The All-University String Orchestra premiered David Die’s Sketches for the String Orchestra and Elliot Goldkind’s Serende for String Orchestra Saturday evening in Mills Hall.
Die and Goldkind, two doctoral students of music, composed these two new works for the first Composer Auction for Charity to raise money for the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Impressed with the sounds of both students’ pieces, Director Janet Jenson bid $365.
The All-University String Orchestra is a group open to all interested string players. The program grants non-music majors a unique opportunity to be a part of a talented orchestra while earning college credit.
Conducted by Bernie J. Engrav and Altovise Gipson, the orchestra performed an array of repertoire Saturday ranging from standard works such as Vaunghan Williams’ Five Variet of ‘Dives and Lazarus,’ Paul Hindemith’s Acht Stucke, Holst and Saint-Saens. The program also included works of the high renaissance by Giovanni Gabrieli.
The All-University String Program is non-competitive–seating order is voluntary, and there is no ranking within the sections.
Because the orchestra only practices once a week for an hour and a half, enrollment in the group is not a significant time commitment, allowing busy students to participate. The program caters to wide range of students majoring in fields as disparate as engineering, biology, languages and business.
Junior Emily Putzer, a violinist majoring in biomedical engineering, said she hasn’t had the chance to practice her instrument since high school. The orchestra, however, has provided her with an opportunity to practice music and still have time to pursue her other interests.
“This is my first year doing orchestra. It is a good program. I can keep up playing my instrument without making a huge time commitment” Putzer said. “The quality of the orchestra is exceptional,” she added.
Sophomore Doug Hill, cellist in the string orchestra and drummer for the band Blue Room Hero, said he enjoys being involved in two entirely different groups.
“I like the classical music I play in All-University and the mix of pop, funk and rock that my band plays,” Hill said. “I love being a part of the Madison music community both in and out of school.”
