By Mary-Justine Lanyon
The sanctuary at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church proved to be the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon on Sept. 20.
The Arrowhead Arts Association held its annual Fall Festival with Maestro Tomas Golka conducting the Arrowhead Arts Orchestra. But before the professionals took the stage, members of the MountainTop Strings performed, playing several of the pieces they had played on their recent tour in Italy.
Director Sharon Rizzo noted they had held 13 concerts there. “This was a very young group of musicians,” she noted, adding there were three 13-year-olds, two 14-year-olds, five 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old and one 18-year-old.
Strings student James Phillips was chosen to lead the orchestra in “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Following the pieces played by the entire group, James Phillips was featured on “Summer” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and Erin Zhou on the Largo from “Winter.” One audience member observed that James threw himself into the music and Erin visibly felt the music, ending with a smile on her face.
They were then joined by Adam Merrell and the three played “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“I am so proud of them,” Rizzo said, with good reason.
Ken Camarella, the AAA vice president, told the audience that the students “would not be here performing without your help.” He then asked what is the greatest nation in the world. There were cries of “the United States” but he said no, “it’s do-nation!”
This year there are 100 students in the strings program, Camarella said, which began 22 years ago. “We bring the magic of music to our students.” He added that the strings program “changes the lives of these children.”
He then called on James Phillips to conduct the Arrowhead Arts Orchestra in “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Maestro Golka then took the podium and conducted the orchestra in the “Gerryowen Variations,” which he composed in 2018. “You will hear patriotic tunes in it,” he said. “We are playing it to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.”
They then played two pieces from Elmer Bernstein, who Golka called “one of the great film composers: “The Magnificent Seven” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“These are among his greatest scores,” Golka said. “They show how versatile he was.” The first piece Golka described as “quintessential Americana, reminiscent of Aaron Copeland.” The second Golka said draws inspiration from Ravel. “It paints an amazing picture.”
Maestro Tomas Golka conducted the Arrowhead Arts Orchestra in two of his own compositions as well as those by Elmer Bernstein, Tchaikovsky and Leonard Bernstein.
“The Magnificent Seven” opened with a big sound that resounded throughout the church. “To Kill a Mockingbird” was very lyrical.
Maestro Golka then introduced violin soloist YuEun Kim. The first piece she played was Saint-Saens’ “Havanaise.” Golka said it had been very popular in the 80s but is played less often now. It has a very quiet ending; people like “flash” today, he said. “It’s a strong piece with unusual and clever violin techniques.”
Kim’s second piece was Ravel’s “Tzigane” – Gypsy Girl. Ravel was a great orchestrator, Golka said. This piece will give you “an idea of what gypsy music would sound like.”
The Saint-Saens piece was exquisite. Maestro Golka watched Kim play as he conducted the orchestra. Prior to playing the first note of the Ravel, Kim closed her eyes and prepared. Her introductory solo included a pizzicato section, after which she nodded her head. And then suddenly the whole orchestra joined her.
After a brief intermission, the orchestra played “Variations on The Battle Cry of Freedom,” which Golka composed in 2017. In it, he explained, you will hear variations from different countries, representing the diverse nature of the world.
That was followed by Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which includes a tune Golka said the audience would recognize from any love story.
“When you look at a Tchaikovsky score,” he said, “it’s not that interesting. And then you listen to it. Tchaikovsky is my guilty pleasure – my Rocky Road ice cream.” He noted that Tchaikovsky has been called a composer who, without his work, our lives would be sadder.
The Arrowhead Arts Orchestra concluded the program with a modern take on Romeo and Juliet – the Overture to “West Side Story.”
With the last note still reverberating throughout the sanctuary, the audience members leaped as one to their feet, applauding wildly. Many agreed how fortunate we are that these talented professionals come up to Lake Arrowhead and share their music with us. Many could be heard thanking the musicians as they packed up their instruments.
The Arrowhead Arts Association will hold its gala on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5:00 p.m. at the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge. For tickets and more information, visit arrowheadarts.org/upcoming-events.
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