The news site of Glenbrook South High School.

The Oracle

The news site of Glenbrook South High School.

The Oracle

The news site of Glenbrook South High School.

The Oracle

Advertisement
Advertisement
Find Stories and More:

Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra: conductor describes student ‘community’

Quick, nimble fingers slide a bow over a set of strings, creating a beautiful sound. It’s not a guitar but rather junior Mariya Yoshovska playing her violin. Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra made up of students from Glenbrook North and South.

At the beginning of each year, Glenbrook students audition to get a chair place in the orchestra, according to Kristin Meyer, one of the GSO conductors. Once they make it, they participate in concerts throughout the year.

“[We] rehearse music for our fall concert,” Meyer said. “We also do a string concert in October, and we do a holiday concert in December, and we do another string concert with GSO in the spring, and we’re working towards our GBS only concert in May.”

The string section, which is made of sophomores through seniors and select freshmen, meets at South every day, and every other day at North because the school is on a block schedule, according to Meyer.

North and South students practice at their respective schools during the school day, and they come together to practice on Wednesdays nights.

“[On Wednesday], we’re just GSO; we’re not North, we’re not South […] We’re just one orchestra,” Meyer said. “It’s a very cohesive group.”

Meyer was quick to pick out her favorite part of being a conductor.

“[It’s] seeing the kids getting excited about really great classical music and the progress we make,” Meyer said.

Similarly, Yoshovska said that GSO has incredible talent during and at the end of the year.

“The energy level always remains high and it’s stunning to see that much interest and talent in one room,” Yoshovska said.

Meyer tries to keep the students’ interest in mind when choosing the music for the next year, according to her.

“I like to pick things that I think the kids would be excited about working on; it’s sort of a partnership process,” Meyer said.

Yoshovska agrees that Meyer cares deeply for all GSO kids and wants them to be heard. Meyer tells her students this, too.

“[…] Meyer always says that she loves us all equally and wants us to be heard and to succeed,” Yoshovska said.

Jason Heath, GSO’s newest orchestra conductor, is also supportive of GSO students despite only being a GSO conductor for a short time so far, according to Yoshovska.

“[…] Heath is also always there for us as music students,” Yoshovska said. “For the short duration of his stay, he has made a tremendous effort to involve all of us in the world of music beyond the classroom.”

While GSO hasn’t received a tangible award recently, it was invited to audition a tape to play on a soundtrack in Los Angeles. GSO then recorded tits own soundtrack to Disney films.

If a GSO student were to ever wonder how exactly Meyer felt about every single one of them, the answer would be honest, she said.

 “I think of them first of all not as musicians or students, but I think of them always as people first,” Meyer said. “I care an incredible amount for each and every one of them personally.”

Meyer hopes that the GSO students will continue with music in their lives. That includes either making it big or being an audience member.

“I hope through the excitement that the environment has, and through the excitement that I have for music that the kids will walk away with a lifetime of good memories [and] that they’ll share that in the rest of their lives with themselves, their friends and their children someday,” Meyer said.

GSO students can ask Meyer any question and often experience awkward or embarrassing moments in GSO. This sense of community makes it feels like a family, according to Yoshovska.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

The Oracle intends for this area to be used to foster healthy, thought-provoking discussion. Comments are expected to adhere to our standards and to be respectful and constructive. As such, we do not permit the use of profanity, foul language, personal attacks, or the use of language that might be interpreted as libelous. Comments are reviewed and must be approved by a moderator to ensure that they meet these standards. The Oracle does not allow anonymous comments, and The Oracle requires a valid email address. The email address will not be displayed but will be used to confirm your comments.
All The Oracle Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *