The Musical Adventures of the South Shore Orchestra

SSO Makes International Headlines

2012-01-04T20:34:00.005-06:00

http://www.qzwb.com/gb/content/2012-01/02/content_3877376.htm

The translation boils down to--a very fine American orchestra! Four choral groups joined the 70 piece orchestra in the singing of two pieces in the second half of their 90 minute program. The program consisted of a blend of American and Chinese music to help carry out the mission of SSO--orchestrating a musical community--by using music to bring our two cultures closer together in awareness and understanding. This chance to travel and perform in six cities, sponsored and hosted by the Confucius Institute and Chinese government is the second China tour SSO has been invited to do. The orchestra was generously welcomed and hosted everywhere they went. Many new friendships and connections were made.

Warm receptions abroad

2012-01-03T08:44:00.003-06:00

South Shore Orchestra is warmly received and graciously regarded as an orchestra of fine quality!

SSO makes front page news in Quanzshou and Xiaoshan

Tour update from Quanzhou

2012-01-02T13:41:00.002-06:00

South Shore Orchestra is almost through their seven concert tour of China performing the universal language of music for Chinese audiences from several regions surrounding Shanghai and also south near Quanzhou.

SSO members sporting their new red scarves.

Their music has been received with great appreciation and they have engaged many warm smiles and gestures of friendship. Each concert has a unique memorable attachment--in Anji a local erhu player joined their performance and the local host/sponsor gave each member of the touring group a red scarf as a token of friendship and celebratory New Years greetings. Since that first performance, the orchestra has proudly worn them every performance as a token of gratitude and a symbol of why they have all come here--to share the universal language of music through each others cultural heritage.

Troy and Natalie larger than life at Yangzhou!

In Yangzhou, north of the Yangtse River, the group was welcomed by a huge wall sized outdoor banner with Maestro Troy Webdell and soprano soloist Natalie Mann hovering over the SSO. The full bodied sound that emerged within this new theatre was quite extraordinary--resultant from collective expertise and collaborative rehearsal focus.

Xiaoshan was the site of their first New Year's celebration--the more vintage concert hall performance was hosted by a mobile phone company for their clients, employees and families--afterwards SSO celebrated with sparkling wine and shared reflections about the amazing opportunity to experience this cultural exchange while doing something they love--making music.

A tunnel of applause greeted us in Quanzhou.

Traveling to Quanzhou by bullet train gave the group a chance to relax after the early morning wake-up call to get to the station on time in Hangzhou. Transporting 93 people in unison to each destination began as a challenge--but lately getting as harmonious as their musical orchestration. They acknowledge a second New Year’s being celebrated by their friends back home--we are 14 hours earlier than NW Indiana. Later, SSO arrives at their venue to a “tunnel of welcoming applause” by the multiple community choirs that will perform two songs with them this evening--it was a sight to behold! Each of the choirs--children's chorus, youthful girls, and men and women's groups were costumed and beautifully dressed to mark this occasion of New Year's celebration.

Day Six: A high speed train ride and a stellar evening with a cast of “thousands”

2012-01-01T16:28:00.000-06:00

We rise reluctantly but obediently, scramble to return keys and load up the bus. We are also treated to a bag breakfast snack--juice, fruit and bun type creations. It’s too early to dispute the offering--it’s our only choice for the moment. We grab it and get into seats for the short ride to the train station in Hangzhou.

We arrive to a pretty congested traffic jam of other destined, departing travelers lumped in the only turnaround in front of the station. We are told to “Move it!” and we do, managing to grab luggage, instruments and each other to move to a less congested area in front of the entryway. Timing is good and we’re instructed to Move it again. This time we begin the task of our very long line of trailing up escalators, scurrying through security and finally getting to our loading line where we each get a ticket for the bullet train to Quanzhou.

We are located in one whole car and an additional half. The bullet train is sleek, and amply appointed with comfortable seats and trays and even a western toilet. (Another note about squatters and westerns later). WE have assigned seats, but it turns out it really doesn’t matter. Luggage and instruments are more the issue. Stashed and stored and everyone loaded in a comfortable seat, we head out to find the landscape lit with the morning sun (haze). Our speed is recorded on a digital monitor with time and upcoming stations. This
bullet has more stops, so speed is negotiated when approaching stations...otherwise think I saw it at 300! But I would go for a confirmation if anyone wants to comment to this!

Some visit, some nap, some play Scrabble and some seek some scenic strolling throughout the cars to see what a state of the art train like this looks like. There is a dining car and a bar car and of course our orchestral car. The train is quite crowded--we were car 14 and 15, and there were more beyond that. At stops, some people get out to survey the scenery from the platform, but are warned...it takes off quickly and stops are very briefly timed. We find this out before we arrive in Quanzhou--we are warned we have only two minutes to get off before the train starts up again. We are given some strategies on which luggage and larger instruments to grab first, who might need assistance with some things and as the train approaches, its like an opening night performance--waiting in the wings ready to enter stage right, stage left or wherever....SSO is ready. As the train stops, its 2:00 PM (we began at 7 AM). Its midnight at home (CST) so a cheer goes up from the standing crowd--HAPPY NEW YEAR--for the second time in 14 hours! PS Not only did we manage to disembark in two minutes. Someone timed us at 63 seconds! Amazing! What can’t they do?

So the line begins again--down an escalator and out to three new buses. Three new drivers, three new types of bus seats to adjust to for the next few days. WE motor to our hotel, noticing the change in greenery, trees, blossoms--this is definitely a milder climate than Shanghai. It feels warmer. Someone notices its around 60.

We scan the busy streets, shops, traffic (congested of course) and see its a busy metropolis. We pull into a huge parking area in front of a large hotel--the Carp City Hotel--complete with carp fountains and a split ascending driveway and impressive staircase. We are escorted to lunch first, bags afterwards. Another meal--sporting some new things--perhaps because of the regional offerings available. Once situated, we plan for the concert departure. This one will be at a community center theater. We are to be joined by a chorus that will perform two pieces with the orchestra, so we head over a bit earlier for some practice time.

We arrive to a large theater in a courtyard of shops. Members begin filing in and we hear something a bit unusual from the back of the line--applause. As we get nearer its louder, more consistent. Then musicians call back over their shoulders and report that we are being applauded as we enter--by large groups of children, teenagers, young people--as we each enter another round. Once in the theater there are more groups standing at attention--all applauding! Now that was quite a reception!

Community choirs perform alongside SSO

It turns out its not just a chorus, its about 250 choristers of all ages that have come together to celebrate the new year with us being the key to the New Year celebration in this city. Dressing for the evening in a variety of regional costumes, individuals want photographs with all participants--Sandy Keiffer was a popular choice--she’s tall and a genuine smile to share. Joanna Truemper too--surrounded by would be peace signing youth. Many of the women chorale group found the support group wives--and wanted images taken with them. After the concert there would be more of the same photo ops with orchestra members being the targets and celebrated. We all feel welcomed before the event even begins.

Maestro Troy Webdell challenges the audience to more
vigorous clapping during the Radetzky March.

The orchestra support group “guests” are seated in a place of honor--two rows of white carved seats in front of the really special guests--local officials and high ranking officers. WE were told to not stand, move or photograph from our vantage point so as not to obstruct the real special guests. It was an amazing vantage point, without digital evidence--only the absolute proof positive of what a fantastic performance! Heart and soul from both performing groups SSO and all of the choral groups. WOW! And who knew there were words to the Radetzky March. The sentimental Yangstse River was stirring and heartfelt by both groups--citizens and newly introduced musicians--all were celebratory as was the entire evening.

It was videotaped by local news and front page news the next day! Reported to be a fine American orchestra. We would eventually report back to our Facebook friends and family members that it was a mighty fine audience and venue as well. We thank Quanzhou for such a reception and welcoming response.

Back to the “ranch” (our hotel) for another terrific dinner! Surprise at the hotel..lots of receptions--New Years is a festive time for weddings to take place and that there were--several in progress.

Added guests that joined our diner were friends of Elizabeth Rexford SSO member--former Oak Park residents and music appreciators who currently reside in China as teachers. They traveled with another couple from their city a few hours away to share in South Shore Orchestra’s adventure.

