The Music Center at Strathmore presents an evening of “firsts” in a concert that not only represents the culmination of a year’s work for the Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra, but also delivers the world premier of a new composition performed by the children in collaboration with the New York-based chamber ensemble Classical Jam.
Strathmore contracted Classical Jam, whose members include Jennifer Choi on violin, Cyrus Beroukhim on viola, cellist Wendy Law, Marco Granados on flute and percussionist Justin Hines, for a five-day residency running May 19 to Sunday. The purpose of the residency has been to foster development for contemporary classical music through newly written works while fostering arts education through a series of collaborations among musicians, audiences and composers.
If you go
Maryland Classical Youth Concert Spring Evening Concert, featuring Classical Jam
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Info: $8 to $15; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
A teaching artist at the New York Philharmonic and a solo cello performer, Classical Jam founder Law formed the ensemble as a reaction to audience perception of her art. “I got tired of people telling me that classical music is dying,” she said. I wanted to create a group of people who are young, hip and energetic and have newer visions of what we can do to create a closer connection to classical music.”
The group members, all with extensive teaching experience, present workshops engaging students (in this case, a portion of the 400-member Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra) in the art of creating that connection among musician, composer and audience.
In tonight’s conclusion of the five-day residency, Classical Jam will take part in a portion of MCYO’s Spring Evening Concert, as the group perform with the children in a newly commissioned work by composer Payton MacDonald titled Concerto for Quintet, Orchestra and Audience.
“The audience is always involved somehow,” Law said even as she refused to spoil the concerto’s surprise ending.
“Contemporary classical music can be very difficult for people to access,” said Georgina Javor, Strathmore’s programming manager. “By bringing the audience into the creative process, it gives them the opportunity to understand music in a completely different way. By working with a young composer, it engages the children to think, ‘Oh, I can play and I can compose.’ ”
The full program presented by the MCYO includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 performed by the Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Pablo Saelzer and Respighi’s “The Fountains of Rome” performed by the Philharmonic with David Levin conducting.
