After months of careful planning and practicing, the combined Cornell Symphony and Chamber Orchestras were off to Dublin, Ireland. Upon boarding the plane at JFK, I found myself amazed that we had managed to get this trip together, and that it was finally coming to fruition. Overall, the two orchestras truly came together as a unit, musically. What was more, friendships formed that will last much longer than the music will leave our memories. After the tour, both orchestras seemed to have gained a better sense of playing together, and even developed a heightened sense of musicality. With both orchestras playing better than ever, the spring semester was extremely successful. This edition of Whole Note will highlight the tour from the eyes of a freshman, Jonathan Dawson and senior, Crystal Han. Jonathan Park and Clint Ko of the Symphony Orchestra also relay their thoughts on their experiences in Ireland. It is easy to say that it was this trip was a landmark for the members of both orchestras, but the following accounts give the specifics. As the 2011-2012 season closes, we’d like to thank all members of our orchestras for a job well done, and our listeners for being so dedicated. Thank you for a great year!

Thank you for reading,Martha Wydysh ‘14

Violin, CSO

Whole Note

CornellUniversityOrchestraNewsletterSpring 2012

A Note from the Editor,

CSO Websitewww.arts.cornell.edu/orchestra

CCO Websitewww.arts.cornell.edu/orchestra/

Cornell Symphony and Chamber Orchestras Outside of Kilkenny CastleDublin, Ireland

Whole Note, Spring ‘12Page 3

“Okay, and you’re free to go, just be at rehearsal in a couple of hours,” the conductor said. Wait, what? We had just arrived at the hotel, in a large, densely populated city. In previous trips with my orchestra in high school, our chaperones made sure that everybody went to the right place and hoped that they stayed there.  They didn’t find out if we strayed from the itinerary or went somewhere forbidden. But just one year later, I am on my own with a bunch of people that I only kind of know in a city far far away, where anything could go wrong.  To say I was scared would be false; to say I was overly excited would be a gross understatement.  The sense of adventure was greater than going on my first freshman experience at Cornell with Outdoor Odyssey, a pre-orientation backpacking trip, even with the insignificant danger of getting attacked by bears or wolves at night.  No, this was Ireland, with its verdant fields filled with sheep and gorgeous cliffs. I could hardly contain my excitement when I went out for the first time to a Grafton Street. My roommates and I went to get some coffee to wake us up after staying awake on the plane watching movies.  Of course, we had no idea where to go, so after pulling out the map, making us look like ripe tourist fodder, we had some sense of where to go. After rehearsal, of course.  

The first rehearsal was pretty intense.  Shortly after sitting down to play, I realized I should have listened to my friend’s advice and slept on the plane instead of watching movies. James Cavanaugh, the conductor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, directed the orchestra in a different way than what we had been used to; I had to force myself to be alert.  It was interesting to see that, even though there is a giant pond separating the North American continent with Europe, there existed a common language of music in conducting, and amongst the players. After having been a member of the Cornell Symphony Orchestra for only one semester, I became used to Chris Kim’s conducting style and was comfortable with it.  Since being conducted under the new director, my perception of the music world became more open to different styles. Although I had somewhat of the same experience of a change during the transition to high school, the Ireland experience was calmer because it wasn’t that different between night and day.  The conductor was very polite and had a clear idea of what he wanted.  There was this one section when the new conductor didn’t slow down as Chris established in our

Noteworthy: A Freshman PerspectiveJonathan Dawson ‘15

Violin, CSOspecial tour rehearsals, but we soon corrected our playing to match what the conductor was doing.  Ultimately, we showed our pliability and ability to demonstrate that we could change in a split second.

The trip itself was such a different experience. Before you are able to even sightsee,  you have to create bonds with people, and that included the students of the Royal Irish Academy of Music that we were working with, many of which possessed heavy Irish brogues.  Perhaps even more challenging, since most of us didn’t get cell service in Ireland, we had to do things the old fashioned way which involved an elaborate series of constantly asking, “So what time should we meet up?” “Where should we go?” However, once this was all figured out, it was time to explore. The schedule of events had a lot things to do, and on the tourist map, there was a map of the highlights of Dublin. The group sightseeing activities were my favorite. Each castle that we saw was different in character: some were posh, others were more medieval.  In the United States, many different historical buildings are available to sight see at, but none have matched the history and legacy afforded by castles constructed as long ago as these. By popular consensus, the one at Kilkenny was the best tour guide overall.  He had the right amount of charm and snarky comments. Imagine if a slightly less sassy version of the Simon Cowell became a tour guide of a castle, and you have this tour guide. He gave such detailed descriptions of what happened in the past that illuminated the rather lifeless surroundings of the castle.  Being such an engaging person, he made me actually enjoy history and tours.  There was a granite table that was supposed to curse the people who touched it, he told us.  After several people touched it, he told us a complicated ritual of having to remove the curse which involved running around the grounds on one foot.  I made sure not to touch it because dead bodies were put on top to create an impromptu funeral home. Just like this gem of history, each castle had its quirks, and made me realize that even the tiniest details are full of wonder.