Day Five: Happy New Year to All--14 hours earlier than you!

2011-12-31T16:22:00.000-06:00

Today’s ride is a bit longer--about four hours--so we head to breakfast with a mission--on the road by 8. The elevators today were a bit challenging--or at least our trying to leave at the same time made it so.

We arrive in Xiaoshan--again a very large city with so much building going on. It’s hard to imagine them all being filled. Many high rise apartments erupting in rows in every direction, sometimes obvious that they are replacing much smaller buildings with rubble as evidence in the surrounding blocks. There are cranes everywhere. There is a lot of highway construction as well.

Our routine continues with hotel lunch, check in, departure time disclosed for the venue and then off to another performance. We venture through the city amid traffic--a few near misses. It is hard to tell where one neighborhood begins and another ends--it is all so big. We see a large structure ahead that appears to be a theater. It takes our buses a bit of maneuvering to get through the maze of porticoed entrances.

Enter stage right! Tonight’s sponsor is a mobile phone company, The theater is not new but it’s quite grand! about 1000 capacity. The hall is filled with families. The “support/family” group waits to be seated in areas that are not filled...not too many tonight. The hall opened at 6:30 and the beautifully appointed lobby was host to lots of conversation. The concert begins at 8 and the last of those lobby chatters, stream into find their ticketed seats. Our group adjusts a few seats that were “held” by those arriving at the last minute. The music begins and its another evening of musical exchange. Intermission hosts two young musicians entertaining the crowd--both quite accomplished--one on piano and the other on a Chinese flute. Both perform remarkably and add evidence to how much appreciation is given to music by this culture.

The concert goes well. There is a continuing stream of local political and mobile phone officials that come onto the stage to meet the soloists, maestro and orchestra. Then its back for a late New Year’s dinner and a toast to the group with a little sparkling wine. And then the announcement--a very early wake up call time! 4:30 call for our bus ride to Hangzhou to get to the train on time. Won’t be too much late night celebration tonight...or will there be? Some of our younger members think the best strategy for the early wake up call is not sleep at all!

While most are turning in for the night, fireworks begin and mark the celebration for the New Year for all of China. China observes only one time zone even though it’s width is much broader than the US. Timing is everything! Fireworks amplified! Imagine a satellite image may reveal a fairly noticeable light show blip from space...fitting for the the culture that invented fireworks!

This New Year’s celebration is just a warm up as the traditional Chinese New Years will be celebrated on January 23 this year. Everyone is treated to a week holiday with two weekends on either end. It is a time for family travel and true celebration! It is the Year of the Dragon!

Day Four: Over the Yangtse River and our next concert

2011-12-30T13:47:00.000-06:00

Today begins early and we are all on the bus by 8 so that we may make the few hour trek northward to Yangzhou. We crossed the Yangtse River to find its breadth amazing--no small tributary, it was bustling with commercial traffic. We arrive to another huge, beautiful and complex city, certainly busy with traffic, commercial centers, sidewalk vendors, and gardened walkways.

Our hotel is a chain. We caravan to the one we thought was it finding out it was further down the road...so we did a turnabout or what our bus leader referred to as bus rodeo and circled our wagons and headed the other way--no small task for three large buses. As noted before this traffic has a mind of its own--cars, trucks, cyclists and any other pedaled mode of transportation with pedestrians added to the mix, so it was quite a feat. When we did it twice, probably not a common accomplishment--although I did refer to our drivers as exceptional!

We are greeted with a lunch that is quite elaborate, then do the key distribution and room check in. Most of our hotels are large but have limited elevators. Take 90 focused bag-toting customers--it takes a while to get everyone where they want or need to be. The violins head for a sectional session while some explore--some found the Jade Market and one found a noted historic garden within a short walk and distance from our hotel. The group is getting adventurous in seeking out what is available in the limited time they have to shop or soak up the culture. The weather has been conducive for walking...it is warmer than it was when we first got here and no rain.

Happy New Year SSO!

The concert hall is quite a distance from our hotel, so its round up the entire gang--groupies and/or family members too--and all go at once--departing at 3:45. We arrive at a brand new concert hall with beautiful grounds and landscaping and even dancing fountains that will be colorfully lit in the evening skyline.

The large red balloon archway that reads Happy New Year is complimented by red banners that float beside it with South Shore Orchestra printed in Chinese characters. As we go through the architecturally sculptured entrance we find familiar faces branding the wall size signage! Troy and Natalie hover like giants over an image of the orchestra. Everyone is impressed and dives for their cameras and a chance to line up for a photo op of this cool welcome--not your everyday back hometown welcome!

Bailey Wantuch, Elizabeth Rexfor and Karen Byrd

The venue is beautiful and as we find out very soon, richly adept to wrap and convey a full bodied and crisp and fresh orchestral sound. Meng and Brannen determine the sound delivery from several points while soloists and musicians test difficult transitions within the space. Our engineer hooks up our taping session, photographers test angles and vantage points and last minute details are dealt with before the orchestra wraps up some short rehearsal notes.

Back in the “green room” the orchestra awaits their formal entrance and the beginning of the concert. Snacks are provided and conversation fills the void before they meet their audience. Meanwhile the “groupie” group do not have seats--we have to wait until we are shown what is available.

The orchestra enters, each with their new red scarf that was a memento from our first kind sponsors in Anji. Their gift now becomes a signature of this New Year’s tour and we will wear them proudly each concert as a symbol of our mission here--exchanging our two cultures through the universal language of music.

A standing ovation and two encores!

Day Three: Arrival in Anji and the first concert!

2011-12-29T20:31:00.000-06:00

Signage welcoming SSO to Anji

We are now in Anji, a bit northeast of Shanghai by a few hours at a beautiful resort town in the heart of a lush bamboo forest, beautiful park and national reserve. Our hotel is new and beautifully landscaped with waterfalls, paths and walkways. Its name--the Anji Athens Palace Hotel--is fitting. We all feel quite fortunate with these accommodations. Our concert will be held here as well tonight so its an easy stroll through the corridors to rehearsal, then back for a 6:30 concert and afterwards, to a celebratory dinner in another part of the complex.
When the buses--we are traveling in three--pulled up we were greeted by signage that welcomed the American symphony south of Chicago. Many lined up to get photographs of themselves with the digital posters in the lobby that announce our performance tonight. An elaborate process of getting and then distributing room keys takes about 10 minutes now after a few days of practice. Our group gets their own luggage, instruments and belongings to the lobby and awaits further instructions--time for lunch, time for rehearsal, and time for the concert.

What's that on my head?

It's overcast and cool today but that did not stop us from taking a short ride over to the park after lunch to have a conducted tour and stroll through the forest, taking photographs and of course do some "panda watching" from an elevated path overlooking their domain. Some even stopped to have an opportunity to pose with a curious and playful monkey and have their photographs taken as well as sitting in a throne like chair with some rather regal but also somewhat intimidating peacock sentries guarding the sitter. The grove of 200 year old bonsai trees mounted on pedestals was impressive as was the dense groupings of trees interwoven with decorative stone paths and bamboo structures.

It is the also the day of our first concert--Loaned/rented instruments--cellos, bass and percussion--have arrived and the\ orchestra will have a few hour rehearsal to prime them for tonight's concert. They are all ready to do what they came here for--perform!

Several take a stroll up the mountain pathway behind our hotel in search of vistas, returning
with reports of pleasant but overcast views.

The concert begins at 6:30 in a hall adjacent to our hotel. People attend as guests of local
companies, one being a large office furniture firm in this district. It is our sponsors whose
employees are invitees as well as local officials. Tonight, even a well known local erhu player
will join us in a piece.

Soloists bid the audience a rousing salute at the conclusion
of the Song of the Yangste River

The room fills, the concertmaster cues the orchestra and then Maestro Troy Webdell enters after his introduction and then bows to the audience with a booming welcome and Happy New Year in Chinese, to which the audience enthusiastically responds with great applause.

