orchestra – Houghton STAR

By Grace Vuolo

Last week, on February 1, Houghton University had the privilege of hosting the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in our very own Wesley Chapel, conducted by our very own conductor, Theodore Kuchar. President Lewis opened the concert, praying that it would be a blessing to all performers and visitors. His prayer was most assuredly answered. This concert was a surreal experience both for musicians and nonmusicians alike. While this writer reviews from a musical background and technical perspective, regardless of the knowledge of the listeners, the effects of the musical magic enveloped the entire room. The unmatched rush of watching professional musicians tune as the lights dimmed was enough to encompass and enhance the already heightened anticipation.

The first piece performed by the orchestra was a chamber symphony for strings and a solo flutist by Yevhen Stankovych. The coordination between the soloist and the full-string ensemble was absolutely incredible. The flutist played rapid scales and arpeggios with precision and accuracy while the strings played with animation and an array of various techniques providing different sounds. The string’s layered harmonies and flutes uplifting levels of emotion conversed to express a lively story filled with intensity and intention. Kuchar conducted with clear direction and enthusiastic involvement in each and every sequence.

The second piece played was a Brahms violin concerto. The violinists’ bows moved in perfect unison on each note. Kuchar’s conducting led to clear-cut dynamic changes in every instrument, from the soothing relaxation of soft strings to the intense acceleration of bursting brass. The communication between brass and strings during the call-and-response sections sent a vapor of perfectly synced music swirling about the entire chapel. While the orchestra worked beautifully together, the true star of the Brahms concerto was the lovely and extraordinarily talented Vladyslava Luchenko. Luchenko believes that she sees “the musician’s true purpose in being a guide to a person’s most sacred, hidden unconscious…a profound healing tool, a bridge to the higher dimensions.” The skill level that she displayed was on a level that I cannot imagine many musicians reaching in their lifetime–yet, her performance was nothing less than inspiring. Her movements were swift and precise and led the orchestra beautifully. The percussionist used the timpani to drive the beat perfectly into Luchenko’s gorgeous notes and patterns. There must also be a special shout-out to Houghton’s own graduate student Melissa Kleinberger who had the amazing opportunity to perform with the orchestra and played her cello magnificently. Congratulations, Melissa!

The third piece was Dvořák’s ninth symphony in E minor which followed Kuchar expressing Ukraine’s thanks to the U.S. for the intellectual and financial help it has sent, making it possible for the Ukrainian government to function and the orchestra to come perform at Houghton. The piece was played with such passion and emotion that the gratefulness of each and every player could be felt.

To top off the performance, the orchestra played a piece of entirely Ukrainian origin, showcasing the musical roots of the orchestra. As the piece came to a conclusive end, members of the orchestra held up a Ukrainian/United States flag. The entire performance was so filled with emotion and heart. Kuchar’s pride and love for the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was clear and passed through to the audience.

Thank you, Professor Kuchar, for sharing with us the gift of hearing your orchestra perform, and for treating us with the same love that you showed the musicians last Wednesday night. ★

The theme of tonight’s Houghton Pops Orchestra concert is Hearts of the Highlands II: A Song to Remember, directed by Robert Martin.

“The concert has a Celtic theme with different varieties ranging from traditional Celtic music to pieces from How to Train Your Dragon and The Boondock Saints,” said second violinist Nathan Sircy. “This concert will be very similar to the first one that Houghton Pops performed.”

The concert won’t simply be a classical performance of music, but rather a synthesis of music and dance. A troupe of dancers from Seneca Falls will be showcased, and Houghton alum, Alastair Hutton, will be playing the bagpipes. Different students will be featured with solos, including sophomore Rachael Anacker, who will be performing an Irish dance.
Junior Rachel Spak is highlighted as the fiddler in all the Celtic violin solos. Having played for thirteen years, Spak’s experience and that of the other musicians will bring professionalism to the production.
“It’s going to be an incredible night. It is not like the other concerts we have around at Houghton because it’s not so classical and uptight,” said Spak. “Rather, it will be laid back and a lot of fun!”
Each member of the performance has put in a significant amount of time to prepare. Martin has particularly devoted a lot of his time and energy to the show, as he has been writing the music since last summer. The music was given to the orchestra to learn before winter recess. Aside from the weekly two-hour rehearsal on Wednesday nights, all the participants have been putting in their own time since Christmas break.

“It will be exciting and a relief to finally perform this music. We have all worked really hard to put this concert together, especially the director Rob Martin, and we hope that the crowd will enjoy the performance as much as will performing,” said Sircy. “We had a really positive reaction from the crowd last year so we hope to keep it going through this year and the years to come.”

“The greatest thing about this music is the audience can react however they want whenever they want. If they like something they can scream and shout. The orchestra feeds off of the energy,” said Martin, “So, the normal rules of concert etiquette don’t really apply in this type of concert.”

Everyone involved is eager to execute what they have worked so hard to prepare. Emotions have permeated the production as the performers are a mixture of nervous and excited, yet are still confident of a solid performance.

So join the Houghton Pops Orchestra this Friday night in their tribute to our Houghton Highlander tradition tonight at 7:30pm in the Wesley Chapel. As Rachel Spak said, “We will be [ready]. It always pulls together at the end, no matter what.”