Chinook Winds present “Story Time” Concerts
Concert Details:
2PM Sun Nov 12 First Congregational Church UCC, 2900 9th Ave S
7PM Tue Nov 14 Chapel, University of Providence, 1301 20th St S
The Story Time concerts are a culmination of the Chinook Winds’ second collaborative program of the 2017-2018 Chamber Music Series, the first being the September Fall Flavors program where the ensemble worked with local food vendors and a restaurant to bring audiences a combined dining and musical experience. In Story Time, the Chinook Winds’ collaborative partners are students from Sasha Moore’s fifth grade class at Valley View Elementary School. Students listened to recordings of Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, a multi-movement work based on fairy tales, without knowing what was being played and created stories and artwork depicting the students’ interpretations of the music. “I haven’t ever done anything like this. I really thought it was fun”, said one of the fifth graders, Keira.
Selected stories from Ms. Moore’s class will be read aloud by students and local story-teller Tiffany Waldren will share dramatic readings of the “original” fairy tales from Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade at the Story Time concerts on November 12 and 14. Additionally, all of the students’ artwork will be projected for the audience to view and enjoy during the performance of the Ravel.
Other works to be performed include Leonard Bernstein’s exuberant Overture to Candide, Luciano Berio’s innovative Opus Number Zoo, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Arabian-themed Scheherazade, and a special, musical arrangement by Chinook Winds flutist, Norman Gonzales.
Ms. Moore’s fifth grade students also found the Story Time project to be a new and interesting way to experience writing and music. “I liked it”, says one of the students, Kale. “I never really liked writing, but writing it to a song made it so much better.” Students wrote on a range of imaginative themes, from familiar and close to home to the extraordinary and magical. “I enjoyed writing because I love dogs and that is what I saw when I listened to the music”, said one of the student writers, Janica.
According to Chinook Winds member, Norman Gonzales, “Collaboration and relevance are important values for any arts organization. With our Story Time concerts, we wanted to include some of our younger community members because having them share their personal and creative interpretations is a reminder that everyone experiences music differently.” Gonzales says with a smile, “Art, in all its many forms, can be powerful, thought-provoking and fun so why not invite as many people in our community to experience it with us?”
The Great Falls Symphony’s resident wind quintet, the Chinook Winds, perform their Story Time concerts at 2PM on Sunday, November 12, at First Congregational Church UCC and 7PM on Tuesday, November 14, at the chapel at the University of Providence. Single admission is $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Season passes are available for purchase for $75.00 for adults and $25.00 for students. Season passes are punch cards which grant seven admissions in any combination. Single admission tickets and season passes are available for purchase online at gfsymphony.org or at the door. For more information, contact the Symphony office at 406-453-4102 or visit gfsymphony.org.