Spring Festival Overture, a traditional boisterous and beautiful piece by Chinese composer Li Huanzhi, engages the audience in what will be an evening of entertainment threaded together with music from both cultures. Operatic solos by Natalie Mann, Sean Kroll and Jin Jin are complimented by a striking composition by David De Boer performed by saxophone soloist Stacey Maugans. Adults and children of all ages show their enjoyment with audience participation, clapping along to some of the recognized tunes and lots of smiles and offerings of welcome. A rousing response is returned with the the Song of the Yangtse River, a most notable Chinese and sentimental piece loved by all. Afterwards, many come up to photograph orchestra members or share their English skills affirming their appreciation of the fine performance.

As is the norm now, we dine afterwards, sharing the rewards of the evening--reflection about this intriguing place, its warm and generous people and what’s on our radar for the next day. Our hosts Jinyuan and Ruiling Meng make it a bit more festive by treating us all with a large enough birthday cake for Kathleen Brannen--another of our trip coordinators. A good time was had by all. It was even more celebratory when the Brannen’s luggage finally caught up with them after three days--it seems it took a bit of a detour and went to Emerits.

Day Two: a boat cruise, silk factory tour with shopping in the Shanghai market

2011-12-28T20:24:00.000-06:00

After breakfast, we load the bus with our belongings and are off to a ride through the country and westward to the city of Hangzhou. All are intrigued by the vastness of the city, the multitude of vehicles--both large, small, motorized and/or pedaled that dart in and out of our bus path. Our drivers are exceptional! Skilled and with nerves of steel as they deliver us to our first rest stop and chance to see a bit more rural setting. Some are pleased to find a small coffee shop with some fairly recognizable offerings we have so become accustomed to at home.

Wi-Fi in the lobby!

Back on the road we soon find ourselves inside another metropolis--Hangzhou. The hotel looks great and many are excited to learn there is WiFi in the lobby! Again we practice our fine orchestration of unloading and getting checked into our rooms--process is getting more fine-tuned. Lunch is served--another of our well tuned events of the day--more wonderful and new/unusual food to try and sample. Each day we sit with different members of the group, learning names, connections, instruments, where we are all from and a new shared insight to this amazing journey so far.

Organized and loaded (well most of us at least) and back on the road, we follow a lovely tree lined boulevard towards the promenades and gardens of West Lake. An interested “gardener” in the group asks about the unusual trees that provide the architecturally suggested tunnel we travel through. Meng explains that they are French Sycamores--planted here by the French. The only two places these trees grow successfully are here along the banks of West Lake and in France. They are further distinguished looking by the white lime rings around the base of their trunk to protect them from certain insects.

West Lake Shrine

We are treated to a boat ride around the lake to view the islands, shrines and temples that line the shore. Somewhat hazy, it is observed by one of our group--its like the Chinese paintings--rather ethereal and beautifully suggested in a mist.

At a stop at a silk factory museum, we are given a tour, demonstration of the process from pupae to cocoon to spun silk followed by an opportunity to purchase some designer pillow quilts, spreads/duvets and clothing. A few are going home with some fine silken comfort.

Tonight was our first scheduled concert however due to the venue cancellation in Hangzhou we are given the night off for a bit more sightseeing and shopping. Most travel a short bus ride to the “night market” where experience at bargaining and shopping for the perfect gifts continues. Back at the hotel, everyone agrees they are anticipating the chance to start playing. Its been more than a week since they last rehearsed together and some have never been part of that coming from greater distances. Time to get this show on the road!

The rest of Day 1: A very long day!

2011-12-27T20:09:00.000-06:00

Violas claim their bags upon arrival.

Our arrival at Pudong Airport was the first test of shepherding this large group to their intended destination in a timely and organized way. Pete and Kathy Brannen and Jinyuan and Ruiling Meng are pros at this and manage to get all assigned and loaded into three buses without leaving anyone or anything behind. We have three bus drivers, two guides and some officials from the group who organized all the details for performances here in China assisting the process.

Our first stop will be for dinner--in the heart of the Bund and Old City of Shanghai. We depart the bus and file through a maze of shops and onto the streets where there is a buzz--of stores, vendors, shoppers, traffic and lights. We manage to make our way through the streets, wary of the ongoing cycles and action taking place on the narrow cobbled streets.

Shanghai Old City tour on our way to the restaurant

We arrive at our restaurant which is on the second floor. The elevator opens up onto a spacious marbled dining area with multiple tables of 8-10. The feast begins. For some of the group who have traveled with Confucius Institute before, they know the drill and offer some helpful hints to first timers on the use of dinnerware and the ongoing array of unusual but tasty food that spins on the large lazy susan in the center of the table.

Our host Jinyuan, shares that after dinner, we will take a short walk back to the buses via the shops of the Old City where we will have some time to ponder spending some of our newly secured yuan at the airport ATMs. Many are speculating the exchange of dollars to yuan value to understand how much something really will cost them. All have been introduced to the customary bargaining that can take place. Many try and feel like they have secured their first bargains. Others purchase items that are pleasing to them and will be among their first souvenirs regardless of the understood cost. A short stop to stroll along the waterfront and the array of skyscrapers that detail the horizon of downtown Shanghai--each one being a super structure screen offering a digital light show featuring holiday greetings to waterfalls and fireworks. The colorfully lit up buildings offer an arcade-like festive atmosphere.

Onto our hotel, which is an elaborate process of staging the unloading of all, assembling in the lobby, distribution of keys and settling in for the first long sleep we have had in a day and a half. Yeah! Beds are hard, but no one cares.

Day 1: A chilly flight into the future!

2011-12-27T10:29:00.000-06:00

On the bus to O'Hare from VU.

Day onegets off to a grand start when all are accounted for at the Valparaiso bus andwe set off about 6:15 AM--we will connect with the rest of our group atO'Hare's American International check-in before 8. For those that made this journey two years ago,it was remarkably different--no bus showed up, it was cold and snowy and whenwe finally got to O'Hare by our own devices, it was packed with unreal crowdsand lines due to the previous day's attempt by the "underwearbomber". Security was at an alltime high.

So bycomparison, this morning when all gathered in a designated group check inline--the airlines even knew we were coming and ushered us to a very organizedprocess--the weather balmy and all the rest of group accounted for...it lookedlike it was going to be even a grander entree to this year's tour.

Oncebeyond security, acquaintances were renewed, food was sought, and new friendswere made as the musicians and traveling companions bonded beforeboarding. Deb from Michigan chatted withStacy the saxophone soloist; Randy form Richmond, VA shared his connection toTracy from Michigan and association with the Windiana Brass; and Beth, a school speech pathologist as wellas violinist with the Oak Park Symphony of Chicago, bonded with Mark, recentMaster's graduate who related he was a former student of conductor Troy. Looks like it will be an interesting, fungroup.

Part of our group from Lansing, MI.

Comparedto the last China concert tour where there was a larger percentage of the coreSouth Shore Orchestra group, this time several groups were recruited by a fewkey players. Kamen Vatchev,concertmaster, who has played with many orchestras in NW Indiana andChicagoland area, as well as Tracy Sonneborn of Grand Rapids, brought on about40 collegial and willing participants to fulfill the 70 plus group desired byConfucius Institute. I am beginning torefer to them as I meet these travelers as part of the Kamen or Tracy club. About 45 of this group has made this tripbefore.

So as wecrossed over the North Pole a few hours ago and continue to watch our monitorsflight path inch nearer to Shanghai and anticipate our timely arrival 14 hoursafter departure, we continue to bond, chat and find out what got us on thiscollective collaborative adventure. Alittle trivia: it's a 14 hour flight and there is 14 hours difference in timeand the distance is 7000 miles. Today weflew into the future. When we depart toreturn, we get home when we left. Average temperature outside -70 degrees F.

We look forward to a grand night light tour of Shanghai and getting our show on the road.

Mom Sandy and Beth Andert reclaim bags in Shanghai...bass players pack stools to go!

(Article written by Kirsten Renehan, SSO Publicist.)

South Shore Orchestra departs for China to share the universal language of music

2011-12-26T15:52:00.002-06:00

While many NWI residents are out scouting for the best day after deals, SSO will be on a 6 AM bus to O’hare to depart for Shanghai!

