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2001-02 archive
2002-03 school year

Harmony in Branson: String musicians take to the road for National Orchestra Cup
By Becky Shapiro

For the first time in school history, 56 members of the symphony strings will represent Ohio at the National Orchestra Cup contest. This competition, which takes place April 9 to 13 in Branson, Missouri, gives symphony orchestra students an opportunity to bond with each other by spending time together and to compete with other orchestras from across the country, symphony orchestra director John Deliman said.

Because the symphony has performed with consistent "Superior" ratings at Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) contests for the last seven years and obtained the recommendation of several directors and prominent musicians at colleges in Ohio, the National Orchestra Cup board chose the UAHS symphony as its first choice to represent Ohio at the competition, Deliman said.

Junior violinist Nat-alie Carducci said she did not realize the orchestra's was so esteemed.

"I'm surprised so many people suggested our high school," she said. "I didn't know so many people knew how we played or had heard us. It's a nice honor."

Junior Grace Miller said she had no idea the orchestra had accomplished so much.

"I'm impressed," she said. "[The invitation] shows the high caliber of music programs at the high school."

In addition to a competition, the trip to Missouri also included an opportunity for feedback about the orchestra's performance, which is one reason Deliman decided to accept.

"After you've been judged, one of the adjudicators comes up and does a half-hour clinic session with you," he said. The appeal of [the competition] to me was that you actually got a chance to have a workshop and a clinic with the people judging you--they can give you immediate feedback and there's a real learning experience for students."

Carducci said she was looking forward to the trip because many different orchestras will attend. Deliman said the interstate competition will give student musicians a new perspective on the caliber of their ensembles.

"We know we do well in the state of Ohio," he said. "But it's going to be interesting to see how we do against orchestras from other states."

Not only is the trip a competition for students, it includes recreation, Deliman said. Freshman Hilary Marsh said she was looking forward to this off time.

"It will be fun," she said. "We are not just going to play music--we're going to an amusement park."

In order to subsidize the trip, orchestra parents helped organize a Valentine's Day raffle fund raiser for 2003 OSU football tickets and Valentine's dinner and show packages, Deliman said. Students received 80 percent of the money from tickets they sold for their individual trip accounts, which enabled some students to raise all funds, Deliman said. The rest of the profits contributed to overhead and a general trip assistance fund.

Deliman said he was glad the fund raiser earned so much money, because students that may not have been able to pay for the trip can now go.

Deliman said he greatly appreciated parent help and support, and hoped for a successful journey.

"I hope we do well--our whole purpose for going there is to perform and to perform well and to represent our school, and I'm confident with these kids that they're going to represent us well," he said. "We just want to go out and play the best that we can play and see what happens."