Young musicians have two valuable ensemble opportunities for the development of musicianship skills in Butte and Shasta counties. The Shasta College Concert Orchestra and the Butte MTAC Youth Orchestra provide supportive and technically rigorous learning environments where students learn collaboration and responsibility while practicing music in rehearsal for upcoming concerts. Weekly rehearsals build friendships and foster healthy working relationships. Shasta College music director Dr. Jeff Specht observes, “Above all, music ensembles end up being like a big family that once you’re a part of the it, you’re part of the family forever.”
Butte Music Teachers Association (MTAC) Youth Orchestra
20 years ago, Yoshie Muratani was invited to conduct the Butte MTAC Youth Orchestra. It was a match made in heaven as Yoshie’s love is ensemble and she enjoys teaching youth. Growing up playing piano and cello, in choir as a child and living with her mother who was a singer, Yoshie remembers, “there was always music in the house.” She fondly remembers playing in ensembles with friends, saying, “that’s what music is about.”
Democratic orchestra
Yoshie enjoys making the repertoire of music open to the students to select. Each semester she polls the students to vote for their choice of film music to be performed during the concerts.
If you love listening to or making music, join Yoshie and her youth orchestra for “the joy of making music with others, making harmony.”
String students start between 5 and 8 years old. Wind and brass are high school students. Yoshie accommodates students where they are and is supportive of their development. Text Yoshie (530)774-7013 to schedule an audition.
Spring semester rehearsal schedule
Weekly rehearsals occur every Thursday, 6-8pm with staggered times for intermediate and advanced students so the advanced students have time to support and rehearse with the intermediate students. Rehearsals are held at Bidwell Presbyterian Church in Chico.
This year’s orchestra consists of 35 students, attending spring and fall semesters.
Spring concert schedule
Dream Big Festival at Oroville State Theater to support local music organizations. Saturday, March 8-9.
End of Year Concert at Bidwell Presbyterian Church. Monday, May 19
Tuition
Advanced: $230 by check, $237.18 with credit card
Intermediate: $210 by check, $216.58 with credit card
Shasta College Concert Orchestra/Shasta Youth Symphony Orchestra
If you’re looking for the Shasta Youth Symphony Orchestra, you’ve found it by its proper name: Shasta College Concert Orchestra, part of a larger orchestra program at Shasta College consisting of three ensembles.
Chasing Goosebumps!
Music professor Dr. Specht, a professionally trained conductor, equips his students with training in musicianship and ensemble development skills to prepare them to play in an orchestra and perform their technical and musical parts well.
Dr. Specht shares his joy of making music. “We have a saying in the ensembles that we are chasing goosebumps! We all have had those experiences where we have heard beautiful music and it gives us goosebumps and we could live in that ‘beautiful’ moment forever. That is what I’ve been chasing my whole career.”
Currently, the youngest student in the orchestra is 11. The other two ensembles have musicians running the gamut from young students to musicians in their 80s.
To join any of the ensembles (the Shasta Symphony, the Concert Orchestra, the Beginning Strings or the Symphonic Band) contact Dr. Jeff Specht at jspecht@shastacollege.edu.
Rehearsal schedule
Rehearsals follow the college academic calendar with rehearsals beginning mid-August. The Shasta College Concert Orchestra is two ensembles in one:
The Concert Orchestra (all the ensemble students) rehearses every Wednesday, 4-5:30pm.
The Chamber Strings, consisting of advanced students learning more advanced literature, rehearses every Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm.
Concert schedule
Concerts are scheduled according to the academic calendar, with concerts in November or December and in April or May.
Auditions
Auditions are required each year to assess skill level. Due to the advanced skill level of the material, students are expected to be intermediate or advanced and able to play comfortably in third position at a minimum on their instruments.
Posted in: Art & Music
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