SSO once again will embark on a musical adventure half way around the world on Monday, December 26th when they depart for Shanghai, China and their seven concert tour of four different southeastern provinces south of Shanghai. The seven year old Northwest Indiana community orchestra based in Valparaiso was once again invited by the Confucius Institute of Valparaiso University and Beijing to travel over the New Year's holiday to bring our two cultures closer together through the language of music. The 2009-10 China Adventure was a successful and rewarding experience for all those who participated resulting in many new friendships and enhanced awareness of the culture and now, another opportunity sponsored and hosted by the Confucius Institute and the Chinese government.

Conductor Troy Webdell and the orchestra accepted the invitation in late winter, then began designing a program that enhanced SSO’s 2011 season theme of Global Expressions. The music chosen amplifies and celebrates the universality of music by blending favorites from the traditions of American tales of adventure as well as opera standards and several traditional Chinese compositions. Merged together, it will provide a dynamic evening charged with energized orchestration and a blend of diverse and dedicated musical talent. As on the last tour, audiences will enthusiastically engage the musicians afterwards asking for autographs and wanting to share their English language skills. One member last time described the experience as “rock star” status.

Joining SSO regular members this time are invited musicians from several groups including Lansing, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, Michigan, several Chicago suburbs, and one from Texas--even California and Paris, France make the list. A few will also join SSO in China traveling from Hong Kong and Hangzhou. The cities that host each performance also sponsor and provide the accommodations for the musicians while there, including transportation, lodging, meals and sightseeing. This trip will even include a high speed train ride. The musicians only pay for their airfare. A grant from the Confucius Institute also supports the overall expense.

Webdell’s orchestral design begins with music but also the fine tuning of securing key soloists to expand the musical performance. Soprano Natalie Mann of San Diego will be returning for her 2nd time this season to perform with SSO as featured guest soloist. She was featured in the last concert--a SSO Alan Hohvannes tribute. Her performances are marked by her expressive singing and her vibrant, soaring has performed in Carnegie Hall, with the Chicago Symphony, San Diego Opera and across the country as a recitalist. At an earlier rehearsal at VHS the Saturday after Thanksgiving--there have been only two--Mann’s operatic rendition elicited generous applause from the orchestra after they finished a run through of her piece. Also rising star Seán Kroll a bass-baritone from Chicago, noted for being profoundly emotive and possessing an instrument of unique color and clarity, will join the entourage. He has performed with the Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Santa Barbara, Saint Petersburg Opera, and in New York, Philadelphia and Milan among others.

David DeBoor Canfield of Bloomington, IN will be the featured composer, whose work Concerto After Gliere for Alto Saxophone will be performed by Stacy Maugans of Valparaiso University where she teaches saxophone, music theory, musicianship and performance pedagogy. An active recitalist, adjudicator and lecturer on the history of saxophone in Russia and the former Soviet Union, she also performed as a member of the Texas Wind Symphony.

This SSO tour group consists of 73 musicians and 23 additional travelers comprised of board members with assigned jobs and tasks as well as family members of the musicians. We will share our American spirit, our Indiana community enthusiasm and love of music with new communities and continue our them, Global Expressions.

We hope to keep you informed of our daily adventures through posts to our blog at SSO China Adventure or our website at southshoreorchestra.com and your community news sources.

Rehearsing with Soprano Natalie Mann

2011-12-24T15:28:00.001-06:00

Footage from the final rehearsal

2011-12-23T13:24:00.000-06:00

Make sure to follow the South Shore Orchestra YouTube channel for live updates during the tour!

Rehearsals ready SSO for the music, the trip details and getting to know what to expect

2011-12-20T14:21:00.001-06:00

Two separate rehearsals gathered much of the South Shore Orchestra China II group to ready them for their trip. Getting to know the orchestration and your fellow musicians is an important part of the teamwork it takes to get a project like this off the ground--literally.
Troy Webdell reminded them that a month from this day they would be delivering their first concert. the group departs from O'Hare on Monday December 26 and will return on January 4th. Seven concerts in seven days! Quite a feat!

The first rehearsal was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, enabling some of the traveler musicians to be there. Besides a core group from SSO there are invited guests from Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo MI as well as from several Chicago suburbs, someone from Texas and even California too. It was held at Valparaiso High School which SSO was grateful to have the location to meet over the holiday break.

It began with a lengthy meeting informing them all of the details of passports, visas, travel arrangements, hotel accommodations, currency, food, itinerary details and the like. Pete and Kathleen Brannen who have made several trips--Kathleen as a musician and Pete as SSO Board President--were helpful answering the many questions raised by first time travelers to China. About twenty of this group had gone on the first concert tour two years ago, so they added their two cents too!

Natalie Mann and Sean Kroll, two of the five featured soloists, were there to appoint the music with their operatic splendor as well as master some of the Chinese lyrics. That rehearsal lasted until 6 PM immersing everyone there in the breadth and depth of the music being served up to our audiences half way round the world.

The second rehearsal was held December 17 at Ben Franklin Middle School--this one 9-3 as many of the musicians here that day have further musical engagements in the evening. Busy time for a musician! Some of the attendees were not at the first but made it to this one. Some who were at the first were not here today. A large Michigan contingent came in with the snow--their travel lengthened a bit by the conditions.More questions, more answers, more musical orchestration and refining of the sound. More excitement, more anticipation, more details.

It's about to happen and the group is gearing up! This rehearsal ended at 3....so until 5:30 AM at a VU parking lot and bus ride for some, or meeting at the American terminal by 8ish for others, and even some a half day later in Shanghai--until we will all meet again and begin what becomes SSO CHINA II!

China II Begins!

2011-12-12T18:54:00.001-06:00

South Shore Orchestra departs from Valparaiso on December 26th to begin their second invitational tour of China as guests of the Confucius Institute and the Chinese government. We look forward to posting as much as we can to keep you aware of our journey and include you in some of the fun! Til then....SSO China II

and now there's the final dinner!

2010-01-16T19:05:00.000-06:00

Afterwards, the hall is a buzz of performers greeting audience members, volunteers assisting musicians in getting things wrapped up, and then people moving to our hotel for the final dinner.

This time we must walk! We take off in a direction following a larger group ahead thinking we know where we are going. It's dark and cold and at night we are not quite sure we'll recognize the building, but fairly sure of the direction. We keep walking and walking and finally find our building.

We move to a large dining area to find the tables beautifully set and wonderful food being served and wine being passed. Before long, the music begins and there is a continuous series of young student performers who sing, dance and create a sense of cutural splendor through sound, movement, costumes and musical instruments.

Truly tonight we see the excitement of this entire cultural exchange take place with these enthusiastic youth and the generous hospitality of our sponsors. Our China Adventure is beginning its final curtain call. The party continues on by sharing--our brass section disappears and returns with their instruments and a new exchange begins through some boisterous, jazzy tunes. Everyone is engaged. The evening goes on and on. As people leave, they are smiling, laughing and still exchanging conversations, taking photos and making friends.

Tomorrow there is a final breakfast, then a shopping excursion to the local markets that will be led by many student volunteers. Tomorrow we will begin the long journey home.

A final applause, a final wave, and a fine time was had by all!

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Miho Sasaki, Gregory Maytan, Yan Shengmin, and Jin Jin provided solos

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Kathleen and Peter Van De Graaff added song, humor and a waltz to the program

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Our host presents Pete Brannen with a gift. SSO presents them with Webdells's baton from the previous six performances.

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Our culinary hostesses with the bountiful dessert buffet prepared for the orchestra before the concert

2010-01-16T12:20:00.000-06:00

Red carpet welcomes SSO at a newly debuted university theater

2010-01-16T10:33:00.000-06:00

This new theater has only had three performances before us. It has been a week of celebration on this campus because of the promise of potential entertainment and cultural exchange on its stage. As the bus unloads students begin to assist performers with their instruments as they ascend the many steps to the beautifully lit entrance. In the lobby, gathered student volunteers wave and smile and respond to our greetings with welcomes and happy new year gestures. They snap photos with their phones.

