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The Idaho Statesman Dana Oland column [The Idaho Statesman](Idaho Statesman (Boise) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 31--All eyes focused on Jennifer Drake as she stood in the center of the West Junior High School band room last week. Bows raised, breaths taken in, no one blinked until she drew down her baton with a devilish twinkle in her eye to start the movement. The musicians of Serenata Orchestra dug into the complexities of a little known composition by Juan Arriaga, a Basque composer who died of tuberculosis at age 20 in 1824. As the movement surged and flowed, you could hear why he was called "Spanish Mozart," both for the quality of this child prodigy's music and the brevity of his life. He's one of the composers featured in "Almost Famous," Serenata's concert Nov. 1. Drake will debut conducting Serenata in its first performance as a full orchestra. During last week's rehearsal, Drake kept the proceedings light and lively, while she pushed her musicians for a higher quality with each run through. It's a tricky proposition, because she is working with a mix of levels in her players, some of whom last played their instrument 20 or so years ago. "I haven't played with an orchestra since I was in high school," said violinist Erin Goertzen, 37. "I heard about this from my old orchestra teacher Wendy (Hartman), and I thought it would be fun. And it's a blast." Serenata feels new in this form, but it's a group with deep roots in the Treasure Valley. It started as Eagle Chamber in 1996 and has gone through different iterations, with a series of conductors, including founder Dick Schwen, Shirley Madsen and Lea King, who now plays violin with the group. It became Serenata Chamber Orchestra in 2012 with about 15 dedicated string players. It now has brass and winds, and for this concert a euphonium played by Ryan Hartman, who will do a solo. "Almost Famous" is a program with a sense of humor. It features music by classical composers who didn't quite hit it big -- Arriaga and Saleri -- and instruments that aren't usually at the front of the orchestra. Compositions by Telemann, Balmages and Rachmaninoff that feature viola, euphonium and double bass. It reflects Drake's sensibility that classical music should be fun and engaging. It's an approach she has shared with the Boise community since she arrived 15 years ago from Michigan. She plays viola for the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Baroque and Opera Idaho orchestras. She's well known as a teacher in the community and she founded the now-defunct Darkwood Consort, a bass clarinet and viola duo that played internationally for more than a decade. She also founded the City of Trees Chamber Music Series and produces the Classical Jam at Boise's Buzz Coffee and Cafe, an occasional jam session for anyone with sheet music and an instrument. She took on Serenata in December 2013 for the "Sing-along, Play-along Messiah" at the Summit Church. The group will perform the event again at 6 p.m. Dec. 20. "I've always wanted to be a conductor," Drake said. "At Michigan State, I conducted a lot of pit orchestras for musicals. That was a great time. There are not too many conductor gigs in Boise. I've been waiting around to find a podium." Drake is funny and personable, and is known for a high level of musicianship. When she signed on as conductor, Serenata quadrupled its membership to nearly 70. Serenata is one of four community orchestras in the area. The Meridian Symphony, the Treasure Valley Symphony and Treasure Valley Concert Band round out the scene. Many of the Serenata players also belong to those groups. Community orchestras are a special breed. They depend on volunteers to run the business side and community musicians who put in hours learning the music and show up for weekly rehearsals on top of their day jobs or school schedule. The musicians range from college students to people in their 70s. Most of the musicians played in school and beyond but chose a different career path. Violist Stephen O'Meara describes himself as "an old pro player with a music degree who has a vastly different day job." O'Meara works in the IT department at the Ada County Sheriff's Office. "I enjoy working with Jen. She is as talented as she is relentless in her drive for good music," O'Meara said. "I can come here and play for both myself and for art's sake. Quite frankly, it's liberating." Bassoonist Idalyn Cyprus is a medical doctor. She started playing the bassoon in seventh grade. She kept it up through college and medical school, but put it down while raising her two children, who both play musical instruments. "It's a lot of fun and a bit of a challenge," Cyprus said. "It's a great group. Jen is a fantastic, fantastic conductor to work with. She makes everyone feel energized. It's a great way to spend an evening." Cellist Matthew Fiorentino teaches orchestra at Centennial High School and takes this experience back to his students. "I know there are other teachers here and we bring a lot of what Jen does with us back to our schools," he said. ___ (c)2014 The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) Visit The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) at www.idahostatesman.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |