The University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra (UWSO) performed in three Wyoming communities this month. The tour was scheduled in Casper, Pinedale, and Teton Village. The symphony consists of 70 musicians who will perform the last concert on May 4th at the Buchanan Theater.
The symphony conductor, Michael Griffith described some of the challenges the musicians faced while on tour.
“It is tiring, you spend hours on a bus not getting quite as much sleep as you want. Every auditorium has different acoustics so a brief rehearsal before each concert is required. Certain changes have to be made in order to adapt to the acoustics and of course that is one of the reasons we go on tour. So the students get to experience changes and know how to adapt to them.”
Despite the difficulties, the orchestra received a standing ovation at each event. At Kelly Walsh High School, the UWSO even spent some time working with band students to teach them new skills as well as how to improve rehearsals.
To prepare for the tour, musicians put in a significant amount of dedication. The symphony ensemble rehearsed twice a week, but the musicians often spent hours practicing independently.
Bryce Allen, a violinist for the UWSO, discussed how much effort goes into perfecting the complex pieces. According to Allen, the ensemble is the highest level ensemble at UW.
“Our director likes to choose modern pieces to perform in the symphony which are just naturally more difficult to play. To perfect a piece, it may take a minimum of five hours of solo practicing a week to progress.”
For Griffith, practicing looks a bit different. Griffith must know all of the cues to give the entire orchestra.
“The students must practice their parts individually as well as attending rehearsals in order to improve the flow of the pieces,” Griffith said. “I must study the score by knowing what I want, and planning out the rehearsals so that the orchestra can get there.”
“You have to know the music well enough that not only can you physically conduct correctly, but also you can listen to what the students are doing at rehearsal and are constantly evaluating.”
The UWSO is the only ensemble on campus that combines wind and stringed instruments.
“The combination of both wind and string is quite fun. It is a privilege to play in,” Allen said.
Griffith has been conducting since he was 19, and still enjoys the experience of hearing symphony pieces come together for a performance.
“It is wonderful standing right in the middle of all that beautiful music listening to all the parts together,” Griffith said.
“Hearing the totality of the effort that so many fine musicians make. In some way shape or form are influencing them as well and that’s very gratifying.”