The theater inside is beautiful and bustling with it seems like hundreds of more young adults who wear red vests indicating their status as stage hands, ushers, volunteers, ticket takers, etc. As musicians file down the the tiers of seats towards the stage and their usual pre-concert set ups, seat/stand arrangements, many pause to snap photos of the stage--I think that these musicians have since day one been extremely proud as an organization to be able to present their musical gifts on these impressive stages.

As they move up on the stage, they see others who are formally dressed who will serve as emcees and presenters of bouquets. Then we see another group of smartly uniformed young woman who guide some of us to a reception area down the hall where we see a beautiful array of tempting, gorgeously decorated desserts created by culinary students. This spread is being offered to the orchestra as a pre concert snack. Many of these young woman engage us and tell us where they are from, and even identify which desserts they helped with.

More student volunteers are circling back stage to be of assistance to any or all who may request/require help. They also engage us with their English--they are well versed and articulate and enthusiastic-the energy going on in this place is contagious. We now see from the stage that the theater is beginning to fill up with children, families and university officials. A young man is seated with Michael Schelle, composer of Wright Flight in the front row sharing his excitement about being a musician/composer and his anticipation of what this new venue will mean for all of the students here. He asks me to snap his photo on stage using his camera. His smile is imprinted forever in my mind. He thanks us and moves to his seat.

The theater is now full. The lights go down. The performance begins with introductions and a welcome applause. Then the music emerges with a boisterous blend of harmony and energy. South Shore Orchestra, their guest artists, guest composer, attached family and groupie fans then experience the final concert-maybe its best-in a hall filled with yet another new welcoming group of cultural partners who will forever own the experience of two unique cultures shared through music.

A new day! One of our last in China and maybe the best experience yet!

2010-01-15T22:12:00.000-06:00

We rise early. We are all refreshed from sleep, shopping, trekking and more. And it's a new day of travel to our last venue, hotel stay and then we will begin our journey home. We are comfortable with our newly adopted traveling family, making jokes and conversations that entail our travails but also our new recognitions of who we are in our own individual lives, jobs and communities. We are also realizing the powerful energies that have ensued with this trip/adventure. We all have grown, adapted, changed, and trouble-shot from day one. We have bus/food/performance/facility/stories in common and we are enjoying the commraderie of survival in general of this lengthy sojourn. It is an amazing thing to play together as an orchestral community, but to also live, breathe, care about the day to day of each other is another bonus to the depth of this experience. We assemble and motor on to the next venue. It is even getting easy to leave a hotel-no last minute charges, key calls or roll call. We are all on the bus and ready to go. Happy. Cheerful. Punchy? If so, it is from all the positive energy flowing from this new family group and the impending departure for home.

We have a new member on our bus. Her name is Sharon. She is from the University where we will perform. Her English is impeccable. She gives some insight to our next stop and what is up for the next two days. We arrive on campus and check into the Guest House-a state of the art hotel on the campus of North China Electric Power University. It is about noon. and we are given a choice--go to lunch and hang out on campus or off to the Great Wall. Most choose the Wall! and why not? Why did we come here? When will we be back? One problem--the snows of the day before have closed the main highway--it is still closed with clogged traffic, transport, trucks, cars, etc. so we go the local highway.

All uphill, through small towns and clogged traffic too. We get to the summit of our vista-one of the older segments of this world wonder--I am in awe of the mountains that transverse behind the Great Wall--to me the mountains look like wall enough! But to the wisdom of China and the ancient invaders from the north at that time, the wall persists/exists and is preserved and maintained at least at this point, today for all to appreciate.

At this stop because of the snow, we are cautioned to how high we should go and to where we should refrain from. The younger group goes higher and in both directions. The more wise just go where they are directed-one direction and to only to two levels. It is snowy but having learned how to negotiate the treacherous surfaces of the Forbidden City, we look for safe footing and stop to take in the vistas as we go. The wind is biting, it's terribly cold but the sun is brilliant and the sky, blue as can be. This will be a short visit as there is still lunch on the agenda and getting to back to our performance on time! But going down will not be easy.

The highway is still not open and we are fighting with cars wanting to go up to the wall who are trying to pass busses and trucks going uphill. All this on a two lane road makes for frustration for the driver. At one point, Professor Meng gets out and tries to redirect that traffic to get out of our way--a seemingly impossible task. But with the persistence and skill of our bus driver, we soon make our way to more open road. We applaud and cheer his skill.

We finally get to our lunch destination. It is a cloisine factory. So eating and shopping all at once. We are treated to the how tos and what about of cloisine artistry and its history on entrance where we can watch the artists at work. We feast then shop. We find all sorts of possibilities to shop-jewelry, ornaments, vases, plates, boxes-and are all efficiently served and directed to a cashier. This stop including the dining experience is efficient and satisfying.

Back to campus. Then on to the performance. We bus to the venue. Red carpets line the walkway up the stairs. It seems that the wetness of melting snow is a major problem on slick surfaces. So the solution into the entrance of the hotel were sheets stretched out to absorb the melting snow. On these outdoor stairways, it seems to be absorbent red hall carpets that afford a better tread. So into the newly opened, debuted performance space--the jewel of this campus-we are welcomed by red carpet too! And on entrance it is clear we are being ushered, invited, escorted and befriended by many university volunteers. Later we find out from our host that over 3,000 students volunteered to assist in our transition to making this a memorable stay.

The day continues with Peking Duck and the Beijing Opera

2010-01-15T21:17:00.000-06:00

We are glad we have survived the trek--we made it to the end without losing anyone to a fall but we wait a bit for a few who seem to have gone in search of a bus (kind of like a mirage sighting) on the other side of the highway--our maestro included!. Finally we identify the group (not hard to miss now because of the newly purchased furred flap/panda hats and scarves they have unceremoniously wrapped themselves in just to keep from freezing) from across the street. We flag them back and then we trek a bit further to where our real bus awaits.

So next stop Peking Duck! We go to a well known restaurant (actually not far from our hotel) that seats us (many of us make for the large room heaters in the corner away from the door, knowing we will get the warmth first) and then it starts. Dish after dish of sumptuous samplings and finally the Peking Duck is presented. It is then ceremoniously carved and served as another dish! It was fantastic! (Remember those air-dried ducks I photographed back in the tea villages near Hangzhou?--That's part of the lengthy prep for Peking Duck!)

Eighteen hardy souls who began the day with shopping, then trekking, then eating, now board the final bus to go to the Beijing Opera. Kudos to them as they started the day early and end it late. The opera trip lasts almost another 4 hours. (I didn't go, but heard the next day from those who did-the story-line/plot and details of the performance.) The most impressive part of the performance observed by SSO members were the traditional instruments used to accompany the story--being kind and generous pays off in the end when the original benevolence is repaid to the one who first bestowed the kindness by the one who originally was given the kindness. It was very long as was that description.

Quite a free day! Again, it is the adventure of being in a place that many of us have only dreamed of going to and don't know if we will ever return.

Some history with awe and serious survival strategies.

2010-01-15T06:26:00.000-06:00

More than 30 of us are dropped off over a mile from our destination--busses cannot park anywhere near Tiananmen Square.

We are forewarned we will have to walk almost three miles. We leave our parcels and a few who are concerned about the lengthy trek behind in our warm bus and we begin the trudge (afterall, I don't think many of us thought we'd be back anytime soon!) Most of us were thinking then we were warmly layered, covered, and would weather the walk--I don't think I have ever been as cold or wet!

The Meng's give us historical details, while we attempt to take this stunning frozen architectural beauty in. The surfaces of stone, marble and wood are all slippery and snow packed. We realize it's better to plant our feet in the snow, rather than the slush, otherwise it is slip and slide and often grab for a hand to hang on to while negotiating the slippery surface. Stairs prove to be the scariest as we inch down as one massive group--the group seems to block some of the wind--but it's the hands held out for assistance that seem to be the lifeline we all experience. We have weathered much sine we began this adventure--here's one more to share and tell our loved ones when we return!

FREE DAY some recoup, while others shop, slush, slip, slide and survive a 2.5 mile trudge through the Forbidden City!

2010-01-15T05:52:00.000-06:00

We wake to find the city blanketed in snow. We hear that this is unusual and later I find out on NPR after our return that there had not been this much snow since 1951.

