2008 Woodie Awards
The faces behind the instruments
Students given opportunity to play alongside professionals in Webster Symphony Orchestra
By: Tiffany Johnson
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: LifeStyle
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The orchestra consists of one-third of professionals, one-third talented students and one-third of committed players who work in other job fields. The ensemble is the result of conductor Allen Carl Larson's creativity.
Larson said each student in the music school auditions once to gain entrance to the school and then auditions a second time to play in the orchestra. This process allows students to experience what a real-life audition would be like, Larson said.
"The quality of the music is more important than everyone playing," Larson said.
Some students are not allowed to play in the orchestra because they need more work, Larson said.
Larson has been a conductor for the Webster University Symphony Orchestra for 33 years. Even though Larson is 69 years old, he said he plans to keep going as long as he can.
"Webster allows me the freedom to make it better," Larson said of the university orchestra. "I love the combination of music and teaching."
Sophomore Robert Robinson, a French horn performance major, thinks the idea of mixing students with professionals provides good exposure.
"It almost seems like I'm a professional playing with professionals," Robinson said.
Robinson is the only French horn student at Webster and has been playing the instrument for three years.
"I learn a lot just by working with them," Robinson said of the members of the orchestra. "If I have trouble, the professionals really help out."
Junior Amanda DuClos is a flute performance major who has been playing for 10 years. She thinks playing alongside professionals challenges students to step up.
"It makes you play better," DuClos said.
The down side to the mixed orchestra, DuClos said, is that there aren't as many chairs in the orchestra filled by students.
DuClos auditioned to play in the symphony orchestra, where she said there is more competition because there is a greater number of flute players. This competition means not everyone who auditions will get into the orchestra.