VSO
Sounds of cases opening, fingers pressing down keys and valves and bows along strings fill the auditorium as the Valley Symphony Orchestra gets on stage to begin its performance.
The VSO was established at legacy institution UT Pan American in 1952 when a group of volunteer musicians decided to form it. It showcases the talents of local musicians, as well as international musicians who come to perform with them.
“Its purpose is to serve the community, and to educate and inspire,” said Peter Dabrowski, VSO music director and University Symphony Orchestra conductor. “For many years, it served as a community orchestra combining the talents of the area, such as professors, educators and the most talented students.”
The VSO puts on six concerts every season in its series. In addition to these performances for the public, the VSO performs Children’s Education Concerts to about 10,000 elementary students.
“Some of them, believe it or not, are handicapped, they cannot hear,” Dabrowski said. “So, when I play concerts for them, and I know they cannot hear it, but they can feel the vibrations of the music, these concerts are very special. They make me feel very humble, and I know when musicians share their talent with young audiences, these concerts are building the future.”
Today, over 90 musicians are a part of the VSO with about 50 percent of the members being UTRGV and UTPA alumni, students and faculty, including cello studio and music Professor Tido Janssen as the assistant principal cellist.
“I’ve been a part of the VSO since I moved to the Valley in 2011,” Janssen said. “My favorite part is playing with other people and seeing them on a regular basis.”
Janssen moved to the states from Germany in 1992 for his post-graduate degrees.
“When I moved here, I was asked if I wanted to participate,” he said. “Where I came from, I was always a part of an orchestra, so I was looking forward to being in it.”
UTRGV supports the VSO by providing rehearsal space and a venue for concerts. The relationship is beneficial to both organizations, Dabrowski said.
“It’s a very equally serving situation because I think both UTRGV and VSO help each other for many different purposes,” he said. “If you’re performing with the local orchestra, then you’re advertising the university with the quality of your playing, which resembles the quality of the teaching. The university offers the space for the concerts and the rehearsals and support through professors and talented students participating in it.”
The VSO also has a chorale section that joins the orchestra during some of its performances. David Means, UTRGV director of Chorale Studies, conducts the choir.
“This is my fourth year at both the university and as the conductor of the VSO Chorale,” Means said. “My favorite part is probably the rehearsal process. I enjoy watching people learn music that they don’t know and then get it to the performance stage.”
The VSO Chorale rehearses every Monday on the Edinburg campus and performs two concerts a year alongside the VSO. This year, the chorale did a Christmas performance titled “Touch of Frost” in November, and will perform again March 2 in a concert titled “Brahms with Opera” at the McAllen Performing Arts Center.
“We don’t do the whole concert,” Means said. “We’re only half of the concert.”
The VSO and the VSO-Chorale began the 2016-2017 season performing only at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex. This year, they added the McAllen Performing Arts Center to their list of venues for performances.
“This is my 16th year with the orchestra,” Dabrowski said. “And after 16 years, we now have two acoustically sophisticated concert halls.”
Auditions are held once a year for the next season.
“It’s kind of like an interview process where you pick music that the VSO picks for you, and part of what you pick for yourself,” Janssen said. “Since the level of playing is pretty high, you would have to compete with a lot of highly educated musicians in the Valley, so start early and practice a lot would be my advice.”
Means outlined the process for chorale auditions.
“Well, they would need to contact me, generally by email,” Means said. “Then, we will see what chorale experience they have. It’s not the kind of choir you just show up to because you like to sing. You have to be able to read music well. There is a piece you have to learn and there is some sight-reading.”
For those interested in joining the VSO, auditions for the 2017-2018 season will be held toward the end of August or early September.
For more information, visit www.valleyorchestra.org or call 661-1615. To join the chorale, email Means at david.means@utrgv.edu.