We go to breakfast and find that more of our group is suffering from what we think is the food episode and are down for the day to sleep and recover.

But then for many, its back on a bus to experience one of the largest indoor markets and the rigors of retail, and negotiating rates we will pay for our desired "parting" gifts we will take home for souvenirs and gifts. ( I personally didn't get much holiday shopping done before our adventure began, so I am in search of some special gifts).

We arrive and are told what entrance to report back to at 1:15 sharp. As soon as we enter it's a mass of vendors who view us as a group of green and eager shoppers. Working our way through the aisles soon separates the group as we take it all in while being bombarded by serious sales people-- it is evident it will be difficult to "window" shop. If you look, it is almost a certain intent you will buy. The Brannen's and the Meng's had given us some tips for possible purchasing strategies, but some had already been immersed into the mode at some of our earlier stays and stops in Zhejiang--they forge ahead with the fervor of those marathon shopping sprees contestants win-- I used to wonder if given the op, what would you go for first?

We have a little over 2 hours to surf, shop, and sample 4 floors of merchandise, all at available at a price you can negotiate. Some figure out that as you go up another floor, so does the price and the prize. Fourth floor-pearls, jewels anyone?

It proves to be a successful added venture as members make there way back to the bus with bags and bags of new found treasures--some are even wearing new boots having ditched skimpier shoes--what a great idea! Can we go back for more? NO. Onto the Forbidden City!

Beijing Grand Theater

2010-01-14T21:27:00.000-06:00

photos by Leonard Hanline and Cindy Hall

Beijing-a remarkable city

2010-01-14T19:29:00.000-06:00

Arriving early to the airport in Hangzhou, managed to get us off to Beijing on two separate

flights--each arrived within five minutes of each other. The flight was approximately an hour

and a half. Reassembling our group took a bit of orchestration requiring now three busses and an equipment truck. What had been routine bus assignments and roll call for our first seven days, got reorganized quickly as we were told-get on any bus and let's get going! We notice our baggage gets stuffed in an unorganized way, making it necessary to load some on the bus too.

Our lengthy trip into the city revealed the massive size of this metropolis of 20 million plus. We observe more traditional traffic patterns-super highways and congestion-less mopeds, cycles and pedaled vehicles. It is certainly a metropolis. The buildings are grand--metal, glass, some spiraled, or geometrically designed and all super-sized. Each intersection looks like the grandest of cities.

We arrive at our hotel which is a compound of apartment like buildings that are connected by landscaped walkways, a few restaurants and nearby shopping. It doesn't take long for our group to determine the famous Beijing Zoo with its pandas are almost next door and just about as far in the other direction, is a McDonalds. Some of our younger participants are rallied by the proximity of familiar western fare while those of us who were enamored with Ling Ling in the days of Nixon are more impassioned by the proximity of pandas! The afternoon offers a tiny bit of time to wind down after our lunch spread-some do go in search of pandas, but then it's off to The Beijing Grand Theater for set up, rehearsal and another evening of cultural exchange with the citizens of Beijing. Tonight there will be special city officials in attendance and we are told it is sold out, requiring the non-performers to have to purchase their tickets- a first.

The theater is grand. It's decorated in lush red upholstery, beautiful light wood, exquisite lighting and each seat has a small heat vent beneath it. On entrance it seems quite cold while we check out the balconies and vantage points for photos--we almost always don't remove our coats until we have to--but heat slowly emerges from those individual vents and the vast theater warms up almost instantly in time for the audience to assemble. It is colder here in Beijing much like Chicago weather--and they seem to know the secret of managing large performance space heating.

Security is high and we are reminded we cannot have access to most of the theater--only where we are told we can go. Our sound guys are told they can't hook up their equipment to record and it takes awhile as well as an "SSO group hat pass" to collect enough yuan for them to allow us to tap into their recording equipment. It cost us but the results are a premium feed of the orchestra's artistry, a plus for the recording we will make of the best of the China Tour performances when we get home for a memento for each performer as well as fundraising opportunities.

We are all settled in and the performance begins. Each time us non-performers--fans/roadies/spouses/children/friends/whomever we are-- hear the familiar beginnings of the performance, we are instantly treated to the majesty of what happens in each new space making each presentation new, exciting and unique. The sound that emerges towards our loftier perch this evening is spectacular. It unfolds. The piano is the finest--a premier grand Bosendorfer-Miho and Scheele are in awe as are we as we hear the mystery of flight unfold in the artistry of Wright Flight. The Butterfly Concerto flutters and dances throughout the tiers of awed and impressed listeners. Bugler's Holiday is stunning and all is well-until we see something a bit unusual. We see one performer is not performing and after that piece ends, they leave discreetly and a chair and music stand gets a bit shuffled. After another piece is performed two performers leave discreetly between numbers and another chair or two gets slightly moved. In all, five performers don't make it through to the end, but SSO still sounds amazing, they get a standing ovation, kids are dancing in the aisles and the audience give high fives and waves while SSO waves back!

A now standard and familiar exchange of performers with audience members engaging in conversation, autographs and token gifts proceed. We make new friends and we think they are happy to have been part of our musical gifts.

We then find out as we assemble to get on the bus that more are hit with a bug-we later find out tied to a food we had been served a day or so earlier. In all, a third or more of the group is grateful for a second night in our only two-nighter stay. Most sleep in and recoup ready to go to the final concert on Monday. Many of us continue on to another adventure on our free day that seems to go on and on and on. More about marathon market shopping, the Forbidden City, record snow, record cold, Peking Duck and Beijing Opera in the next post!

Jiaxang Grand Theater

2010-01-07T13:04:00.000-06:00

Photos by Kirsten Renehan
Exotic flowers in front of and around the stage were fragrant and artfully arranged making this one of the more memorable venues.

Day Six-on to Jiaxing through Hangzhou and West Lake

2010-01-07T12:06:00.000-06:00

Hangzhou traffic needs not stop as massive bridge walkways allow pedestrians to cross highways. The winding roads through the scenic tea villages outside of Hangzhou are a great contrast.

Jiaxing will be our last concert in Zhejiang province before we fly to Beijing tomorrow morning. We spend the morning traveling towards Jiaxing with brief stops outside of Hangzhou where we find the hillsides lush with tea shrubs. Each of the tea villages along this road, harvest and process their own. We stop at one of the more well known purveyors for an explanation of the process, then it's off to West Lake, a beautiful scenic recreation area where we take a quick stroll with some opportune shopping. The weather is warm, balmy and sun is going strong. The area is quite crowded as this weekend is a national holiday. We stop for lunch at a very large restaurant. While we are finishing this feast, there is a cheerful countdown and at 2 PM we chime in Happy New Year to all of our friends and family back home!

Then it's back on the bus and off to Jiaxing. Our time gets quite tight and no sooner than we check in to a very modern hotel, we are transported to the performance venue. This one is quite modern as is the whole area. It is a site for many sports arenas and the sky is lit with impressive displays.

The concert venue is very impressive from the outside as well as the inside. This evening's performance is ticketed and each attendee receives a pink rose.

Our evening ends and we settle in as there is a 4 AM wake up call with a 4:45 departure for the Hangzhou airport. The drive will take us almost 2 hours. Our group splits into two as there are not enough seats on one. We reconvene in Beijing on three busses and off to the next venue--Beijing Concert Hall.

More from Shaoxing--Josh DeVries, Tom Reed, Stan Shepard and Troy Webdell

2010-01-07T07:39:00.000-06:00

Song of the Yangtse always strikes a chord with the audience eliciting clapping and patriotic participation.

Afterwards, the audience comes up to meet and talk with performers. Performers brought small tokens of friendship to share--pencils, bookmarks, SSO website cards. Josh DeVries chats with a middle school teacher who drove over an hour to come to this performance. They exchange emails, so his class can share with her class. Often performers are asked for their autograph and/or a photo taken with them.

