VOLUME 28, NUMBER 3
January 2015
“Musical ‘Tails’ Remixed”
Inside this
issue:
Maestro’s
Notes
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Meet the
Musicians
4
Board Member Profile
5
Symphony
Ball
5
Did You
Know?
6
Mark your
Calendar!
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Saturday, January 24 · 7:30 p.m.
Julie Rogers Theatre
We are excited to
begin 2015 with a story
time set to music for the
next concert in our Classics Series. “Musical
‘Tails’ Remixed” features a traditional
presentation of Johannes
Brahms’ Symphony No.
4 and is juxtaposed with
a unique, visually transcended performance of
Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and
the Wolf.”
This season, we have
challenged ourselves to include a “twist” in each of the
Classics Series concerts
where we add something new
or unique. For “Musical
‘Tails’ Remixed” that twist is
the innovative performance of
“Peter and the Wolf.”
“Boys like Peter are not
afraid of wolves!” Prokofiev’s timeless musical tale of
boy vs. wolf comes roaring to
life with the SOST and a vaudeville-inspired performance
by actor Michael Boudewyns
from theater ensemble Really
Inventive Stuff. The orchestra portrays each character
with different instruments -flutes flutter like a bird, clarinets stalk like a cat, and horns
glare like a big hungry wolf.
Boudewyns has been presenting playful storytelling
with orchestras across the
country since 2004. Combining the traditions of vaudeville and classic theatre with a
generous sprinkling of childlike enthusiasm, he creates
skillful and unique performances for all ages, while
keeping the music in the spotlight. Hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “immensely
like-able” and “using simplicity as a form of genius,” this
performance is guaranteed to
engage and inspire imaginations of all ages.
We bring the traditional performance of a classic back in with Johannes
Brahms’ Symphony No.
4. Brahms’ final essay in
the symphonic form, this
piece is a culmination of
beauty, lyricism and
form. “All pieces to me
tell a certain story,” said
Maestro Chelsea Tipton, II.
“You can really hear that story from Brahms in this piece.”
The concert begins with
the Russian classic overture,
“Overture to Russlan and
Ludmilla,” by Mikhail Glinka
with its exclamatory, vigorous
themes and popping bass
lines. Maestro Tipton’s incredible selection of music
will make this concert most
memorable.
To purchase tickets or get
more information, go to
www.sost.org or call (409)
892-2257.
Mr. Boudewyns’ appearance made possible in
part by Baptist Hospitals of
Southeast Texas.
Meet Michael Boudewyns
Michael Boudewyns is the performer and producer of “Peter and
the Wolf” and the co-creator of the
theatre ensemble Really Inventive
Stuff. We wanted everyone to get to
know him a little better before we
experience his performance at our
Jan. 24 concert.
What kind of theatre or musical performances did you attend as
a child?
I have many memories of theatre
and music: I grew up in Des Moines,
Iowa. When I was very young, during the summer, my family would go
to the state capitol to listen to outdoor
concerts of John Philip Sousa
marches. In kindergarten, I recall
Mrs. Thompson taking our class to
see the sixth grade students perform
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie
Brown.” I loved it. I was inspired by
the fun, the enthusiasm and the music.
In the early 70’s, in elementary
school, I sang in choir and played
trumpet in band. My fourth grade
teacher, Mrs. MacIntyre, did theatre
games, readers theatre, puppet shows
and spontaneous in-class performances of books. Mrs. McIntyre was a
great teacher. I still fondly think
about her classes.
What inspired or lead you to
create Really Inventive Stuff?
In 2004, Really Inventive Stuff
was co-created with my wife, Sara
Valentine. We’re both classically
trained actors (Shakespeare, Chekhov,
Shaw, Wilder) and have chosen to
apply our passion for classic stories
to great music for families. We approach each orchestra project as a
piece of theatre. Sara and I collaborate on the overall conception, while
Sara designs all the props and then
she directs the staging as if it were a
play.
In 2005, we were invited to create a performance of “Peter and the
Wolf” for an orchestra in New Jersey.
We drew upon storytelling that inspired us, and discovered that our
theatrical style was a great fit with
orchestras. After our success with
“Peter and the Wolf” we began partnering with more orchestras and exploring other compositions that we
could tell with a theatrical twist such
as “The Story of Babar,” “Tubby the
Tuba,” “The Toy Symphony,” the
“Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony,” and Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs
and Ham.”
In 2007, our performance with
the Philadelphia Orchestra was reviewed as “simplicity as a form of
genius.” We’re honored by such a
compliment. We believe simplicity is
a key to great storytelling. It asks the
performer and the audience to take
the kernel of an idea, and from the
collective imagination, create the
world of the story.
What made you want to add a
visual and theatre component to
these classic orchestra performances?
We feel that it’s the perfect way
to highlight the composer’s music
intention. Great compositions inherently contains drama and conflict and
every great composition for young
audiences is built around a story so
using a touch of playfulness and theatricality can be a useful bridge for
kids to embrace orchestral music.
