May 26, 2005
Five young conductors ‘play the orchestra’ May 31
Five new talents will take turns on the stage of Kane Hall, batons at the ready, to display their orchestral conducting skills in the University Symphony’s Young Conductors Concert on Tuesday, May 31.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. that day in 130 Kane. Tickets, available at the door for cash or checks only, cost $10 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Additional information is available www.music.washington.edu.
The five conductors, all pursuing their Doctorate of Musical Arts in the UW School of Music, are Philip Tschopp, Catherine Kai-Ling Chi, Meena Hwang, Juyong Kwon and David Upham.
They are all splendid musicians in their own right now learning needed technique for an even more challenging instrument, according to their teacher — or maestro — the well-spoken and highly respected Peter Erös, professor of instrumental conducting and conductor of the University Symphony,
“Just as instrumentalists have to have a technique in order to play a piece of music,” Erös said, “a conductor has to have a technique in order to play his instrument, which is the orchestra.”
Simply being an accomplished musician, however, isn’t quite enough, Erös said — these five fledgling conductors also likely share a certain personality trait. Orchestral conductors, like theatrical directors, he said, are almost always extroverted, outgoing people.
“If you are an introvert you can’t do this, because you need to have communication skills with many people,” he said, then added, deadpan, “If you are shy, then do something else. Become a philosopher.”
Erös said he guides only students who wish to become professionals. And despite his hearty sense of humor, he’s all business when it comes to teaching. “I am sometimes good tempered, sometimes bad,” Erös allowed, adding, “I am old school. I’m 72 years old. When I grew up life was more duty than fun — I teach them responsibility.”
Tschopp, who is Erös’ teaching assistant as well as one of the conductors for the concert, said the evening will give the conductors “an opportunity to put into practice what we have been working on in theory for so long and share our gift with the students.” He said while he has a regular job that includes conducting, many others do not, and appreciate such a venue to show their growing skills.
He said the experience of an entire orchestra playing at one’s personal direction is exciting indeed. “It’s an absolute thrill, to be honest with you. It’s amazing when you are right there in the middle of the orchestra — the hum of the strings, the amazing power of the timpani, for instance, you can almost feel the percussive aspect of it.”
He said when standing so near the hard-working musicians, you truly understand the work that goes into creating such music. “You get the very humanness of it,” he said.
Robin McCabe, director of the School of Music, said the connection between conductor and orchestra “is actually quite a beautiful chemistry, and no two will do it the same way.”
And as has been said of comedy, romance and so many other things in life, McCabe said in conducting, timing is crucial. “A wrong note played at the right time doesn’t sound as bad as the right note played at the wrong time,” she said.
The concert will feature a variety of pieces, from composers such as Haydn, Ravel, Mozart, Wagner, Schubert and Beethoven. Not only will the concert feature talented emerging conductors and highly skilled musicians, it also will be an evening of exciting music.
“Absolutely!” agreed Maestro Erös, as he is called. “There’s no business like show business!”
