Youth Philharmonic

Wamma (far right) pictured with a student and her
parents at the MAYSO Picnic

In light of auditions, this month's post will be more specific, as it is centered around the new addition to the MAYSO ensembles: Youth Philharmonic (YP). Next month's will be about the conductor of NSS and YP, Mark Wamm. Per Wamma, "MAYSO and NSS had reached a point where the jump from MAYSO to NSS was getting larger and proving a challenge for NSS students who wanted to bump up to MAYSO," yet there was a growing gap between the new recruits and NSS' most advanced players. Consequently, YP was formed to help bridge the gap as a middle-level orchestra.

Wamma has two goals as the conductor of both YP and NSS. First, he wishes to challenge his students "both technically and musically." Himself an alumni of both NSS and MAYSO (violin!), he also hope to "foster a love of ensemble playing that will last beyond this organization." To do these, he tries to create an rehearsal environment that is focused. Yet, he also wants the process to be enjoyable and fun: "During rehearsals, I try to improve two or three specific things in each piece."

Wamma playing the bells in
MAYSO's 2017 Summer Orchestra

Concerning Mark Wamma's conducting style, he initially described it in one word: minimalistic. He explains that his "role is to get [his] students to the point during rehearsals where they know the music well and could play it even without [him]." He prefers to "stay out of the way" in the final performance as much as possible, with both NSS and YP. Outside of rehearsals, students are expected to practice. They are also encouraged to take difficult sections to their private instructors, as well as to listen to the pieces. There are only so many rehearsals: "we cannot spend much time reviewing in rehearsals." To the incoming and prospective students, he says the following:

It can be intimidating joining an orchestra for the first time. The best advice I can give is to be patient. Give yourself time to adjust to the new environment and make small goals for each rehearsal. If the notes are too fast at first, try to play the first note of every measure or of every group of notes. Then, try for more. Soon you'll find you are able to keep up and be more involved in making music. And don't forget, this is a social activity! Introduce yourself to your stand partner and talk to your section mates. Music is much more fun when you get to play with your friends!

MAYSO is growing, and hopefully there will be many more new faces this season! Shameless plug alert: official audition day is September 9th!