Sandi Schwarz nearly launches herself from the director’s stand to illustrate her point.
“You need to enjoy this one more,” the conductor says to the Bainbridge Orchestra. “You ‘dah, dee-dah whoop-ah,’” she says, lunging forward into the “whoop” – perilously close to the platform’s edge.
Schwarz, who conducted the orchestra for four seasons in the 1980s and for two concerts in 1999-2000, has emphasized dynamics in her return as artistic director and conductor.
In addition, she has worked with the orchestra on tempo changes and the general character of the music.
“All of these details and other technical ones contribute to wider color variety, and the deeper interpretations of the pieces we’re playing,” she said.
Schwarz, who took up the baton last fall, has kept the orchestra’s commitment to young talent for the season’s closing concert, showcasing 15-year-old Max Pipinich as principal bassoonist in Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto in E Minor for Bassoon and Orchestra.”
“Max Pipinich is phenomenal,” said Bainbridge Performing Arts’ board president Jim Quitslund, who doubles as director of BPA’s classical music program. “He is a bassoonist who has the most beautiful mellow bassoon tone I’ve ever heard.”
The two will play together in Poulenc’s “Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano” at BPA’s chamber music concert June 8.
Two piano students of music teacher Peggy Swingle are also featured: Hyla sixth-grader Emily Stafford plays an arrangement of the first movement of Beethoven’s “Sonata Opus 49, No. 2,” and home-schooled third-grader Rachel Steinlicht performs a Bach minuet.
For Stafford – who has practiced 2,332 days in a row – the prospect of playing with the orchestra is more exciting than intimidating, even though the group will often be playing in counterpoint to her piano.
“You have to just not pay attention to them,” said the young pianist, who began taking lessons at age 4. “You have to pay attention to yourself and to the conductor.”
Schwarz already has plans in the works for next fall.
The violinist and internationally known expert on baroque music is choosing music that calls for different groupings of orchestra musicians – a repertoire that will increase the group’s versatility and scope, Schwarz says.
She will also hold auditions in late June for a new chamber ensemble. A group of six to 30 musicians – some culled from the existing orchestra, some new – will expand BPA’s musical offerings to large chamber pieces, and give more local instrumentalists a chance to perform, she says.
“Different groupings of players will allow for a bigger variety of music to be presented,” Schwarz said. “We hope our audiences will join us to hear them.”
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The Bainbridge Orchestra performs works by Debussy, Mussorgsky, Schoenberg, Sibelius, Fauré, Dvorák and Vivaldi at its final concert of the season, 7:30 p.m. May 31 and 4 p.m. June 1 at the Playhouse. Tickets are $15 for adults, $9 for seniors and students, available at the Playhouse or by phone at 842-8569.
Audition information: 842-5994 or sandischwarz@earthlink.net.
