International musicians descend on Festival Hill in Round Top
[font color=green]Note: The reporter that wrote this article apparently does not understand the concept of paragraph breaks; therefore, I have inserted those breaks where I feel are reasonable. Since this was only a two paragraph article, I am not breaking any of the rules set by DU regarding copyright violations.[/font]
It’s summer and once again an international community of musicians has descended on Round Top to take part in the 43rd season of the Round Top Festival Institute.
Founded by James Dick, the institute brings world class students together with world-class musicians/teachers for 30 days of music. The noted weekly magazine The Economist lists the Round Top Festival Institute as one of the best of the summer arts events around the world. They earned a high ranking even though the next smallest venue can host twice as many visitors.
This year the festival is flying flags of 14 countries as well as the European Union. Students from across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia come together and, like any other exceptional camp, quickly bond while enduring intense practices and performances. With dozens of faculty and almost 100 performers in attendance students receive instruction in small groups with artists who have performed on some of the greatest stages of the world.
Helping keep order is Brenham intern Dancy Lukeman. She admits, “I have a different perspective of the institute because I try to help things run smoothly. It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun.”
Violin player Pio Molina is from Florida and in his first camp at Round Top. “I wanted to come because I heard great things from people I went to high school with who attended the institute. These are great players and orchestra and the faculty is awesome,” Molina said.
From St. Albans, Vermont, cellist Joshua Morris is experiencing Texas for the first time. “It’s a lot warmer than Vermont,” he noted of the spring weather. But the weather is something he barely notices. “It has been great to work with such high caliber conductors. And playing such large works with a full orchestra is very demanding but worth it to get to the next level,” Morris said.
Christiano Rodrigues has played the violin since age 4 and comes from a family of musicians in his native Brazil. Attending for the third time, Rodrigues said he keeps coming back “because I just love it here. It works for me because it is a small camp and the work is very intensive. Everything done is inclusive, not separate but one community which makes it a special place. Very warm and welcoming.”
“This festival is the most unique” said bass player Milad Danari. From Dallas but attending school in New York, he noted, “Students and teachers share the same space and this breaks down barriers.” That was echoed by Alana Shannon, a cellist from San Francisco, who said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with such renowned faculty.” The pace is brisk, as students are constantly practicing on their own as well as in groups. Additional time is spent with students on different instruments and then together as an orchestra, learning the next piece they will play.
Kate Nichols, a flute player from Claremont, Fla., said, “The institute has given me the most well rounded experience I have ever had. We learn a new concert program every weekend. Doing different parts with different musicians makes this by far my favorite summer program I have ever had.” The students seem to thrive on the fast pace of the institute.
In her first tour in Round Top, Marta Xavier from Portugal says she is is constantly playing her clarinet. “We play a lot and this helps us learn to play together, which is very challenging,” said Xavier. When asked if she has been to the city, meaning Austin or Houston, she laughed and admitted to seeing “downtown Round Top a couple times” but spends most of her time working.
Students bond, like many do while attending a summer camp, but one of the bonds is the time and effort they spend on practicing and performing. Signup sheets for extra practice are quickly filled and students perform several times each week during the festival, which lasts from June 6 to July 13.
Violin player Queenie Edwards is from Tampa and admitted loving her first time at the Round Top Festival. “I enjoy working and getting to make music. Everyone pushes and inspires us to be better, especially the conductors,” said Edwards.
Bulgarian violin player Dorisiya Yositova admitted to being amazed, “There is a place like this in the middle of nowhere. We come together and make something great like one big happy family,” Yositova said. Asked her impression of Texas she said with a laugh, “There are bugs, lots of bugs and they bite me. I think they call them chiggers.”
In addition to a great venue and some of the top instructors and conductors in the world, the town of Round Top is a draw for many students. A “small, friendly Texas town in the middle of nowhere,” as they call it. The community plays a large part in the favorable reviews the institute receives year after year. Surprisingly, big city students especially seem to enjoy the small town atmosphere.
From the Manhattan School of Music in New York, french horn musician Alexander Lane is happy to be away from the big city for a while. “It’s a unique situation to be in such a small town and have the opportunity to play music with a lot of really talented players. It’s awesome,” said Lane.
Sarah Evins is from Las Vegas, plays the viola and emphatically stated that while the viola is similar to the violin, viola players are “more, well adjusted.” Back for a second year at the institute, with a big smile she offered, “I love it here. I had one of the best summers of my life last year and this year is topping it.” She added with a disarming giggle, “Participating in this camp is life changing. The Round Top community act so happy to have us here that it makes us glad to be here as well. We work so hard because we love being here.”
Xiaoying “Jenny” Chen is from Guangzhou, China, about 75 miles northwest of Hong Kong. She is attending her first Round Top Festival Institute. She speaks English without an accent and continuously smiles. After learning to play the violin she switched to the viola and admitted with her new instrument, “Our music parts are easier. We are more focused on sound and I can express my emotions. The institute is pretty challenging with sight reading and practices and some of it drives me crazy.” She laughed and added, “But crazy good. Having fun. Everyone here is super friendly and laughs a lot. I’ve also met a lot of people here who speak Chinese.”
Oakridge, Tenn. would seem to be a hotbed of country musicians but Alex Shor plays an eclectic collection of instruments, including the cello, piano and accordion. Back for his second year at the institute, Shor relates he has been to many camps but the Round Top event is special. The mingling between faculty and students makes the relationship unique from other festivals, he said. “They treat us as equals and that makes the festival very special,” said Shor, who admitted Texas bugs are a tougher group than what he is used to back home. However he pointed out, “Bug bites and blisters on your fingers are known as Round Top scars and considered badges of honor.”
The schedule of performances can be found at: http://festivalhill.org/events/round-top-music-festival-2/
Source: http://www.brenhambanner.com/news/international-musicians-descend-on-festival-hill/article_f567b6c8-ddb1-11e2-bf04-0019bb2963f4.html
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