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News > Three Fallon youth members of Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Three Fallon youth members of Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 
April 28, 2006 Posted: 4/28/2006 Like pint-sized Perlmans and youthful Yo-Yo Mas, they will descend on the Biggest Little City 150 strong"»clutching violins, cellos, clarinets and oboes, eager to combine the exuberance of youth with the sophistication of Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. They will play as one but represent a collection of the best young musicians in Northern Nevada. They are the members of the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestras and include three talented artists from Fallon--Olivia Dillon, Nick Greves and Kanani Fisher. The three eighth graders have been practicing for several months, commuting to Reno once a week rehearsing for the Spring Showcase "Celebrate American Music" concert which they will perform for free at 7 p.m. Monday in the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. "I really like being in the Youth Symphony because it's a challenge and it's really fun," said 13-year-old violinist Olivia who auditioned for the group last year. "I was really nervous at the audition because I didn't know how everyone else was doing. But I usually get nervous every audition. They gave us a piece I had never seen before. They called us to the office and we had about a month to practice it. It's better to get it as soon as possible." Kanani, which means "The Beautiful One" in Hawaiian, echoed Olivia's sentiments. "It was my first audition and I was really scared because it was pretty hard music," she said. "They had a judge behind a seat and I couldn't say anything. I kind of messed up but I guess I did well. And I had to sight read some music, but it was pretty easy so it was not too hard." The process was a little easier for Nick who moved to Fallon from Las Vegas after auditions last summer. "I didn't have to audition because I moved here after the auditions were over," said the 13-year-old who prefers the quiet life of Fallon to the bright lights of Nevada's largest city. "I've had private lessons and I started playing in sixth grade which helped me. It's also hard to find bass players. I think it was those things that made it work out." Kanani, 14, who started out on the piano but prefers the violin, said she can't wait for the concert. "It's really fun and the best part is hearing the whole orchestra together," she said, adding that the hours of practice have paid off. "It's good to hear it get better every week. We sound great." All three musicians, who attend Churchill County Junior High School and play in the school band, say that learning to play well requires a keen ear and coordination. "You gotta really have the fingers for it," said Nick, who has his sights set on being an Air Force pilot. "It's pretty tough to get the fingering and there aren't many kids I know who play the bass. And, because it's so big, I don't have a bass to practice on at home which means I almost have to learn the song as I'm playing it." Olivia, who started playing violin in second grade and also plays the oboe for the school band, agreed. "The hardest part was the finger placement and learning how to read the notes," she said. "Every musician should have a good ear. You don't have to have a good ear to start out but you have to develop it. So if you make the note flat or sharp you know the difference." Olivia, who wants to be a doctor, also remembers the first song she learned. "I first learned to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star because I do the Suzuki method and that's what I learned first," she said. "My mom wanted us to play because it would be good for our future. We got to choose instruments and my little brother plays violin and my older brother played the cello." Kanani, 14, who is leaning towards becoming a special education teacher, also started young as a second grader. "My mom wanted me to play piano and I used to but I like violin better," she said. "I take private lessons too so I practice that and the orchestra music. My mom plays all the woodwinds and she accompanies me at recitals on the piano. My sister, Leilani is a BYU freshman and also plays piano. I think she's better than my mom." As for Nick, he became interested in the bass watching his 17-year-old brother, Andrew. "He plays bass and he kind of inspired me to do it," he said. "He also becomes my teacher sometimes because private lessons are hard to find." Nick's mom, Rose, is happy her son is playing in the orchestra. "My older son was in the equivalent program in Vegas and it was a great benefit to him," she said. "It helps them focus and teaches them how to fulfill commitment. It's an hour to Reno and back and there are times they don't want to do it but they have to finish what they start." She also expressed a mother's pride in watching her boys play. "The first time they did it, I was anxious," she said. "I can see the pride in what they are doing. It gives me joy and seeing them do something they enjoy." Olivia's mom, Cindy, also sees the benefits of the experience. "It's a great opportunity for different kids to do something all together and have it sound good," she said. "They get really excited and it's pretty incredible when they hear it together. It's a lot of work and they have to practice a lot but the kids really enjoy socializing and it's a positive venue." When they aren't practicing, the three are typical teenagers. Nick likes to hang out with friends and skateboard. Olivia plays volleyball and likes to watch her favorite TV shows, Lost and Alias. Kanani's favorite subject is English and says she enjoys correcting grammar just as much as writing stories, which isn't always a good thing. "I correct my teacher sometimes and get in trouble," she said with a giggle. And while they all enjoy playing now, they don't see themselves asking how to get to Carnegie Hall. Yet they all agree that they would like to play in a local orchestra and possibly teach music on the side when they get older. The Orchestras play two concerts per year with one in the Fall and the other in Spring. They also play the Fall Young People's Concert for over 4,000 sixth graders from Washoe County and surrounding districts. Olivia likes the relaxed environment of playing for the students. "We get to play for the sixth graders who are going into seventh so they can see what it is like and, it gives us a chance to practice," she said, adding that "the adults know if we mess up, but the sixth graders don't." The Reno Philharmonic Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1995 to give musical experiences to talented middle and high school students from Northern Nevada and Northern California. In 1999 the RPO created the Youth Chamber Orchestra, a 40-member strings development group, which has now grown into the 80-member full Youth Concert Orchestra. Both groups combine for a total of 150 musicians and are known collectively as the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Nick is a member of the Youth Concert Orchestra while Kanani and Olivia play with the Youth Symphony Orchestra. Editor's Note: If you attended Beethoven's 9th two years ago, you remember when opera megastar Evelyn de la Rosa lifted the roof off the Pioneer Center. The renowned soprano returns to her hometown for performances with the Nevada Choral Union Sunday, 4 p.m. and Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at the PioneerCenter. The Nevada Choral Union will perform "Poulenc's Gloria." For tickets, please call the box office at 323-6393 or go online at renophilharmonic.com. |
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