Do you like expressing yourself through music? Do you enjoy connecting with others who feel the same way? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you should consider joining the Chamber Music Club.
MHS’ Chamber Music Club is a newly formed student-run program that offers an invaluable experience for students to connect. It also allows students to express their individuality through their interpretation of the music, working together to improve their confidence and skills. The club strives to create an environment where students can play music outside of the standards imposed by regular orchestra repertoires and the conforms of solo arrangements. Orchestral and solo pieces are great for certain purposes, like large ensemble performances and solo competitions, but they generally fall into the category of classical music and composers from centuries ago – a type of music that does not appeal to everyone.
“We hear Mozart and Bach and Handel played every year,” said Chamber Music Club president Akshay Manna, a junior. “While these composers are certainly great, we wanted to give people something new to experience.”
Chamber ensembles are not something that all musicians can experience because of various factors.
“Oftentimes, even if you have an interest in chamber music, you face barriers such as auditions, expensive fees, and having to fit yourself into the box of being a “standard” chamber music instrument,” Manna said.
The category of standard chamber instruments is quite small; it consists of traditional orchestral instruments, select brass and keyboard instruments and woodwinds. Because of the incorporation of non-traditional instruments, students have to get creative.
“I have to mimic the tone [on the viola] to sound like a cello or a violin, moving in and out between the two,” said sophomore Kavya Kashyap.
Every part counts; with smaller groupings of musicians, it is crucial to analyze your part and collaborate with group members to succeed in a tighter ensemble. Allowing students to play pieces they are passionate about, the club was created out of a rare passion – a passion for chamber music.
“It is a style of music so vastly different from the solo and orchestral music that we typically play as musicians. It occupies that gap between being the spotlighted performer on stage and being one in a sea of sixty,” Manna said. “It teaches you so many things about independence, listening to others, giving and taking, and yet, despite all of these benefits for you as both a person and musician, it seems to be the least emphasized.”
Two recitals are currently planned for the 2023-24 school year – one in late January/early February and another in late May. According to Manna, these recitals will be the “culmination of the months of work that our musicians have put into their music.” There will also be smaller, less formal events that the club will perform at throughout the year.
The Chamber Music Club meets every Friday morning from 7:15 to 8:15. Musicians participating in the club will be offered experiences like traveling to chamber concerts, listening to guest speakers and learning about playing chamber music to gain a deeper understanding of the music form. For non-musicians, concerts will be held around the community, including fundraising and charity events, all of which MHS students are invited and encouraged to attend!
