Florida Gulf Coast University’s Wind Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall on Friday night. It’s the first time an FGCU musical ensemble will play at the venerable concert venue in midtown Manhattan.
Conductor and head of instrumental studies Dr. RodChesnutt said it will be the first visit to the Big Apple for some and the first airplane ride for other members of the orchestra. For all of them it will be a once in a lifetime performance on a stage where artists have gone to make a name for themselves.
“It’s a really big honor to be able to play there so I was excited and nervous at the same time, especially as a performance major that is like a dream of anybody,” said senior clarinet player Kalyn Hamm.
The orchestra is made up of the university’s 51 finest wind and percussion musicians. They must audition. Only half are upper classmen.
Fourth year percussionist Rebekah Ortega wants to teach elementary music. She said preparation for Carnegie has been really intense.
“But I’m so elated that we’re able to reach that goal,” said Ortega. “I’ve been playing harder music than I ever thought I would play coming in here and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that all of the repertoire that we’ve been playing is much harder than what we could have imagined.”
Conductor Chesnutt said he chose a dance, ballad, tuba showpiece, and a work by Scott McAllister called “Gone” for the Carnegie performance.
“The students will tell you it’s probably the most tasking work that we’re performing just because of how much intellectual work has to be going on with playing their instruments,” said Chesnutt.
But Chesnutt said he had already chosen these pieces for the orchestra last spring.
“I guess that’s part of the academic part of me saying I’m not going to change the curriculum to do something different and I’d like to think that what we do in our curriculum prepares our students to do these types of performances,” he said.
Chesnutt said the orchestra competed with ensembles nationwide for the spot. The FGCU Foundation and community fundraisers paid the estimated $95,000 travel and lodging costs.
Clarinetist Kalyn Hamm said it will stand out on her resume as she seeks professional performance positions.
“’Cause the performance world is rough so if I don’t find a gig or a place to perform then I’ll definitely teach until I can find somewhere that I get into,” said Hamm. “Hopefully I’ll still always be playing my clarinet through my entire life.”
The orchestra made two recordings this past weekend for a new CD. Those and Friday night’s Carnegie Hall performance, said Rod Chesnutt, could lead to countless unknown future opportunities.