I hope my performance of “Peter
and the Wolf” allows kids to discover
a timeless musical story they’ll love
for a lifetime, while adults can rediscover a composition they thought
they knew, and families all leave
with a new shared memory.
What do you hope the audience
gains from a visually translated
performance vs. strictly instrumental performance?
Really Inventive Stuff endeavors
to create performances that are, first
and foremost, playful. We love storytelling that is surprising and delightful. Our goal is to inspire and engage
the audience’s imagination while being in the presence of fantastic orchestral music. In the end we want
audiences to have had such a fantastic and memorable time with the orchestra that it may inspire kids to
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learn to play an instrument or take
music classes, while making attending live music a regular part of their
daily lives; not just for special occasions.
How do you work with or rehearse with the orchestra to prepare for a performance?
Most of my preparation and rehearsal is accomplished before I meet
an orchestra. I spend hours studying
the score, reviewing the music, rehearsing my blocking and reciting
my lines — orchestras typically only
hav one rehearsal and most of the
time, as it should, is dedicated to the
musicians and the conductor — so I
arrive prepared, like a jazz musician
without preconceptions for tempos
and dynamics, to partner with the
conductor. Every orchestra has a
unique sound, and each conductor
unveils a new facet of “Peter and the
Wolf” and the other compositions in
our repertoire.
I love how each orchestra I perform with reflects its city and community; whether it’s Saint Louis,
Philadelphia, or Singapore, each
town claims a group of musicians as
their “hometown team.” It’s a thrill
that for the brief time I’m guest artist,
I get to be part of the place I’m visiting. Music is a necessary and much
needed part of a community. Music is
for everyone; it’s a vital part of humanity. I’m honored to be able to use
my talents as actor and storyteller to
help introduce classic compositions
and musical stories to young audiences.
Maestro’s
Notes
We are so excited to kick off 2015
with a concert featuring two masterpieces that approach music from
completely different perspectives.
Much of the music we perform is
symphonic music and is not done with
text or narration. On this program, we
will be featuring Sergei Prokofiev’s
“Peter and the Wolf.” This is one of
my favorite pieces, but we wanted to
present it with a “twist.” Several years
ago I heard about this company called
“Really Inventive Stuff,” which is
dedicated to imaginative, playful, entertaining storytelling. So joining us
onstage from “Really Inventive Stuff”
will be Michael Boudewyns to share
the story of “Peter and the Wolf” in a
way you have never seen before. The
audience, both young and old, is going to love it!
Also on the program is Johannes
Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. It was the
last of Brahms’ symphonies and the
most mature. This symphony is full of
passion, all the wonderful ideals of
the Baroque, Classical and Romantic
period. He was a musicologist who
tipped his hat to the past of Palestrina
and Bach while at the same time looking forward to where music composition could go. It is an amazing piece
of music that we are happy to share
with the community.
Hope to see everyone there and
what a great way to begin 2015!
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk
Arrive early to the concert on Jan. 24 for a
pre-concert talk with Maestro Tipton and special guests.
Made possible by a gift from Dr. & Mrs. Russ Schultz.
The British Came …
to our Oct. 25 concert
Principal Clarinetist Ronald White
captivated the audience with a
beautiful performance of Mozart’s
“Clarinet Concerto.”
And we all enjoyed sharing the joy of “Home for the Holidays” on Dec. 7
The angelic voices of the First United
Methodist Church and Calder Baptist
Church choirs, as well as the Golden Triangle Handbell Ensemble joined the orchestra for the joyous performance.
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Meet the Musicians
Roma Newton, Viola
$18, and that included its pasteboard
case and steel bow. Making music
with an instrument of such poor quality is quite a task for a beginner, but I
wanted to play so much, I made it
sing!
Q: What instrument(s) do you play?
A: Violin and Viola. Through college, I also played Oboe.
Q: When and how did you get
started in music?
A: My first music lessons were in a
beginning string class taught in a
Beaumont Independent School District elementary school. I began playing on an instrument that had been
ordered from Sears and Roebuck for
Q: When did you begin playing
with the SOST?
A: I began playing violin with the
Beaumont Symphony, the original
title of The Symphony of Southeast
Texas, at the age of 16. A few years
ago, I acquired a viola, and began
playing that instrument with the
Symphony.
Q: Educational background?
A: Bachelors and Masters in Music
Education, Lamar, McNeese, SMU
Q: Who has been your greatest
influence in music?
A: Edna Brooks of both the Beaumont Independent School District
and Lamar Music Faculties, and Arnold Whedbee of the Beaumont Independent School District Music Faculty
Q: What is your “day job?”
A: I manage a music service, Violini
di ROMA. Our musicians are available to play for ceremonies and receptions in the area. I am retired from
teaching for the State of Texas,
where through the years I taught instrumental music, art and English.
Q: Hobbies or activities outside of
SOST?
A: Cartoon drawing, crewel embroidery creations, early European history, choral singing, mini Dachshunds,
container gardening, wood carvingsculpture, bread baking, computer
technology
Amanda Wilton, Viola
Q: What instrument(s) do you
play?
