The adventure continues—a year of dreams and visions for the future—was the theme established for South Shore Orchestra performance in this, it’s fifth year. SSO is a community-based orchestra where membership is by audition or invitation and whose primary goal is to “orchestrate a musical community” through concerts and musical partnerships across our south shore region. Friday evening’s, December 4th, concert at Ivy Tech Auditorium Theater at 8 PM and their impending Concert Tour of China are two exciting events that add to that goal. 
South Shore Orchestra has been chosen as the 1st American orchestra invited by the Confucius Institute to perform a series of seven (7) New Year’s concerts throughout Eastern China including performances in Zhejiang—Indiana’s sister province—and Beijing from December 26, 2009 – January 5, 2010.
Music for the December 4th concert features He Zhanhao and Chen Gang's The Butterfly Lovers violin concerto performed by artist-in-residence Gregory Maytan, and Michael Schelle’s piano concerto Wright Flight performed by Japanese pianist Miho Sasaki. Also featured will be music by Johann Strauss Jr. with some holiday surprises. Touring with South Shore Orchestra in China will be WFMT Radio's Peter Van De Graaff and his wife Kathleen as guest vocalists.
Professor Jianyun Meng, the director of the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University and his wife Ruiling will be guides for the group who will depart Valparaiso on December 26, landing in Shanghai on the 27th. Seven concerts, several thousand miles and 10 days later, they will return on January 5 having experienced the universal language of music.
Professor Meng was impressed when he first heard SSO at a concert in December 2008. Always looking for collaborative connections in creating more awareness and connections between China and the United States, he recommended them for a cultural exchange using their music as the universal language of understanding. Plans were made by Zhejiang Department of Cultural Exchange to perform music from both cultures. The concerts will be performed in major performance venues—5 in the south and 2 in Beijing. All of the expenses for the group while there, will be provided by the hosts—SSO members are providing their airfare however additional grants by the Confucius Institute helped participants defray some of their cost.
Some input from Saturday’s 4 hour rehearsal at Willowcreek Middle School:
Scott Shafer—piano and percussion—what are you looking forward to most—seeing remarkable, amazing things I have only read about like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
Josh DeVries, an 8th grade Chesterton Middle School student is the youngest musician traveling with the group. The orchestra, in need of one more cellist, heard from a few other members that 14 year old son of Jane DeVries, oboe, was an outstanding musician. Already an active participant in the three year old South Shore Youth Orchestra—which enables children to learn and perform in three separate groups from beginning to advanced—it was an excellent match. Choosing the cello as a 4th grader based on its incredible sound, Josh also really likes math, is an avid swimmer, is working on Eagle Scout and is excited to join his mom and the 71 other musicians in this unique China adventure. There are 7 cellists traveling. Fortunately, the Chinese organization that developed the concert itinerary was able to procure the cellos, a harp and all percussion instruments for SSO to use while there—travel cost for some of those instruments is over $500 and some, as much as $900 each. The cellists and percussionists will bring their bows and sticks—something that Josh responded is a special attachment for a musician—he’s taking two. The one large-scale equipment exception for SSO is the tuba, it must travel—at quite a price! All other members will bring their own instruments.
Sandra Maytan, wife of Gregory, is participating as a flutist for the group—commented that her father who was visiting from Germany who attended a regular SSO rehearsal last week, noted the admirable camaraderie and musicality of the entire group.
Seventeen couples, 5 families with as many as 5 member musicians in one—the Lauer Strings—are among the individuals that comprise the 91-member tour group. The Lauers—Lillie, Dennis and their three grown children Jeanine Ratterman of Lisle, IL, Christian and Ryan perform together regularly as well as in SSO.
The 73 musicians whose careers range from music education, professional business, medical fields and non-profit organizations—their resumes reveal impressive musical training from major universities and well-known musicians and musical experience from youth to current—they consistently state that music is their passion and their reasons for belonging to SSO—to play with a group with such fine talent and abilities, to stretch and learn challenging music, to give back to the community, to provide an affordable music experience to the community, to keep fresh—to grow, to share what I love to do, to mentor their own music students, creating music with others—musicians live in Porter, Lake, LaPorte counties as well as Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
Troy Webdell, Music Director/Conductor/Maestro and founder of SSO teaches in Crown Point. A 1989 graduate of Chesterton High School, Troy is one of the reasons many enjoy belonging to this group. His animated and passionate pledge to the musical experience for all is dynamic—Troy shared his mental image of the current process at Saturday’s rehearsal—preparing for this adventure in all aspects has been a bit like a cotton ball mass with all the loose fibers going in many directions, but as the details are decided, tweaked and transposed, the artists working together, and details evolving, that it is becoming more like a compacted cu-tip! Nicely focused on the task at hand.
Kathleen, clarinet and Pete Brannen led an informative session detailing the specifics of traveling in China—what to bring, what to expect and customary practices. They have traveled several times to China with Windiana, a professional concert band. Kathleen teaches music at Willowcreek Middle School and Pete is an architect who serves as the President of SSO organization. Pete’s organizational skills ably direct the multiple diverse tasks necessary to get this group off the ground—from arranging tickets, room assignments, collecting money, passports and visa applications to overall promoting this unique organization to our regional community.
South Shore Orchestra is indeed a group to behold—a community treasure. Join them, their guest artists, composers and their music Friday at 8 PM as they lead you on an adventure—a global one at that! For more information on SSO, visit www.southshoreorchestra.com.