Orchestra hosts ‘A Festive Affair’

The theme of the night was “A Festive Affair,” and the VCU Symphony Orchestra could not have picked a more appropriate title.

Directed by Jean Montes, VCU’s director of orchestral studies, the symphony orchestra started the show with pieces from Peter Tchaikovsky’s popular “Nutcracker Suite no.1.”

The show, which took place in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, also featured other pieces of music by composers W.A. Mozart, J.S. Bach and Dmitri Shostakovich.

“I think they did really well,” Eric Delia, a junior political-science major, said. “I’ve been around music all my life, but nothing beats the live experience.”

Delia came in support of one of his friend’s, Evan Setzer, a junior philosophy-in-music major who plays the cello.

“It took a few months to prepare for this orchestra,” Setzer said. “But when everything comes together, it’s pretty fun. It’s like rocking out in a band.”

Sam Phillips agreed, saying it is always great to be onstage.

Phillips, a freshman music-performance major who plays the bass, also said introducing the audience to something they have never heard before is what drives him to be a musician.

“I just want to expose people to music,” Phillips said.

Janna Heizer, a senior music-education major, said she came to the show because orchestra is her favorite type of music.

“I know a lot about it and I’m comfortable with it,” Heizer said. “I love the orchestra, especially the strings.”

Laura Krzyston also came out in support of her two best friends, violinist Jasmine Hayes and flutist Whitney Kimmet.

Krzyston, who plays the organ, said she also enjoyed watching performers for whom she has accompanied at one time or another.

Despite the positive response from the people in the audience, Amanda Ata, a senior music-education major who plays the violin, still thinks classical music doesn’t get nearly enough respect.

Instead of discouraging her, though, it only increases her passion for music.

“Being an education major, I want to get out there and teach young people about classical music,” Ata said. “I want to teach them how to play instruments and hopefully even get the community involved.

“So far this semester, I’ve done four shows, including my recital,” Ata said. “But there are two more (shows) left, and they are both awesome and I think people should come to both of them.”