Tom Reed and Stan Shepard pose with fans as Troy autographs and visits with admiring new friends.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! from Shaoxing

2010-01-07T05:41:00.000-06:00

When we drove into Shaoxing, we saw brightly colored red lanterns strung throughout the streets, and in and out of stores announcing good luck into the new year. Chinese New Year is actually February 14th this year, but it seems they are also taking part in a global new year festive mood as well. We even hear a few fireworks early in the evening. As we walk through town, we are offered smiles and Happy New Year greetings-we are easily spotted.

On arriving at the theater, prompt set up of section chairs begins, music placement and then a short rehearsal warms everyone up (and since the second performance where everyone froze, a comparison to theater warmth is also gauged and rated!) Sound checks by section members from different areas in the theater ensure even sound delivery. Section tuning ensues, creating a melodious melange of orchestral sounds merged together into an intriguing chaotic chorus. They are all engaged, busy and set to begin-but first a note from Director Troy Webdell with any lineup or movement changes. It is this preparation for performance, I find really exciting. Individuals fine tuning and collaborating to create a unified and cohesive expression of the music they offer to their public.

Nick DiLorenzo and Duane Abbot have travelled with us from Ohio ( their wives, Erin and Linda are playing), to record each of the concerts. While the above activity is taking place, they find an appropriate place to record from and get busy setting that up. A CD will be compiled and made available to each SSO member as a memento of this China Adventure as well as to the public for sharing/fundraising when we return.

It is almost stage time now--last minute refreshment and mingling, awaiting to be called on stage. As they enter, and the audience applauds, it is on to another performance--number 4!

Day five-on to Shaoxing

2010-01-06T11:43:00.000-06:00

Later start to Shaoxing and earlier arrival to our hotel makes this a special day! Even more acclimation to the rigorous schedule with a bit of free time.

We observe a variety of landscape changes on the way. Certainly, we see a change in housing. Much more dense, higher rises, and more variety in architectural styling—it is clear that western architecture has an influence on recent development. Some styles exemplify more traditional, then others, quite modern. All of these modern structures are topped with solar panels and surrounded by managed gardens, and greenhouses demonstrating that ownership, high rise or not, still connects residents to their land—using it as a valuable resource for food and energy. In comparison multi-story buildings further south, not only were there gardens, but main floor entrances suggest that extended families resided on upper floors and had a business on the main floor. Anywhere there was water, we observed people washing clothes and/or fishing. Most buildings in smaller towns or larger urban areas, we see clothes and blankets airing and/or drying out—it is uncommon to have washers and dryers. Marco shared that in this more sub-tropic region it is even uncommon to have central heat.

As we enter the city, we spot the Shaoxing Grand Theater. It is styled in the shape of a typical local boat--only upside down. Shaoxing is known as Water Town. We see its broad rivers, canals and bridges. As we cruise by, Jen Ziegler exclaimed "look, there's a poster of Troy!" Sure enough, a large image of our maestro proclaims the SSO performance to all who pass by. Another reinforced perk to boost our presence to our next public.

Our drivers skillfully navigate our two busses into a very narrow passageway at the entrance to Shaoxing Hotel. Once luggage is retrieved by their owners and tootled (a possible new word for the sound that a hundred bags on wheels makes as it moves forth!) up the stairs to the lobby, keys are distributed (another routine) and then everyone is off to check out accommodations, internet access, degree of softness in this new bed (most are fairly firm!) But before everyone can really do their own thing—we meet for lunch. This meal seems to bring the most positive reaction so far. Afterwards some are off to check out shops, some in search of more western food, and most certainly some on the way to a Starbucks down the street. A few go in search of local wine for tonight's New Year's toast.

Day Three and Four-from Ningbo to Dinghai in Zhousahn, China

2010-01-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

Tonight we are in Dinghai, a bustling jurisdiction in Zhousahn, the sole city of the Archipelago Islands. We are just south of the mouth of the Yangtze River. Our trip here this morning from Ningbo was by way of the newly opened connective Seagate Bridge that connects a series of the major islands in over 30 miles of state of the art bridge passage. Opened on Christmas Day, our project manager Marco speculated we might possibly be the first Americans to cross this bridge.

We boarded a ferry to visit Mount Putuo—an impressive Buddha shrine which rises over the sea. The beautiful grounds and statuary offer contemplative beauty and opportunity for meditation and insight to the world. The undertones of chanted sounds enhance the mood for the trek uphill to the vista that is dominated by the towering gold Buddha. The scores of visitors demonstrate it is a place that is of special importance. We then reversed our direction, sailed back, boarding our two busses to take us to our hotel in Dinghai to convene for lunch. The next meal would be late after the concert and a time to reflect about its delivery and sound and celebration with local hosts.

So mornings are becoming the time for “saddling up” and moving on, with some sightseeing on the way and often a bit of shopping on the side. But the lunch feast is the real beginning to be the start of a busy preparation for the evening performance. The array and savory variety of Chinese cuisine is always anticipated and enjoyed. Time is set for assembly, roll call and getting to the venue for a specific rehearsal of the evening music lineup. By concert three, it is a bit less rehearsal time, although each concert is fine tuned to ensure the delivery of the best experience for the next audience. Sometimes there are revisions to the program at the request of the hosts. Sometimes the director makes changes based on program lineup and better flow. There are two basic programs.

By now the orchestra has had three contiguous performances enabling them to gel and truly orchestrate the music. The SSO groupies—families and support staff—agree that they are hearing the magic of not only the orchestra’s progression but also critiquing the venue—shell or not, acoustic enhancements, etc. Professor Meng enthusiastically complimented the group after last night’s presentation in Ningbo, that they are no longer a community orchestra but an orchestral community.

SSO member’s commitment to music as a universal language continues to make this cultural bridge even more important and part of the mission of this musical adventure supported by the Confucius Institute and Chinese government. They are leaving enthusiastic fans wherever they go.

But tonight there is a new twist. We walked the short distance to the Zhousahn Grand Theater to be welcomed by a large banner announcing our concert. Quite impressive, it boasts SSO as the featured star for the evening. Members rush to have their photo snapped with this pronouncement. What we find on entrance is a beautifully appointed space with a capacity of 800. Last night at the state of the art Nignbo Opera House, it was filled with an enthusiastic audience of 2000. The acoustics in Ningbo were as grand as the space but more than drafty and cold for the performers. Shivering and bowing did not mix! Tonight we will see what new strategies are necessary.

Each of our concerts is being sponsored by the local municipal government, which then determines how tickets will be distributed and/or sold. Or as in Ningbo, it was sponsored by the State Grid Corporation of China and Zhejiang Ningbo Electric Power Bureau who then made it available to their employees and families. Yuhuan government and the Director of Cultural Affairs brought SSO to offer their smaller town (500,000 people) a cultural experience through music.

Next stop Shaoxing and New Year’s Eve for us! Morning wake up—8:30! That is quite a change from our previous two early morning calls to action. We all are beginning to adapt to the 14-hour difference in time. Departure at 10:30 allows some shopping and walking but then onto the next venue in Shaoxing.

Day Two-Tiantai to Yuhuan

2010-01-05T23:38:00.000-06:00

The Tiantai Hotel is a beautiful compound nestled into the mountainside situated next to an historic 5^th century Zen Buddhist temple. It was a scenic and inspiring way to introduce us to this new environment and historic culture. The brisk, but sunny temperature awakened us to experience the intricate design of historic architectural patterns, contemplative pathways and pools, and the workings and scents and sounds of monastery life. We spy the infamous pomelo (a huge citrus fruit from this region) prominently displayed as an honorable offering within a few of the shrines.

Then it was off to Yuhuan, a smaller seaside town located at the end of a peninsula, about two hours away, where SSO will perform their first concert.

We travel in two large busses with 46 people in each. Gathering everyone, loading baggage, doing roll call becomes routine as does early wake up calls, large breakfasts and an outline for the day to come.

The traffic is eye opening as we observe trucks, cars, pedi-cabs, mopeds, bikes and pedestrians all vying for their own direction in “suggested” traffic lanes. The contrast of huge transports and pedaled carts filled with wares or recycling products is a testament to nerve. Throw in a few pedestrians and then a lot of determined cars, we can only guess what it will be like to navigate on our own when we walk anywhere. Our bus drivers are pretty extraordinary and serve us well throughout our trip delivering us safely, intact and on time.

