Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • WINTER 2016 • sai-national.org 26 we have been singing all year finally makes sense, or maybe they felt joy at succeeding when the music was difficult to perform. Audience and alumni have expressed to me that the choir's beautiful singing moved them spiritually or aesthetically. I am not looking for life altering moments, but moments of transcendence. Question 6: What values regarding classical music do you wish to pass on to those you work with each day? Jonas: I wish to pass on to my students, colleagues, and those I perform for a strong work ethic, sincerity of action, and confidence in ability. Sonja: I am always keeping my eyes on excellence and striving for the best. Always consider the opinions of everyone, but commit to what you know you can do best for them. Seek to meet people where they are, but then draw them to where they might never have thought to go. Jason: I am always trying to communicate confidence in one's abilities, while always striving to be better. Understanding that no matter what skill level you are, you are part of a musical community that must work together. Great music performed excellently, with context and understanding, creates transcendence. Poor music is poor music; it can be performed well, but it oen lacks transcendence. Practice never makes perfect, it makes community, builds character, and increases expectations. Question 7: What is the significance of classical music in the life of the people you come in contact with in your everyday music work, and how does what you do move them to a higher level of appreciation, involvement, or commitment to classical music? Jonas: For many, classical music is something they enjoy, but it is not their only musical preference. For others, it is their primary musical genre of choice, and they are very knowledgeable about the works being performed and the artists who perform. In either instance, the performances are oen attended because of an entertainment value that is not matched through audio recordings alone. As with anything, if people have a good time attending an event they will likely attend another. In classical music, events that educate, please, and move audiences are the most effective. Too much that is out of the comfort zone of the audience will not lead people to attend future performances. Sonja: A significant musical experience could be the first hearing of live music for a young elementary school student, or an intensely moving experience for someone hearing again one of their favorite classical works. Music provides both an escape from reality and a way to cope with reality. Music expresses what cannot be expressed in words or life alone. e more an orchestra can reach out into the community, the more the community will see value in the orchestra and want to support it. Financial support from the community is essential to the American orchestra surviving. Jason: Classical music is the means by which I meet the world. e best way for people to have a significant musical experience is to have people participate in some way. Provide the audience a chance to sing, have the choir stand in the audience as they sing, get people involved in making music themselves. ey may not be good, but they will understand how difficult, or how much work it took to achieve the excellence they just heard. Question 8: Can you think of an experience you had where you transformed the life of a person or an audience to a greater appreciation of classical music? Jonas: I can think of times where a student was transformed by a sense of accomplishment because they worked hard to achieve a goal. e music, in those instances, was a means to get to that level of accomplishment. Sonja: I feel very passionate about mentoring young arts managers. I have mentored probably twelve to fieen interns in my career so far. Many of them go on to work and lead in arts organizations. I always tried to instill a respect, honesty, and pursuit of excellence in their work while recognizing that we all bring something different to the table. I also remained teachable when I was mentoring, oen leaving me changed for the better. Jason: I would say that it is not the music by itself that does this. It is the community of musicians, the rigor of rehearsal, and the expectations for excellence, which are performed with a stance of openness to the audience. Choosing music that the audience will simply "like" is pandering to the lowest common denominator, while choosing music that probably only the performers will "like" most likely communicates a sense of elitism and standoffishness that will turn off an audience. e selection of appropriate repertoire, combined with great performing, helps an audience leave inspired, challenged, and hopeful for the future. Question 9: If you were going to lay the groundwork for a new society in America where classical music was essential, necessary, and transformative, what steps would be required for such a groundwork? Jonas: It is important that creativity be valued in the education of all children. Classical music performances must be accessible to all audiences (not saying all would have to be that way, but you have to appeal to people that are unfamiliar with your art in order to get them to come to concerts). Classical music performances need to be done in the community and in non-traditional environments so to connect with audiences within their comfort zones and in familiar contexts. Sonja: I think a society needs to be built on excellence, respect, and diversity. Music can express all of those things, but will not have the freedom to until the citizens pursue excellence, respect ,and diversity in all areas of life. We should highlight the incredible development Jonas Thoms, horn player & educator "It is important that creativity be valued in the education of all children. Classical music performances must be accessible to all audiences…" MODERN MUSICIAN SURVEY SURVEY continued from page 25

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