Liberty School follows own beat

BLUE HILL – It used to be that Saturday morning cartoons were the highlight of the weekend. Cuddle up on the couch, bowl of cereal in hand, and – BING-BANG-BOOM – what a morning. But for a small and skillful group of musicians in coastal Maine, the TV set never gets a glance. That’s because these dedicated players devote several Saturdays a month to attend Saturday Conservatory of Music, a community-based orchestral ensemble at the Liberty School in Blue Hill.

Established last year by Thom Wubbenhorst, director of classical music at the alternative private high school, the conservatory was a response to the need for a local orchestral program for young musicians in the area. The closest program for youths is the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra, which rehearses Sunday mornings in Orono. While many musicians in the state are willing and able to commute to those rehearsals, these musicians like the idea of having an orchestral group available in their own backyard.

After last term’s series of morning rehearsals, the first concert in December proved to be a success. The program continued and, last month on a snowy, icy morning, most of the players showed up in boots and parkas to prepare for a second public concert 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Francis By the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill.

Wubbenhorst stood at the front of the classroom and raised his hands to begin a rehearsal of Peter Warlock’s “Capriol.”

“Let’s look at the beginning minus the first violins,” he said, as the musicians adjusted to upright positions in their seats. He spoke of shifts in dynamics, leadership in sections and the importance of melody. “Be confident about this,” he said after the group performed sluggishly. “Even if you’re not, you’ll play better. Just play out.”

When the three-hour rehearsal ended, Wubbenhorst gathered with a smaller group of participants for a session on composing music. One girl offered to perform the introduction to a song she had written that week for violin. The piece was plaintive, haunting, sad and very American in style. Wubbenhorst complimented the beauty of the piece and asked the fledgling composer to think where she might go next, what the variations might involve, and how she might accomplish her goals.

“The heart of the program is to provide the people in this area with an orchestral experience they haven’t had – at least close by,” said Wubbenhorst, who has taught band and orchestral studies at colleges throughout the country. “An important aspect of this chamber orchestra is the development of musical community among its members. There is tremendous power within a musical organization when the individuals set aside their egos for the collective. The level of play, the quality of literature, the musical ensemble – all become much more than what one might imagine given the individual parts. I try to keep rehearsals light and enjoyable. I make my expectations clear and try to create an environment where everyone is an equal part of the musical team.”

Wubbenhorst originally intended the conservatory to be for school-age musicians with two years of private instruction. But when a handful of parents and other community members learned about the opportunity to play live music in an academic setting, they decided to forfeit their Saturday morning routines in favor of music, too.

The addition of adults added an extra responsibility for Wubbenhorst.

“One of the great challenges is to find music that keeps the better people challenged while keeping the less-experienced players from feeling left behind,” he said.

It’s a challenge that Emeline Reynolds knows, too. A 14-year-old violinist, Reynolds plays in the group and also is the concertmaster. She says it’s not difficult for her to adjust to the playing skills of those around her. For her, the focus is on having a good time as well as exposure to chamber music.

“I have a lot of fun,” said Emeline, who has been formally studying violin since she was 6. “It’s neat. It’s given me the opportunity to play music I wouldn’t normally play. But my whole point is that it’s a lot of fun.”

For Arnold Greenberg, principal and founder of Liberty School, the music program is a natural extension of the school’s philosophy. Many of the music students in the school also attend the Saturday Conservatory.

“You can hear students practicing three hours a day as you walk down the hallway,” said Greenberg. “So it’s exposing all the students to music they wouldn’t usually hear. Of course, it’s also giving a student who loves to play the time to practice during the school day rather than after school. The whole goal of the program here is that students get to spend time doing what they are passionate about.”

The conservatory runs on the same trimester system as the school. As soon as the March concert ends, spring rehearsals will kick off in April, and Wubbenhorst still is looking to audition musicians to round out the string, woodwind, brass and percussion sections.

“I hope this ensemble will fill a need for this part of the Maine coast,” Wubbenhorst said. “The musicians strike me as being focused on the task of the orchestra. They respond really well to what I am asking, which is, essentially, that they come to rehearsal with their parts prepared. Without exception, every one of them is working really hard to do that.”

The Saturday Conservatory of Music will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Francis By the Sea Episcopal Church at 19 Hinckley Ridge Road in Blue Bill. For information on the concert or the program, call 374-2886.