Tufts Symphony Orchestra spring concert rocks

The magnificent work of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra (TSO) goes far beyond the fancy black attire or the performances on stage. As Malka Sverdlov Yaacobi, the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra and lecturer in the Department of Music, elevated her arms, the audience in Cohen Auditorium on Sunday afternoon held its breath in anticipation. All ears were ready to listen to the Concerto Competition Concert featuring the three talented female competition winners and to witness the hard work of the members of the Symphony Orchestra.

Waves of assorted sounds echoed from different instruments as the program began with Finlandia, Op. 9 by Jean Sibelius. Starting with the low hum of the brass section, gradually adding the strings, and finally filling out the sound with clarinets, bass and bells, the Orchestra's beautiful tune resounded throughout Cohen.

After their first piece, the Orchestra played Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, featuring competition winner, Andrea Spirn. A senior who began playing cello at the age of ten, she played the piece from memorization and hit just about every octave on her cello. Spirn also played with the El Camino Youth Symphony for six years and with whom she toured Italy, Austria, Scotland, and played as a soloist in England. In addition, she participated in the Youth and Music Festival in Vienna and is the recipient of the Mabel Daniels Prize in Music. Bouquets and bravos were handed to Spirn and the Orchestra after her performance.

The next piece offered a completely different air, featuring junior Lauren Phillips, a soprano opera singer and another competition winner. Phillips's voice brought a rousing approval from the crowd. A parent of one of the orchestra members said, "She is a wonderful singer, a real natural performer."

While the Orchestra performed as her "back-up," she sang Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), all memorized in Italian. Phillips was also recently seen as Mrs. Nordstrom in the Tufts Drama Department's production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and will be singing in the Tufts Opera Ensemble's performance of Seymour Barab's A Game of Chance.

Senior Jane Dechongkit, the final soloist, had the audience wholly engaged when she played Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor Op. 25. For 15 years, Dechongkit has been playing the piano, with performances at NYU and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was also a recipient of this year's music award for Outstanding Contribution to Performance.

Having heard Dechongkit play piano during performances at Poly Prep, her junior high and high school in Brooklyn, NY, I can attest to Dechongkit's virtuosity as a musician, for I have never seen hands move up and down the keys the way her's do. Therefore, it came as no surprise that Dechongkit and the orchestra played remarkably well together and that she left the stage to a thunder of applause..

Sophomore Violinist Michelle Guarin, co-president of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra, thought the solos were first-rate. "They worked very hard and I was pleased with the performance," she said.

Elliot Cless, a freshman violinist added that "People have really done an amazing job in the past month getting the featured performers to play with the whole orchestra."

After the soloists and intermission, the group performed Pyoty Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. The opening Andante presented the lowest notes on the clarinets over a string accompaniment. In the following Allegro con anima section, the clarinet and bassoons began, yielding a tone that was optimistic despite its severity, culminating in a climax which brought in the French horn and oboe.

The ValseAllegro Modernato, sounded like a waltz and portrayed a jovial mood. The ensuing Allegro Vivace in the Finale left the audience with a triumphant and energetic feeling. With the sounds of the trumpets signifying an end, the performance concluded on an unquestionably high note.