Although it seemed as if the time in Ireland was nothing but a long dream, the people and environments created a better understanding between cultures. We came together as an orchestra, and I met people from across the world that I never thought I’d meet. When else in my life will I be able to play music with people from a completely different background? Luckily, as I am a freshman, we will continue to make touring a priority, and I will be able to have this irreplaceable experience once more.

Page 3 Whole Note. Spring ‘12

The orchestra tour in Dublin was a success in every sense of the word. To be sure, we made great music and our final concert in the church of St. Andrew was a great culmination of our hard work and determination. I think that, by the time we concluded Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, we all felt a small sense of accomplishment as our final notes rang out in the spacious church. But I think the real success in the tour lies in how the new sights and experiences, as well as the new friends we made, will forge unforgettable memories that will last our whole lives.

These memories can keep us going for years, even if we have nothing else, and for this reason, I think everyone will agree when I say that this trip was definitely worth it. I still clearly remember how I felt as I walked the streets of Dublin for the first time. Dublin has such character. It was truly a pleasure to explore a new city with friends, both old and new, and experience Dublin as an Irishman would. We visited various Dublin landmarks, from the campus of Trinity College to the St. James gate at the Guinness storehouse. It was amazing seeing so many people from orchestra, who you may not see often on campus, hanging out at all the famous pubs in Dublin. I think this was one aspect of the trip that was most successful: sparking new friendships and getting people together who don’t usually get the chance talk to each other after rehearsal. It was even better to be able to hang out with the Irish music students at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. They were so welcoming and offered to show us around. Indeed, without them, we could have been wandering aimlessly through the streets—completely lost.

A Trip to RememberClint Ko ‘14Viola, CSO

After a couple days of getting to know the rest of the orchestra and the music students at RIAM, it was refreshing to go outside of the city and head towards the smaller towns, castles, and eventually, the western coast at the Cliffs of Moher. Towns like Kilkenny were a welcome change of pace from Dublin, and it was nice being able to freely explore the quaint shops in winding streets. While I enjoyed the small towns and the medieval castles that still rose formidably from the highlands, my favorite spot was definitely the cliffs. The air was heavy with the smell of salt, and the fury of the ocean below was matched with the tempestuous winds that blew over the cliffs. I could stand at the edge of steps and let the wind catch me in the back. I knew I definitely enjoyed the city life in Dublin, and I loved the Irish people who were so kind to us, but when I stood at the edge of the cliffs, I really appreciated the natural beauty of the countryside. I’m sure we all felt that as we strolled around, only a couple feet from the edge at times. Overall, I am very grateful for this trip, and I left with many new memories. As amazing as it is to be able to play in another country, the fact that the country chosen was Ireland made this trip all the more incredible and memorable.

At the Cliffs of Moher

Page 4 Whole Note, Spring ‘12“Sloncha!”Jonathan Park ‘14

Violin, CSO

New York — 30 Cornell students in a charter bus on the 4-hour drive back to Ithaca; despite coming straight from an 8-hour international flight, all but the few napping are wide awake, discussing stories about their recent travels.

This past January 46 musicians from both Cornell Orchestras spent their last week of break traveling to Ireland to perform with students of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The week-long tour started with 3 days filled with rehearsals, master-classes, and a concert at the St. Andrews Cathedral, located a few doors down from the RIAM campus. “Despite being half asleep for the first rehearsal, I enjoyed working and performing with the RIAM students”, said Harris Karsch, cellist in the Cornell Symphony Orchestra.

The combined ensemble of Cornell and RIAM students performed Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 , a work the CSO performed for their second fall concert. Despite this experience, over half of the orchestra was not present, mainly wind musicians on their biennial trip to Costa Rica. “Having not rehearsed as a group in over a month, there was a lot work to be done in a short period of time”, said violinist Jenny Xia, also a member of the CSO. “We were able to make significant progress in the few days we had, and pulled off a wonderful performance!” For these Cornell musicians, working with dedicated music students in a foreign country presented a completely unique challenge and experience. Said Eric Chang, a conductor and violinist in CSO, “It was such an unforgettable memory, especially because it was my first time working at a music concentration academy.”

