Rotary International MusiCamp
Posted by James A Dunny
Saturday evening August 1, 2009 at Balboa Theater, an audience of Rotarians and others were enriched by a concert of classical music selections are standard works in the literature. The 5th Annual International Youth Symphony was composed of 38 musicians of which 19 were Rotary International Youth Exchange MusiCamp students from 8 foreign countries. The exchange students represented Venezuela, Italy, Turkey, Romania, Germany, Israel, Mexico and the Netherlands.
Past Rotary District 5340 District Governor Bill Sturgeon is the MusiCamp coordinator for the district and also a vice Chair of Development for the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. The MusiCamp participants were hosted by Rotarian families throughout the district.
Before the concert, a presentation was made of valuable framed publicity poster from 1904 that was a photo of acclaimed conductor Arturo Toscanini. The poster was framed and signed by Toscanini and his oldest daughter,Wally. The donor received the poster from the Toscanini family in Italy.
Past Rotary District 5340 District Governor Bill Sturgeon is the MusiCamp coordinator for the district and also a vice Chair of Development for the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. The MusiCamp participants were hosted by Rotarian families throughout the district.
Before the concert, a presentation was made of valuable framed publicity poster from 1904 that was a photo of acclaimed conductor Arturo Toscanini. The poster was framed and signed by Toscanini and his oldest daughter,Wally. The donor received the poster from the Toscanini family in Italy.
The concert began with "Cosi fan tutti, K. 588, Overture" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This was followed by "Pavane Op. 50 by Gabriel Faure. Both of these familiar works were done with a clarity of sound and sensitivity to dynamic changes that were remarkable for an ensemble that only been together for two weeks. The final work of the first half of the concert was "Violin Concerto in D Major, Op 35" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The violin soloist was Rancho Bernardo High School graduate, Andy Leu in a virtuoso performance of this very demanding and technically difficult work. Andy was also the concertmaster for the San Diego Youth Symphony and will begin studies at Yale University this fall in engineering.
In the second half of the concert, the orchestra performed Ludwig von Beethovan's "Symphony No. 7, Op 92 in A Major." This familiar work was performed with intensity and fervor that was truly memorable. San Diego Youth Symphony Artistic Director Jeff Edmonds directed this work with the brilliance and intensity that rivaled Beethovan himself.
This entire performance showcased the tremendous talent that all of these young people displayed in the technical excellence and clarity and force of their playing. The quality of the entire performance was on a par with the best that any professional orchestra could do. The works selected for this concert are audience favorites and very familiar works of the orchestral repertoire. This fact makes these works even more demanding in that the audience is familiar with these works and expects more in their performance. This ensemble definitely proved to be up to the challenge as they performed each work with a great display of their skills as musicians.
San Diego can be proud to have such a fine youth symphony and conservatory. Hundreds of children each year benefit from the programs provided by the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. Rotary District 5340 also is to be congratulated on the contribution that the sponsorship of the the MusiCamp has made each year for the last 5 years Without District 5340's involvement, this music camp experience could not have existed. It has contributed to the friendships and international understanding that these young people are enjoying and continuing as the go on with their careers.
In the second half of the concert, the orchestra performed Ludwig von Beethovan's "Symphony No. 7, Op 92 in A Major." This familiar work was performed with intensity and fervor that was truly memorable. San Diego Youth Symphony Artistic Director Jeff Edmonds directed this work with the brilliance and intensity that rivaled Beethovan himself.
This entire performance showcased the tremendous talent that all of these young people displayed in the technical excellence and clarity and force of their playing. The quality of the entire performance was on a par with the best that any professional orchestra could do. The works selected for this concert are audience favorites and very familiar works of the orchestral repertoire. This fact makes these works even more demanding in that the audience is familiar with these works and expects more in their performance. This ensemble definitely proved to be up to the challenge as they performed each work with a great display of their skills as musicians.
San Diego can be proud to have such a fine youth symphony and conservatory. Hundreds of children each year benefit from the programs provided by the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. Rotary District 5340 also is to be congratulated on the contribution that the sponsorship of the the MusiCamp has made each year for the last 5 years Without District 5340's involvement, this music camp experience could not have existed. It has contributed to the friendships and international understanding that these young people are enjoying and continuing as the go on with their careers.