Classical music, as an art form, has traditionally influenced developing musicians. But, it’s easy to believe that young people today are less interested in Classical and more interested in contemporary genres such as alternative rock or pop music, due to the over-exposure of these types of music in the media.
Craig Ouellette, a senior music education student at USM, wants to sway musicians to develop a love for the challenge that classical music provides a musician. He wants listeners to delight in the soft or loud music that lilts and dances in one’s eardrums. Ouellette has been playing classical music for a long time, but only began to really enjoy and appreciate it his sophomore year of college at USM.
“From watching many of the faculty here in the music department, I became inspired in the classical genre,” says Ouellette. “Through their teachings and performances I learned about a deeper meaning of Classical music.”
Craig Ouellette started a new venture to include performers of all ages into a new orchestra called the Southern Maine Chamber Orchestra in mid February of this year.
The SMCO is comprised of 35 members, including USM students and community members, who share a commitment to classical music performance. Not only does Oulette direct SMCO but he is also an assistant conductor for the Maine Youth Orchestra of Yarmouth, Maine.
“I wanted to start this ensemble so that I could include the community in some of our student activities,” says Ouellette. “I also wanted more opportunities to perform and conduct as a young musician, while preparing myself for grad school.”
The Southern Maine Chamber Orchestra will have their debut performance at Corthell Hall on USM’s Gorham campus at 7:30 p.m. on Monday May 4. Admission is free and open to the public.
The orchestra will be playing Franz Shubert’s “Unfinished Symphony”; and Leonore, the overture to Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio.” The Orchestra will also feature two soloists: senior Sophie Flood will perform Mozart’s “Horn Concerto No. 1” and graduate student Maria Wagner will play the Clarinet solo in “Adagio for Clarinet and Strings” by Robert Wagner and Heinrich Baermann.
In the future, Craig Ouellette plans to take on the challenge of performing and conducting Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” a powerhouse concert event that consists of over one hundred singers and a full orchestra.
With more concert dates ahead the USM community should celebrate this student-run revival of classical music.