Orchestra students packed up and headed to the front range this week for a tour culminating in a performance at the Colorado Music Educators Association’s (CMEA) annual conference.
CMEA hosts a state-wide conference for music students and teachers. The conference features workshops for budding educators in vocal and instrumental music to help them develop skills for the classroom. It also allows schools of all levels a chance to display their musical talents.
“CMEA is a wonderful networking opportunity for students, as well as showing off their hard work over the last four months,” said junior cello performance student Nykyta Shulick.
But the motivations for students as far as this trip go further than simply networking. Senior violin performance student Thyme Fortin explains that for her, these performances mean more than just representing the university.
“I was recently in a bad car accident where I broke my collarbone and humerus. I’ve had to work very hard on my recovery journey just to play the violin again. As a result, this trip means a lot to me […] [It] provides me with the opportunity to play for high school students and inspire a passion for music through the passion that I can emote with my instrument.”
Though the tour certainly offers an opportunity to demonstrate the group’s passion and dedication, it also serves as a reminder of the strides the strings program has made throughout the years.
“My first orchestra rehearsal I conducted, we had six students. And now we have around 35 students, so that’s the growth over the eight years since I’ve been here,” said CMU orchestra director Professor Brian Krinke.
Along the way to CMEA, the orchestra will play at a Denver area high school as well as at the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. Faculty member Dr. Jason Pegis joins the group as a cello soloist in a tango piece the group is performing.
“We’re doing music of several different styles […] We have a 45 minute program to showcase […] everything we can […] the challenges that I felt like our orchestra could do well […] [and] showcase one of our performing faculty,” said Krinke.
As the tour comes to an end, exciting developments will unfold for the orchestra.
“When we get back from CMEA, that’s when we will start, for the first time since I’ve been here […] meeting with the full symphony orchestra [every week].”
The orchestra played a sendoff performance before leaving for their tour on Jan. 26 at the Asteria Theatre. Their next performance includes the full symphony orchestra and is scheduled for May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