As we drive into Yuhuan, which seems huge, Marco our production manager, explains that it is a small town for China—about 500,000! We start to see people observing our busses making their way through town. Marco explains that this region does not receive many western visitors. We start to see them wave. A welcome and take-note that we will continue to see as we seem to be a bit of a novelty wherever we go.

As this is the first performance, there is a need for SSO to unload, dress formally, then depart promptly for the venue and a diligent 2 hour rehearsal. Seven cellos, three basses, all the percussion instruments and a harp await those who are using those provided by our Chinese hosts—another part of the adventure, especially when you are quite attached to your own. Non-performers stay behind to figure out currency exchange and the lay of the land. Ruiling Meng answers our questions and cautions us about the traffic!

The theater capacity at 1080 was filled. This performance was sponsored by the local municipal government who has decided to bring more cultural opportunity to this town. The original venue in Taizhou was cancelled due to no heat and no piano. The programs are impressive as are the tickets. The audience is welcoming and responsive. They come up during intermission and afterwards for autographs and a chance to have their photo taken with the performers. This performance was televised and Troy Webdell and town officials were interviewed afterwards.

The evening ends with a large dinner at the hotel also hosted by the mayor and his guests. They toast SSO and ask “will you come back?”

An explanation for our delayed blog entries

2010-01-05T23:21:00.000-06:00

We think of always being globally connected through the internet, phone messaging and other communication tools. We thought it would be easy to blog too, but encountered difficulty connecting from China on a regular basis. We never could access the blog entry capability. So just a bit tardy (we actually just landed this evening at 4:30), we will update you to the who, what, when, and where of our amazing adventure.

Day One--from Valpo to Tiantai

2010-01-05T23:16:00.000-06:00

When their adventure began with a little creative problem solving for South Shore Orchestra’s China tour—they proved once again not only are they talented but quite resourceful in troubleshooting too. When busses did not arrive to transport them to O’Hare from a VU parking lot at 5:30 AM as planned, they pooled their cars and drivers, and luggage space to ensure all arrived in time for check-in, security clearance and boarding—in time.

Long lines looked discouraging, however it moved quickly enough. We shared our website with a few new “in-line friends” inviting them to travel with us on-line! Once boarded, instruments stored, only snowy weather delayed departure for another hour or so. We took off shortly before noon. Flight time is estimated at 14 hours, Shanghai reported at 39 degrees.

Once commuting stories were shared, meal served, a short winter’s nap was suggested by downed shades. But then there was a lot of visiting too. Kathryn Brtko shared that she is excited to embark on this travel performance opportunity. As an employee of the BP refinery, we speculated our plane fuel came from their direct pipeline to O’Hare. Kathryn plays the oboe and is also part of anther chamber group. She remarked her 5 years with SSO is enhanced by the fact that this group continually gives back to the community—beautiful music given from the heart, but this time from a little further away.

At 6 PM our time we began to realize that we were not even halfway to our destination. Several people were up and about visiting, stretching their legs and calculating arrival times. A few string members—Rachel Lanigan and Monica Shafer moved together to go over bowing for a newly added piece from West Side Story. Trombonists Scott Cohen, instructor at Ferris State University and Daniel Zeigner, band director at Boone Grove High School compared notes about transporting large brass instruments. Paul Henderson, trumpet player and a technology director for a school district in Michigan (who barely made it on the plane with minutes to spare) recounted his tale of discovering after check-in he had lost his wallet. At 9:20 he dashed back to his car—in the outermost lot—and with the help of a generous shuttle bus driver who took him to the lot where he had parked found it had dropped onto the pavement when he got out. Wallet intact and retrieved, it took him more than 20 minutes to get back and through security. He walked on the plane at 9:27!

About 7 PM a richly hued jewel tone sunset was observed out of the left windows. John Perry, percussion, Isabel O’Connell. cello and Don Parker, bass watched it disappear and emerge into a soft pastel, brighter light and at about 8:20 PM Chicago time, over the horizon a burst of brilliant sunshine announced sunrise. Don observed that 8:20 PM our actual time would be 10:20 AM Shanghai time and what was just observed crossing the North Pole was sunset to sunrise simultaneously. Remarkable.

Flight arrived at 4:01 PM Shanghai time. We departed by 5:30 on two awaiting buses bound for our first hotel stay in Tiantai—estimated drive 4 hours. The weather is chilling and it looks like there is moisture and visibility is poor. As we approached the longest bridge in the world that spans about 50 miles over the sea, we encountered blocked traffic. We sat for two hours, then finally navigated very slowly through what we witnessed was a massive pile up of 30 or more cars and transports that had spun out of control at the highest elevation due to ice. We arrived in Tiantai at our first stop—twenty-five hours had past since we first gathered to begin this China adventure.

The Language of Music

2009-12-22T15:03:00.000-06:00

Butterfly Lovers Rehearsal

2009-12-21T17:29:00.000-06:00

Butterfly Lovers, Rehearsal 12-19

2009-12-21T16:08:00.000-06:00

Confucius Institute to lead orchestra in China tour

2009-12-21T16:00:00.001-06:00

Confucius Institute to lead orchestra in China tour
written by Valparaiso University (Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications)
Posted using ShareThis

Ready Set Go!

2009-12-21T00:01:00.000-06:00

Members of South Shore Orchestra rehearsed at Willowcreek Middle School on Friday evening 12-18 and Saturday afternoon 12-19 to fine tune the program pieces they will orchestrate in China beginning 12-28. Five concerts will be performed in Zhejiang province at major performance venues. Then a flight to Beijing will result in two more from there. The group will perform seven concerts in ten days.

Seventy three musicians from Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Michigan will help bridge two cultures through the language of music. Special pieces include The Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese concerto for violin composed by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang and will feature Dr. Gregory Maytan, professor of Music at Valparaiso University on his Stefano Scarampella viiolin from 1896.

Composer in Residence, Michael Schelle, affiliated with Butler University, will also travel with the group featuring his work Wright Flight, a piece commissioned by the Dayton Symphony to commemorate the Wright legacy to the invention of flight. Miho Sasaki, guest artist from Indianapolis, will perform the expressive piano voice to this major piece.

Vocalists Peter and Kathleen Van De Graff and two vocalists from China will also add to the added highlights to the music presented.

The SSO group, established only five years ago, began as a small chamber group, interested in providing an educational and professional venue to perform and hopefully build and orchestrate a musical community in Northwest Indiana. The group initially made up of music educators, soon grew to add members from a broad range of careers and vocations--business, medical and more--the breadth and depth of their experience, training and love for music brings this group to over 100 members today. They love to make music, and are dedicated to giving back to the community, a rich and an expressive musical experience.

If you have not been to one of their performances before, we hope you will enjoy this interactive journey--your fellow Northwest Indiana residents making a global connection though the language of music to a world away--or at least a day ahead. We hopefully can connect you to the people, the culture, the art and the love for creating music as well as introducing you to what we are experiencing. Please connect with us through comments on our blog--this is an exciting adventure! And when we get back--make sure you keep connected. Music is truly a wonderful way to learn about the world and SSO would love to share it with you!

The Music

2009-12-13T14:20:00.000-06:00

The Butterfly Lovers is a concerto for the violin based on the story of the love of a young man and young girl. Drawn from Shaoxing opera tunes, it's three sections recount the characteristics of their story--love, protest, and transfiguration--the lovers emerging from death as butterflies.

Gregory Maytan's violin performance was eloquent, engaging the audience within it's depth while solos featuring the flute, harp and oboe added complimentary narrative elements.

The invitation

2009-12-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

South Shore Orchestra has been chosen as the 1st American orchestra invited by the Confucius Institute to perform a series of seven New Year’s concerts throughout Eastern China including performances in Zhejiang—Indiana’s sister province—and Beijing from December 26, 2009 – January 5, 2010.

Professor Jianyun Meng, the director of the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University and his wife Ruiling will be guides for the group. 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.

SSO invited to perform in China

2009-11-16T17:13:00.000-06:00

South Shore Orchestra Pre China Tour Concert

Friday, December 4, 2009

Ivy Tech Auditorium