Symphony of Success: Students Learn from Pros at Summer Orchestra Camp

From the stage of The Syracuse Orchestra, the opening notes of ‘Overlords’ by Sean O’Loughlin filled the room.
 
Mr. O’Loughlin, renowned composer, arranger, and conductor, stood at the elevated platform, directing.
 
As he paused, an orchestra member looked up from his music and raised his hand.
 
“What’s the difference between arranging and composing?” he asked.  
 
Thanks to a new summer camp offering this year, SCSD middle and high school student musicians were invited to partner up with professionals from The Syracuse Orchestra to expand their musical talents. For two hours a day over the course of a week, nearly a dozen SCSD students worked one-on-one and in small groups with professional musicians. They also enjoyed hearing from guest speakers – including Mr. O’Loughlin himself!
 
“I like it when we break into small groups to play,” cellist Nick Tardio, an incoming 5^th grader at Salem Hyde shared. “I like to play with other instruments where we can work at our own pace. This camp taught me how to safely rest my cello, and I also learned more about signs, accents, and how to read music.”
 
“I haven’t played much classical in my music career, so this is all exciting,” bass player and STEAM High School freshman Julien Gardiner said. “I want to build on my classical skills, so I’ve been practicing more at home, too. It’s been awesome working with [The Syracuse Orchestra musician] Spencer one on one. I’m getting to use the music theory skills I’ve learned to develop my artistry.”
 
For Montessori at LeMoyne incoming 5^th grader Reed Genovese, the camp brought an extra special benefit: encouragement from one composer to another.
 
Reed mentioned to Mr. O’Loughlin that he had composed his own music at home. The Conductor was impressed – encouraging Reed to start exploring other instruments so he can expand his piece!
 
“My favorite part about playing is watching myself get better and being able to play songs I enjoy,” he said. “This camp has taught me what happens behind the scenes when they set up an orchestra concert. It’s very cool to learn from professional musicians! I look up to them, and working with them inspires me to keep getting better.”
 
That student excitement is exactly what led SCSD Director of Fine Arts Rory Edwards to create this summer experience in the first place.
 
“Our orchestra program is in its infancy stage more than our band and chorus programs,” Mr. Edwards explained. “So anything we can do like this for our students, so they can bring the excitement back to their schools and help grow their orchestra programs, is great!”