By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District’s orchestra department was represented by four students who performed in the All-State Orchestras on Jan. 24 at the DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) sponsored the All-State performances during the 10th Annual Michigan Music Conference.
Only 400 out of 2,460 students who underwent a challenging blind audition last fall obtained a position with one of the five All-State band and orchestra ensembles.
Lee Argir, sophomore, played the violin in the All-State High School Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Sandra Dackow. Dackow, who has appeared around the world, is the current music director of both the Hershey Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and the William Paterson University Symphony Orchestra in New Jersey.
In her remarks to the audience, Dackow addressed the importance of retaining music education in schools because studies show that “… the brain lights up everywhere while making music.” Dackow also said that Einstein was a violinist, and that his theory of relativity occurred to him while he was in “music mode.” She quoted Einstein as saying, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Three eighth graders placed in the All-State Middle School Orchestra conducted by E. Daniel Long – Katie Rae Hayduk, violin, Jacob Smedshammer, viola, and Sophia Sjogren, cello. A 35-year veteran teacher in the Ann Arbor School District and Founding Director of the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts Youth Symphony Orchestra, Long connected with the students to bring out the best in their performance.
In a written statement, he said, “After I get done teaching what is important, with the time left over I teach music. To get students to play with passion and from the heart, one must first understand that those young people sitting in front of you are young human beings with feelings and ideas … Helping students create beautiful music is one of the most rewarding experiences a teacher can receive. …”
Long also shared his beliefs about the benefits that young All-State musicians gain. “Such things as drive for perfection, collaboration and the ability to listen, use of imagination and creativity at a high level are characteristics that will remain with each student for the rest of his or her life,” he wrote.
(Writer’s note: I would like to express thanks to World’s Finest Chocolate, one of the vendors at the Michigan Music Conference, for the chocolate samples. The dark, milk, mint meltaway, and caramel whirl were all equally tasty and satisfying.)
