for a concert - - like major crunch time.  Once the concert came around, it was a break for a while.  It wasn't my thing.  I just wanted a group to play in for fun on a regular basis

Anyway, that's sort of off-topic, but I wanted to share.   It may explain why Amy thinks what she does.

That said, I thought other orchestras we heard play were great.  But, I'm no expert, so I just sit back and enjoy...I did like like it however when people were bitter toward us only because we won.  That said, I'm not a competitive person, and I just had fun and worked hard, and that's what matters.

 

NDwife07

lafelts80:

People people!  Let's all just agree that none of this matter anyways because band members were far superior and be done with it. 

::giggle::

 

whatever, jv girls' bball cheerleaders were far cooler than any of you, lolz  

lemen99

NDwife07:

lafelts80:

People people!  Let's all just agree that none of this matter anyways because band members were far superior and be done with it. 

::giggle::

 

whatever, jv girls' bball cheerleaders were far cooler than any of you, lolz  

lmao

MommaMcG

IndyGirl02:

MommaMcG:

Haha, I totally have an attitude about musical periods.   I can't stand modern music.  At all.  I like the stuff you do.

See?  We can be friends. 

I guess I just don't see a huge difference between preferring one musical period to another, and preferring one musical group to another.  We all have our opinions, and I put my money where my mouth is by supporting the group(s) I prefer to go see/hear. 

Joshua Bell was here a couple years ago with ISO, and I was all excited to go see him, but then I saw he was world-premiering some brand new violin concerto.  I totally didn't go.  But I played hooky from work a couple weeks ago to go see a matinee performance by the ISO with Midori playing the Beethoven violin concerto.  ::swooooooon::

Have you seen Bell perform before?

I saw Yo-Yo Ma last year, and luckily he performed something I liked.  But if he would have played some modern crap (lol, that's what I lovingly call it), I still would have gone just because I had never seen him perform before.  But if I had seen him already....forget about it!

MommaMcG

Oh, and did you see that a new ISO director was named today? 

IndyGirl02

MommaMcG:

Have you seen Bell perform before?

I saw Yo-Yo Ma last year, and luckily he performed something I liked.  But if he would have played some modern crap (lol, that's what I lovingly call it), I still would have gone just because I had never seen him perform before.  But if I had seen him already....forget about it!

Yes I've seen him a handful of times -- he's so amazing.  I actually got to meet him once (my mom has photos somewhere) when I was 13 or 14... he was here to play with ISO and my violin teacher used some hookups to get us into his closed rehearsal with with the symphony.  Literally, it was ISO, Joshua Bell, and my teacher and me sitting in the third row in Circle Theater.  He came down to talk to us and introduce himself afterwards.  He did an autograph session at Sinfonia the next day and I went and took all my Joshua Bell CDs to be signed.    Most recently I saw him a few years ago in recital at Circle Theater.

I did see that about ISO's new director!!  I don't know a thing about him, but I love that he's 28 years old -- they're really making a push to connect with a younger audience.  Between him and Zach DePue and Time for Three... <-- speaking of which, they're here this weekend.  LOVE THEM!!  DH and I are going to the Happy Hour and performance tomorrow and I can't wait.

ETA: Not tomorrow. Thursday. Clearly I'm excited.