After their concert, the students had the rest of the week to explore Dublin

and the rest of Ireland. Much of the exploring in Dublin was on foot, visiting historic sites such as the Guinness brewery and storehouse, Trinity College, Dublin Castle and lively areas such as Grafton street, a major shopping area of the city. Cornell and RIAM students bonded outside of rehearsals as the latter served as informal tour guides for Dublin. “The RIAM students were extremely enthusiastic and hospitable, making us feel at home in an otherwise foreign country through our shared interest in music”, said Jenny Xia. The group also traveled to Kilkenny, exploring the city’s unique shops and Kilkenny Castle, and to the west coast to view the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. On their last night of the tour, many of the students, with their RIAM counterparts, visited the popular Temple Bar, located in the district from which it derives its namesake.

Despite having only spent a week in Ireland, all 46 musicians were despondent to leave their new friends and the country in which they had made so many new memories. Even on the plane and the charter bus ride back to Cornell’s campus, many were talking of wanting to turn straight back and spend another week on the Emerald Isle. And despite facing a whole new semester of classes and prelims, this tour was full of its own lessons. Said Eric Chang, “The most important lesson for me over the tour was that I once again realized music is really a universal language regardless of where I go.”

Chris Kim conducting Cornell and RIAM musicians

Page 5 Whole Note, Spring, ‘12

Cornell Orchestras with players from the Royal Irish Academy of Music at St. Andrew’s Church

Chamber Orchestra Saturday, April 21st

8:00 PMBarnes HallCarter Pann Three Secrets in Main (World Premier)Gustav Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5Pavel Haas: String Quartet No. 2 realized for String Orchestra

Sunday, March 11th 3:00 PMBailey HallLes Petites Violins, NYS Baroque Dance Company and Chamber Singers Rameau: Les Sauvages

Sunday, April 1st 1:00 PMJohnson Museum of ArtLove Poems and Mahler

Looking Back on a Great Semester!

Symphony Orchestra Saturday, March 10th

8:00 PMBailey HallJesse Jones: Focus (World Premier)Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4, 1st Mvt.Eric Tan, piano (8th Annual Cornell Concerto Competition Winner)Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 Daniel Kim, organ

Saturday, April 28th 3:00 PMFord Hall, Ithaca CollegeInternational Conducting Masterclass with Larry RachleffSergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5

Sunday, May 6th 3:00 PMBailey HallSergei Prokogiev: Symphony No. 5Taylan Cihan: An [Turkish word for moment] (world premiere)New work for amplified accordion, orchestra and electronicsAnnie Lewandowski, AccordionAndrew Lucia, Live visuals

Special Thanks to Our Newsletter Contributors:

Clint Ko ‘14Crystal Han ‘12

Jonathan Dawson ‘15Jonathan Park ‘14

Martha Wydysh ‘14, editor

Recap: Itinerary for the Tour to Dublin 2012Day 1 – Wednesday, January 11, 2012         

Fly from JFK to DUBLIN

Day 2 - Thursday, January 12, 2012 Check into to Trinity Hotel 2-5 PM afternoon rehearsal in Katherine Brennan Hall with Royal Irish Academy of Music students 6:30-8:30 PM evening rehearsal in Katherine Brennan Hall with students at RIAM

Day 3 – Friday, January 13, 2012    10-12:30 PM observe morning dress rehearsal of National Symphony of Ireland 2-3:30 PM Afternoon conducting master class at Katherine Brennan Hall with RIAM students 4-5:30 PM Rehearsal in Katherine Brennan Hall with RIAM students 7 PM Attend the pre-concert lecture with RIAM students 8 PM Attend National Symphony of Ireland Concert

Program: “Forest Murmurs” at the National Concert HallWEBER Der Freischütz Overture BRAHMS Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68 'Pastoral'

Tasmin Little, violinThomas Carroll, celloGerhard Markson, conductor

Day 4 – Saturday, January 14, 2012                Free time to explore Ireland on own 2:30 PM - DRESS REHEARSAL at St. Andrews Church Westland Row 8 PM PERFORMANCE at St. Andrews Church Westland Row with RIAM students

Program: BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture conducted by James CavanaughTCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 conducted by Chris Kim

