This year in Cordiner Hall, two orchestras will fill Whitman’s concert halls with rich and complex music, connecting musicians from Whitman and the Walla Walla community to give attendees a listening experience where each concert is unique. Both the Walla Walla Symphony and Whitman’s Orchestra will build up the programming for music played in Cordiner, with the Walla Walla Symphony Series and various programming through Whitman ensembles making a dynamic, music-filled year for concertgoers.
Dina Gilbert, the Walla Walla Symphony Music Director and Conductor, described the intentional thought put into the season’s theming. Specifically, Gilbert is interested in transporting viewers directly into Walla Walla’s landscape through environmentally-focused themes and songs.
“When I first started thinking about the programming, since Walla walla is a “Place of many Waters”, I decided that this first concert was to be tied with water elements. Throughout the whole season, you’re gonna see [that] I’m going through different elements,” Gilbert said. “I’m even ending the season with a title which is Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, in which, like, each work, for me, is tied to an element. This is what I like when I’m doing programming… I do find my creativity is in putting on a plate like a chef would be putting a meal: different things that might inspire you to go to a different trip in your mind, different aesthetics, or about combining different expertise of people that will be on the stage.”
Jonathan Spatola-Knoll, Visiting Professor of Music and Director of Whitman’s Orchestra, described how the different communities that play music can influence theming and performance in exciting ways.
“One thing that I think is really special about something like orchestra is it gives people an opportunity not just to play music, but to be part of a community and to have a positive experience trying to make good music together,” Spatola-Knoll said. “As a professor, how do I pick music that’s going to be engaging for a really diverse group of students and diverse group of experience levels, and also fits the instrument we have? It’s kind of a little bit of a puzzle sometimes, but I think it’s just so important to make sure that every concert gives every student an opportunity to feel really engaged and invested in it, and also feel proud of what they did and what they accomplished.”
Gilbert hopes the Walla Walla Symphony achieves a similar goal in their productions, where every individual feels like a distinct part of the whole symphony.
“My dearest wish would be that, we will be one of the artistic organizations, that in 10 years, who are… now recognized as such a flexible, nimble, audacious and kind organization that are not afraid to nurture change or try things,” Gilbert said, “I do feel sometimes classical music by structure can be just too set. Of course we need to follow certain rules for our musicians to feel individually respected within the big collective. If we are doing the work and making sure that there are different ways in which we can present our love of music, why not?”
Ella Yuen, a senior Music Performance and English major who plays the flute for Whitman’s Orchestra, finds that the communal aspect of playing music is one of the highlights of her Whitman Orchestra experience.
“It is also just a community where you can play music with other people. And I think that’s the most important part – that it’s somewhere where you can just play music with other musicians. And that’s always great, I think a lot of people [at Whitman] join orchestra kind of just as non-music majors to get music back in their lives,” Yuen said.
Peter de Grasse, Senior Lecturer of Dance, is excited about the potential of adding more music on campus and in Walla Walla and looks forward to the performances.
“We are now privileged to have Dina Gilbert as Music Director and Conductor of Walla Walla Symphony. I understand Gilbert has chops in Hip Hop collaborations, and is interested in making that connection here locally… So we could be entering a lively era for music here in Walla Walla,” de Grasse said.
Walla Walla Symphony’s next performance at Whitman, titled Blue Mountains, is on Dec. 3 and they will perform multiple times throughout the spring semester. Whitman’s Orchestra will be playing a piece during the Sampler Concert on Oct. 25 and will have a standalone performance on Nov. 1. The lively programming for both orchestras ensures that campus remains filled with lively and dynamic orchestra music.