A: Viola
Q: When and how did you get
started in music?
A: I started playing the violin in the
public school orchestra in 6th grade
and switched to viola just before my
Master’s degree.
Q: When did you begin playing
with the SOST?
A: 2013
Q: Educational background?
A: I have a Bachelor of Music in
violin performance, from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Master of
Music in viola performance from the
University of Maryland, Postgraduate Diploma from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barce-
lona, Spain, and very soon will have
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in
viola from the University of Houston.
Q: Who has been your greatest
influence in music?
A: My teachers, especially the Arianna String Quartet in St. Louis,
Cuarteto Casals in Barcelona, and
Wayne Brooks of the Houston Symphony.
Q: What is your “day job?”
A: Music is my day job. In addition
to playing with the SOST I play with
various groups in Houston and also
with the Brazos Valley Symphony in
College Station. I also teach many
talented young violists after school
in Houston, at summer camp in
Michigan, and at Lone Star College
in Tomball.
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Q: Hobbies or activities outside of
SOST?
A: Walking, hiking, biking, tennis,
and reading.
Q: Favorite music?
A: Mostly music from the 19th and
early 20th century, Mendelssohn,
Berlioz, Brahms, Wagner, Rachmaninoff, and York Bowen (my dissertation topic!).
Board Member Profile
Tim Sudela
How long have you been a board
member of the SOST?
I joined the board in the 2011-2012
season.
hand bells at St. Anne church in Beaumont.
What is your profession?
I am the current President of American
Valve & Hydrant.
How did you become a board member?
I was asked by Joe Domino to serve on
the board.
Other community involvement?
Board member of: Greater Beaumont
Chamber of Commerce, Spindletop
What do you enjoy about serving on
Center, United Way of Beaumont and
the board?
North Jefferson County, Better BusiAs is typical with other service opporness Bureau, Rotary Club of Beautunities, I enjoy meeting new people
mont, LIT Foundation. Current Chair
tend to "look forward" to the Pops
and learning new things. I have
of the Lamar University Mechanical
learned that the SOST has a very dedi- Concerts the most. However, I enjoy Engineering Advisory Committee, a
cated board, and I was unaware of the the variety of the performances that are member of the Southeast Texas Plant
presented throughout the season.
wonderful support provided by the
Managers Forum, Catechist in the ReSymphony League of Beaumont.
ligious Education program at St. Anne
Do you or did you ever play a musi- Catholic Church.
What has been your favorite SOST cal instrument?
My mother insisted that each of my
concert?
Hobbies?
siblings take piano lessons while we
I like anything with a B! It is hard to
Photography, home improvement,
select one concert as my favorite, but I were growing up. I currently play the stained glass
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Beaumont Civic Center
6:30—11:30 p.m.
Help us celebrate the Symphony League Belles, Junior Escorts
and their families at the Symphony Ball. The Symphony Ball is
the grandest event of the season for our league.
Proceeds from the Ball directly support the SOST musicians.
Reservations: Mrs. Philip Drago 409.749.9623
or [email protected]
The Symphony of Southeast Texas extends its deepest gratitude to the members of The
Symphony League of Beaumont for the many activities they do to support our orchestra!
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fun facts about concert production
The lighting of the stage that you
see at the Julie Rogers Theatre has
been carefully designed and installed.
It is important that all areas of the
stage are well-lit so that the musicians
can be seen by the audience and that
the musicians can easily see their sheet
music and the conductor.
Directly over the stage, there are
five lighting fixtures permanently
mounted in each section of the shell
ceiling for a total of 20 lights. The
spacing, wattage, and lumens were
specifically designed for the stage at
the Julie Rogers Theatre. Additional
lighting is required to cover the
front part of the stage and the “pit”
area. These areas are lit by 10-15
lighting instruments hung in the ceiling
from a steel rail that spans the width of
the auditorium, technically referred to
as “the front-of-house cove.” All of the
lights used must be individually focused by stage technicians before each
concert. The intensity, or brightness,
of every light can be controlled, and
this is done by using a computerized
lighting control console. This console
is located in the “front-of-house control booth” and must be operated by a
trained lighting technician for all performances.
@TheSOST
www.facebook.com/TheSOST
Upcoming Events
Date, time
Event
Location
Jan. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Pre-concert talk
Julie Rogers Theatre
765 Pearl Street
Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Classics Series Concert
“Musical ‘Tails’ Remixed”
Youth Education Concerts
Julie Rogers Theatre
Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Symphony Ball — “Symphony in Silver”
Beaumont Civic Center
Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Pops Concert
“SOST Goes to the Movies”
Julie Rogers Theatre
Jan. 27 & 28
9 & 10:30 a.m.
Julie Rogers Theatre
If your schedule prevents you from attending a concert, PLEASE consider releasing
your tickets prior to the day of the concert by calling the Symphony office at
(409) 892-2257.
The Symphony of Southeast Texas
4345 Phelan Blvd, Suite 105 • Beaumont, TX 77707
(409) 892-2257 • www.sost.org • [email protected]
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