The Snow College Flute Choir won’t go unnoticed. They work hard to be ready for performances. Photo by Emily Suckow
The Chamber Concerts are approaching quickly as the Horne School of Music have fallen into smaller groups and ensembles to perform. Chamber music is a form of classical music with small groups, such as quartets, trios, and duets. “Each musician in a chamber group needs to be a leader. You need to guide and direct each other,” says Dr. Elaine Jorgenson
Dr. Elaine Jorgenson is in charge of the Chamber Music groups, and has been working hard to prepare three nights of wonderful chamber music. “I put in about 4 or 5 hours a week just for Chamber,” says Jorgenson. “It’s different than a larger group because when you have, say, a quintet, you need to direct your comments to the instrument, whereas in flute choir, I can tell everyone to do things the same way.”
Some of the main chamber groups have specific instruments brought into groups, such as flute choir, clarinet choir, and trumpet choir. Under the direction of Dr. Elaine Jorgenson (flute choir), Dr. Madeline LeBaron (clarinet choir), and Dr. David Blackinton (trumpet choir), these groups have been in rehearsal all semester to prepare music for these chamber concerts. “We’ve been in rehearsals since the beginning of the semester,” says Bruce Neibaur, member of trumpet choir. “We auditioned, so not everyone could get in and we’ve been rehearsing ever since.”
Students lead and form small groups of their own as well. One of these groups is a woodwind quartet, which consists of two flutes and two clarinets. This particular group will be performing music composed by one of its members, freshman Emily Suckow. “I wrote or arranged this music in memory of my good friend Carter, who committed suicide this past August,” says Suckow. “This is my way of paying tribute, and I’m very much looking forward to sharing my talents with the school.”
Chamber musicians have to be able to work together on a much deeper level than musicians in larger groups. Often, chamber musicians don’t have a conductor, so they have to be able to communicate while playing to stay together. Also, these musicians can’t have any grudges, as they will reflect in the performance. “If two people don’t get along personality wise, they’re less likely to want to work together. You just have to look at it as having a professional relationship and remember that we’re all there to make music,” says Jamie Baker, flute section leader. “It’s hard when you don’t get along with somebody. You need to be there for the music and yourself, not for other people.”
The Chamber Music concerts will take place from March 31 – April 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm in the Jorgenson Concert Hall in the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts. Admittance is free with a student ID.
Emily Suckow
Emily Suckow is a twenty year-old sophomore at Snow College. She grew up in South Jordan and graduated from Bingham High School in 2014. Being well-to do in the oboe, flute, and English horn, she was drawn to Snow for their four-year music major program, but has since switched her major and is pursuing a degree in Public Relations at this time. Emily spent her sophomore year at Snow College as Webmaster and Vice President of the Snowdrift, Snow College's student newspaper. When she was 13, Emily was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, but is currently cancer-free and loving life.