02/19/2024
Quincy Sun article on our recent concert with the Atlantic Youth Orchestra.
Senior And Youth Orchestras
Hit The High Notes At Joint Concert
By TOM GORMAN
Music filled the air of the sanctuary of a Weymouth church as generations of local musicians performed various instrumental selections ranging from past centuries to the present.
The Quincy-based Atlantic Youth Orchestra and the Wompatuck Senior Orchestra of Hingham performed a first-ever joint concert at the East Weymouth Congregational Church on Sunday, Jan. 28 before some 40 people of all ages. The program, “Let’s Dance,” featured dance music from throughout the ages.
Among the selections played included the overture to Amadis de Gaule composed by Johann Christian Bach in the 1700s, Robert Frost’s “Grand Fanfare and Processional,” the “Can-Can” by Jacques Offenbach, and “Shipping up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys.
Susan Bill of Weymouth, founder of the Atlantic Youth Orchestra, conducted the concert. It was the first time she waved the baton before the Wompatuck Senior Orchestra. She serves as music director of both groups and was pleased with the success of the joint concert.
“I was really happy with the results, and I’d love to do it again,” said Bill. “That was my debut as conductor of the WSO (Wompatuck Senior Orchestra), so we are all getting used to one another.”
The Atlantic Youth Orchestra was formed in 2009 and is comprised of nearly 20 young musicians from around the South Shore, mainly from Quincy, Braintree, and Milton.
“The age range of the Atlantic Youth Orchestra members is determined by the length of time that they’ve been studying their instrument,” Bill said. “Most players at the moment are in late elementary and middle school, but I have some high schoolers, and adult beginners are always welcome. They attend public and private schools and no school at all.”
Since its inception, the youth orchestra has performed at least one concert every year. During the COVID 19 pandemic shutdown, concerts were held virtually. Bill explained that the repertoire varies depending on the young musicians’ talents.
“The level of difficulty of the repertoire is determined by the level of expertise of the combination of players,” she said. “Like any activity for young people, the personnel changes every year as the older students graduate and younger students come in. I try to strike a balance of classical music, Broadway tunes, pop songs from various eras, and more recent selections, even including music from video games. I believe that there is educational content in practically any piece of music that we play together as an ensemble.”
Members pay no fee to participate but are required to maintain good attendance and are expected to “practice their parts at home before coming to rehearsal.”
“String students are invited to audition after a year of study, or the private teacher may recommend the student for membership,” said Bill.
Rehearsals are held at Christ Church in Quincy Center and concerts are held at various locations including Christ Church, Atria at Marina Bay assisted living, and St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church in Wollaston. Bill added that her ensemble has performed during Quincy’s annual Porchfest “where we have performed most often on the porch of Attorney George Burke.”
The Wompatuck Senior Orchestra features retired and professional musicians, currently through their 70s. According to viola player Marie Hoitt, its longest member, the orchestra got its start on the campus of Massasoit Community College nearly 50 years ago.
“When I was living in Carver, my son Skip, who plays oboe, heard about an orchestra at Massasoit College in Brockton” Hoitt said. “We joined and played under the direction of John Rose. We played at two concerts per year and at graduation. There was a chorus also, so we performed one half, and they performed one half.”
The orchestra’s initial conductor was fired after a disagreement over a piece of music. According to Marie Hoitt, her sister Pat Hoitt, who played cello, suggested the hiring of Paul Cappers as the new conductor.
Marie Hoitt said Cappers balked at the college’s new president who decided to charge $30 per semester for music lessons but would not allow any concerts to be performed on campus. That led to Cappers arranging the orchestra to start rehearsing at a church in Hingham and took on the name of Wompatuck Senior Orchestra.
A few years ago after Cappers moved out of state, ensemble member Kathleen Almand moved its base to the Hingham House of Prayer, its current location.
Both the Atlantic Youth Orchestra and Wompatuck Senior Orchestra will per¬form concerts this spring. And the Wompatuck group may also collaborate with other music ensembles.
Bill noted the members of both orchestras share a passion for music.“People play in ensembles like these for the sheer love of playing music together,” she said. “It’s so exciting to be in front of a group of people who are motivated by love of music.”
