The sound of clarinets and flutes, violins and violas could
be heard from the Bishop O’Connell High School auditorium in
Arlington Oct. 31, as more than 80 students prepared for the
first Diocesan Honors Music Festival. While there are a
number of honors festivals in the area, this festival was the
first of its kind for the Diocese at the high school level.
The idea for the event came about during a routine staff
development meeting at Paul VI Catholic High School in
Fairfax last March, according to Bishop O’Connell Music
Director Ronald Isaacson.
“We said, let’s do something diocesan-wide for all the high
schools,” he said.
In September, students from O’Connell, Paul VI, Bishop Ireton
High School in Alexandria, Saint John Paul the Great Catholic
High School, and Gonzaga College High School in Washington
auditioned for three musical ensembles, an honors band,
chorus and string orchestra. Those who made the final cut
came together for three days to learn the performance pieces
with students they had never met before and with special
guest conductors Anthony J. Maiello, Michael Ehrlich and Gene
Pohl.
The honors band opened the festival with a performance of
“Rise of the Firebird” by Steven Reineke. Ireton French horn
player Anna Eleuterio enjoyed playing in the honors band and
was encouraged by Maiello.
“He just wants to share his love of music,” said Eleuterio.
The band was followed by the honors chorus, which presented
its own set of challenges to the singers.
“In chorus, you get used to how everyone’s voice sounds, but
with this it was sometimes hard to keep up with the whole
group,” said Vasili Varfis.
The final group to perform was the honors string orchestra,
directed by Gene Pohl. The group started things off with a
Hungarian dance by Johannaes Brahms and concluded with two
South American tangos by A.G Villoldo and M. Rodriguez. The
lively conclusion to the event was met with an enthusiastic
round of applause from both the audience and fellow
musicians.
“I believe one of the biggest benefits of Diocesan Music
Festival is the lines of communication that have been
fostered among the diocesan music teachers,” said Isaacson.
“We talked about sharing our music libraries with each other,
we collaborated on instrumental and directing techniques,
lessons that we all benefit from.”
Isaacson hopes that the success of the festival will
encourage the students to find more opportunities to play in
ensembles. He also looks forward to future collaborations
between his fellow diocesan music teachers.
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The sound of clarinets and flutes, violins and violas could
be heard from the Bishop O’Connell High School auditorium in
Arlington Oct. 31, as more than 80 students prepared for the
first Diocesan Honors Music Festival. While there are a
number of honors festivals in the area, this festival was the
first of its kind for the Diocese at the high school level.
The idea for the event came about during a routine staff
development meeting at Paul VI Catholic High School in
Fairfax last March, according to Bishop O’Connell Music
Director Ronald Isaacson.
“We said, let’s do something diocesan-wide for all the high
schools,” he said.
In September, students from O’Connell, Paul VI, Bishop Ireton
High School in Alexandria, Saint John Paul the Great Catholic
High School, and Gonzaga College High School in Washington
auditioned for three musical ensembles, an honors band,
chorus and string orchestra. Those who made the final cut
came together for three days to learn the performance pieces
with students they had never met before and with special
guest conductors Anthony J. Maiello, Michael Ehrlich and Gene
Pohl.
The honors band opened the festival with a performance of
“Rise of the Firebird” by Steven Reineke. Ireton French horn
player Anna Eleuterio enjoyed playing in the honors band and
was encouraged by Maiello.
“He just wants to share his love of music,” said Eleuterio.
The band was followed by the honors chorus, which presented
its own set of challenges to the singers.
“In chorus, you get used to how everyone’s voice sounds, but
with this it was sometimes hard to keep up with the whole
group,” said Vasili Varfis.
The final group to perform was the honors string orchestra,
directed by Gene Pohl. The group started things off with a
Hungarian dance by Johannaes Brahms and concluded with two
South American tangos by A.G Villoldo and M. Rodriguez. The
lively conclusion to the event was met with an enthusiastic
round of applause from both the audience and fellow
musicians.
“I believe one of the biggest benefits of Diocesan Music
Festival is the lines of communication that have been
fostered among the diocesan music teachers,” said Isaacson.
“We talked about sharing our music libraries with each other,
we collaborated on instrumental and directing techniques,
lessons that we all benefit from.”
Isaacson hopes that the success of the festival will
encourage the students to find more opportunities to play in
ensembles. He also looks forward to future collaborations
between his fellow diocesan music teachers.
