 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-07-19 03:50
I'm really interested in playing in some symphony orchestras or concert bands or even chamber groups in my area. Problem is finding some.
Does anyone know of any such groups in the Boston or Southeastern area of Massachusetts? (I live in Brockton)
Could be a youth orchestra, or a community band, or a clarinet choir, doesn't matter to me, just interested in getting some more playing time in.
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Author: Jen L.
Date: 2004-07-19 14:25
Are there ever--the problem is getting into them. Not only are we swamped with community groups, we're swamped with skilled people to play in them. I live closer to town, and the competition is periodically fierce when a clarinet spot opens up in one of the local orchestras. Most towns near Boston have a band, and orchestra, and/or a chorus (in many cases all three). Bands tend to be not quite as competitive, depending on the level.
The Brockton Symphony is right by you; I don't know if they have any open clarinet spots right now, but I could ask--their assistant conductor is also the director of the orchestra that I play in (the Waltham Phil). They're quite good, and have a great deal of community support. Metropolitan Wind Symphony is also very good, though I don't know if they're done with their season for the year.
Come to think of it, a lot of groups are done for the summer. Your best bet is usually to start scanning the Calendar section of the Globe in the next couple of weeks, that's where the call for players tend to show up. Be prepared for groups to ask for auditions for wind players, since there are so many of us around here. Longy and NEC have extension division music programs with more organized chamber music, but also youth groups if you're a high school student. (There's also GBYSO, another youth orchestra, for which the competition is so fierce it can be scary. But man they're good.) There are several other audition-based groups in Boston as well. I'm pretty sure there's a south-shore symphony, too, but I don't know much about them.
If you're interested in more informal chamber music that Longy or NEC, most people I know of in the various groups I play in are always game; the hard part is agreeing on an evening. If you can make contact with people in the various and sundry groups around here, you shouldn't have any trouble coming up with some chamber music opportunities.
If you want to play for the summer and don't mind the drive, come up to Lexington to the Bicentennial Band concerts. (Yes, we know. No, we don't care that our name is 30 years out of date.) We do summer concerts every Tuesday; come up and listen at one, and if you like, bring your horn for the next time.
So yes, you have options a-plenty.
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2004-07-19 17:03
Thanks for all the input Jen.
Yeah, I've been to a few Brockton Symphony concerts, and being in the Brockton High School Band, we perform at their "Holiday Pops" Concert in December, sometimes under the guest direction of Jonathan Cohler.
As for me getting into the Brockton Symphony right now, I don't see myself being even close to good enough for that level yet. I probably would like to eventually, but that is only if their current conductor doesn't continue to hold some strange grudge against me. (I would gladly tell you the story off the board, if you wanted; don't feel like making it a public issue.) And that's also why I wouldn't be too thrilled about doing anything at Longy.
In general, I was looking more towards youth orchestras or bands. Something along those lines, but what you said is still helpful.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-07-19 20:25
You might also want to join Amateur Chamber Musician Player (www.acmp.net)
for a modest contribution, you'll get a huge listing of fellow musicians from all over the US (and abroad too), including a large block of musicians in the boston area.
many of the musicians listed also play in community bands and orchestras - it's a great way to start developing contacts
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-07-20 03:34
Actually, there is a very fine orchestra in Boston ... I own many of their wonderful CDs ...
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Author: Jen L.
Date: 2004-07-21 14:41
Okay, youth orchestras and bands. For youth bands, the name of the game is MYWE, out of NEC (unless you're a high school freshman, in which case it's peewee MYWE). Have you auditioned for that? Most of the auditions are in the spring, but NEC has some limited auditions for MYWE and their other groups in the fall--their extension division is the place to check that out. (I participated in their extension division program, including MYWE, while I was in high school.) Their youth orchestras are YS, the more junior group, and YPO, the more senior one. Those meet on Saturdays, last I checked.
I don't know of any other organized youth orchestras in the area (aside from GBYSO, of course, but I'm not sure that they have fall auditions), but when I was in high school several of our area teachers organized their own, not-long-term, orchestral ensembles. Or chamber music, depending on their preference.
Do you have a local teacher? Does s/he have any suggestions on chamber music in your town? Is there anyone at your school who can arrange chamber music? Off hand I don't know of anyone who does that down in your area but it's possible that I have someone's name in a file, can check if you'd like (I organize my orchestra's student concerto competition, so I've been collecting teacher names).
I don't suppose any of the winds in the Brockton Symphony could put you in contact with chamber music opportunites, could they? Mostly, for chamber music, the groups that I wind up playing with come about just from chatting with people, seeing who's around.
Anyway, these are just the random thoughts I came up with, hope they help.
Jen
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