SAVANNAH PHILHARMONICOPENING NIGHT: BRAHMS, RACHMANINOFF, & DVOŘÀK

GABRIEL MONTICELLO

Freelance Classical Musician: Savannah Philharmonic Section member, Principal of the Albany Symphony & Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, Member of the Valdosta Symphony, The Macon Symphony, LaGrange Symphony, and Chamber Cartel

Rock and Roll: Spaceseed, The Ghosts Project, The Nathaniel Johnstone Band, Space Mirrors

Jazz: Alpier Experiment, Daddy-O-Strut

Recent Highlights: Dec 2011 & 2014 China tour with the Hollywood Concert Orchestra

Oct 2013 New Orleans The Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Ball with Nathaniel Johnstone and the Ghosts Project

Summer 2014 Wales UK Headline the Sonic Rock Solstice with Spaceseed

WHAT IS AN ORCHESTRA?

A large instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.

COMPARING AN ORCHESTRA TO SCHOOL

Homework

Copies of music are sent to the musician 2-3 weeks in advance of the concert

What we work on: Bowings/Breathing, Tricky passages, Expression Markings (often in Italian, German, French, or Russian)

Classroom

Rehearsals

What we work on: Ensemble playing, Tempo, Dynamics, Articulation, Balance, making sure bowings match other sections, getting used to sound of the hall.

Tests

The performance

Each concert is a team effort and each person must give 100%

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE ON STAGE IN THE ORCHESTRA

Students = Section Members

• Come to the rehearsals prepared

• Follow the advice and direction of the Principal players and Conductor

Teachers = Principal Players

• Responsible for bowings

• Guides and directs section

• Communicates with Conductor and other Principal players

• Plays any solos in their section

• Assigns divisions if needed

Principal = Conductor

• Principal of the 1st Violins, plays any violin solos

• Serves as leader of the orchestra under the Conductor

• Tunes the Orchestra: the note (an A @ 440) is provided by Principal Oboe player (the audience should be absolutely quiet when this happens)

COMPARING A SCHOOL TO AN ORCHESTRA

Assistant Principal = Concertmaster

• Oversees musicians and directs all musical aspects including Tempo (speed), Articulations, Dynamics (volume) through visual gestures

• Cues musicians entrances

• Interprets composers works

• Escorts the soloist to and from the stage. Is the line of communication between soloist and the orchestra

• Helps select the repertoire and soloists for the season

• The public face of the Orchestra (assist in fundraising and promotion)

• Works with the board of directors

OVERVIEW OF VISUAL GESTURES

Right HandTime and Tempo

Speed guides the speed of musicians playing

Size of pattern guides volume or intensity

Smoothness of line guides how smooth or short the notes are

Left HandArtistry

Dynamics- Crescendo and Decrescendo

Cues Entrances

Turns pages

Gives the ” HAND OF DOOM” if you make a mistake

Face

The conductors face is often a great place to look for intent of expression

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CURTAIN?

• Board of Directors• David Pratt, Executive Director• Melissa Bailey, Education &

Outreach Coordinator• Mary Catherine Mousourakis,

Director of Artistic Operations• Mallory Gibson, Development &

Marketing Coordinator• Cynthia Heil, Development

Associate• Stage Crew, nothing would

happen without them!