Day 5 –Sunday, January 15, 2012          12 PM check out of Trinity Capital hotel Charter bus takes us over to Generator Youth Hostel 2 PM check in at Generator Youth hostel Free Afternoon

Day 6 – Monday, January 16, 2012    Sightseeing Kilkenny Castle

Day 7 – Tuesday, January 17, 2012      Sightseeing: Ailwee Cave, Cliffs of Moher

Day 8 – Wednesday, January 18, 2012           Travel Back to JFK Ithaca

Page 6 Whole Note, Spring ‘12

When I first heard that the Cornell Symphony Orchestra would be going to Ireland on tour, my first thought was “leprechauns!” followed by a slideshow of images of Gerard Butler. I was clearly well-versed in authentic Irish culture (by which I mean I clearly was not, especially since Gerard Butler is apparently Scottish.) Thinking back on my previous European endeavors to Paris and Barcelona, two drastically different cities, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this allegedly emerald island. What awaited me was a unique and unforgettable experience in one of the most breathtaking countries I have visited. Dublin is an exceptional city that has a great balance between the bustle of urban life and historical culture. With numerous pubs and restaurants, it was easy to be swept up in the chaos and excitement of modern life. However, I was also struck by the way multiple churches and historical sites nestled easily between contemporary buildings. It is a city composed of culture, a rich history, and impressive buildings and monuments, all surrounding the beautiful River Liffey. One especially memorable moment involved walking across St. Stephen’s Green, a public park in the center of Dublin built in 1664. After going down the exciting and happening Grafton Street, full of tourists, shops, restaurants and street performers, stepping past the gates of the park was like stepping into a whole new realm. The noises and smells of the city seemed to diffuse away like a dream, and seeing the morning sunlight bathe the jade lawn and pond of the park in golden streams was nothing short of magical.

As remarkable as the city of Dublin was, the highlight of the trip for me was touring the sites around the countryside of Ireland. The view of the Irish country, up near the Aillwee Caves spanned what seemed to be endless

Page 7 Whole Note, Fall ‘11A City of Humble Charm

Crystal Han, ‘12Violin, CSO

“What awaited me was a unique and unforgettable

experience in one of the most breathtaking

countries I have visited.”

fields, culminating in rolling hills next to an azure ocean. The fields looked like an enormous patchwork quilt, alternating between emerald grass dotted with sheep and areas of trees. The scene was majestic, but in a humble way. It was awe-inspiring and beautiful, making me feel incredibly grateful for seemingly simple things, such as the greenness of the grass, or how much endless space there was, or how wonderful it is that such a breath-taking place exists. Words can do no justice to how a glimpse of what is usually considered to be the unassuming countryside can transform before you into one of the most beautiful scenes on earth.

Overall, the trip was a wonderful experience. In addition to the many kinds of potatoes and beer I stereotypically consumed and the multiple churches and museums that I had the pleasure to see, I took from this trip a better understanding of what Ireland really is. It is a country full of history and culture. The people are genuine and friendly, always ready to have a good time. The places we visited exuded an air of gentle pride, though many vistas I had the privilege of seeing were nothing if not amazing. Now when I think of Ireland, I think of the mixture of excitement and serenity that is Dublin, smiling faces in pubs, and the astonishing beauty of the country. It was a visit I will not forget anytime soon, and I hope that I will have the chance to go again.

Mallory MatsumotoCo-President

Greg FarberCo-President

Jonathan ParkSecretary

Jaime LeeTreasurer

Martha WydyshNewsletter Editor

Governing Board 2011-2012 The Cornell Symphony Orchestra is one of

the largest musical groups on the Cornell campus. The group's members are drawn from all circles of Cornell life, including undergraduate students, graduate students, Cornell faculty, and members of the Ithaca community. Under the direction of Chris Younghoon Kim, the Cornell Symphony Orchestra has continuously strived to present

About Our Organizations…

the best works of contemporary composers as well as compositions by established musical figures. The Cornell Chamber Orchestra is an orchestra of about 30 players, comprising students from all of the colleges on campus. Acceptance into the orchestra is by audition only. The Chamber Orchestra performs a wide range of works from the 18th century to present time, written

Sang Hoon SoonAlumni Liaison

Rachel ComunaleHistorian

Jenny XiaCommunity Outreach Chair

Andie LiaoPublicity Chair

Daniel RothenbergWebmaster

Cornell Orchestras101 Lincoln HallIthaca, NY 14853

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Spring ‘12