Ensemble Members: Christina Hughes – Flute
Paul Lueders – Oboe
Nathan Raderman – Clarinet
Elizabeth Kocses – Bassoon
David Vaughan – Horn
Hometowns: Christina – Old Tappan, NJ
Paul – Needham, MA
Nathan – Ellicott City, MD
Elizabeth – Naples, FL
David – Stores, CT
Majors & Degrees: All BM in Classical Performance
Current Teachers: Christina – Fenwick Smith
Paul – John Ferrillo
Nathan – Tom Martin
Elizabeth – Richard Ranti
David – Richard Mackey
What was the process like to form an ensemble at NEC?
“One of the challenges of chamber music is that it cam be hard to play in an ensemble with people you do not know very well. Our group had an advantage because all of us but one have been at NEC and have gotten well acquainted with one another. We joined to play together because we wanted to, and there isn't a faster way in getting to know each other and each other’s playing than playing chamber music together. This made it easier to form an ensemble with the chamber music department at NEC and it also made it easier for the school to find us a coach.”
What type of performance opportunities did your honors ensemble have?
“We have been fortunate to be able to play three outreach concerts in the community this semester; one at an elementary school, one at a middle school, and one at a senior citizen's home. The variety of audiences gave us the chance to prepare a different kind of experience each time. The younger ages let us tell stories through music and introduce the instruments on a very basic level. We were able to present the instruments with more depth and also give an introduction to more serious standard repertoire for the middle school age, and the senior citizen's home gave us the opportunity to play both challenging and fun repertoire in a laid back environment for an engaged and appreciative audience. All of the concerts were very rewarding and fun. We still have funny stories about what some of the little kids said during the concerts. Our biggest performance opportunity this semester was on May 16th, when we played in a joint-honors ensemble recital in Jordan Hall, also featuring the NEC Saxophone Quartet.”
What faculty members work with your ensemble and how have they contributed to your group's growth?
“John Heiss has worked with some of us from the beginning and he is a fantastic chamber music coach who gives us incredible insight at every coaching. He has helped us grow in our ensemble awareness and knows so much about each member of the wind quintet family and their relationships to one another, the repertoire we perform and their composers (he performed Summer Music for Barber and has worked with Darius Milhaud, Igor Stravinsky, John Harbison, and Elliott Carter, just to name a few!), and has the most amazing ear! (Stravinsky called him his ‘pitch doctor.’) We have also been coached by Laura Ahlbeck, Dean Tom Novak, and Lucy Chapman in how to rehearse more efficiently. Each faculty member was able to give us a fresh perspective on what we were working on and how to treat each other in the ensemble. We have been able to take their input and make group decisions on interpretations as an ensemble and have also been able to apply their advice to playing experiences outside of chamber music.”
How do you manage time for an extra ensemble despite a full academic schedule?
“Scheduling is always a difficulty for us. However, we formed this ensemble with a priority to make time for the group no matter what the challenges. A lot of the time we have had to schedule on a rehearsal-to-rehearsal basis, deciding the next availability at the end of each rehearsal. Still, during the semester, we were able to find some instances at least three times a week where we were all free and could consistently get together and rehearse. Otherwise, we were willing to make time to rehearse even if it meant doing so late at night or waking up early before orchestra rehearsal during the week.”
What role will chamber music play in your future musical career?
“Chamber music is such an integral part to our growth as musicians. Whether it be large-scale chamber music in orchestra or simply playing with an accompanist, there are things we learn about our playing that are so different from what we learn in a practice room by ourselves. All of us aspire towards positions in orchestras, but we also hope to continue playing chamber music with our colleagues. It is difficult to say if we will continue as an ensemble at NEC since our bassoonist is graduating and moving on. The four of us remaining are considering filling the empty spot so that we can continue to play as an ensemble.”
Do you spend time with your ensemble members outside of rehearsals and performances?
“We actually do spend time together outside of rehearsing and performing! One of the first things we did after the Honors Ensemble auditions was go out and celebrate over dinner. Most of the time, we get something to eat together after rehearsals in the famed Bistro 33, and we sometimes hang out together on weekends. Still though, it is nice to get some space from each other if we are rehearsing quite frequently.”
2010-07-01
DIZZY GILLESPIE