This past Saturday, NYOJ presented a big concert in collaboration with the Spanish embassy. The embassy flew in a wonderful Spanish conductor, Hugo Carrio, for a week of intense rehearsals with the orchestra. Hugo has spent the last six years conducting ensembles and teaching in El Sistema in Venezuela. As a teacher, it was a wonderful opportunity to see an original Sistema faculty at work. Our students responded to him with energy and excitement as you can see in this short clip from the performance:
The concert was a resounding success, with many different ensembles, from percussion groups to string quartets, showing off their progress. This article in The Gleaner describes the concert and mentions a little bit about my work arranging Jamaican folk songs for the orchestra.
The concert was a resounding success, with many different ensembles, from percussion groups to string quartets, showing off their progress. This article in The Gleaner describes the concert and mentions a little bit about my work arranging Jamaican folk songs for the orchestra.
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| Post-concert group picture |
It was so moving to hear my arrangements of the two folk songs, Hold 'Em Joe and Wata Come a Mi Yeye, played with such feeling and commitment. I was especially touched when I saw several old Jamaican ladies in the back singing along and swaying to the music.
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