Member Event: Friends Music Academy

A 4-part program providing opportunities for adults to learn about various aspects of music and enhance their appreciation of our orchestra! All classes are held at the Plaza Live and begin at 5 PM, preceded by refreshments at 4:30 PM. Monday January 6, 2020 - Those Exotic Percussion Instruments: Have you ever wondered what really goes on in the back of the orchestra? OPO Principal Timpanist Carl Rendek and percussionist Mark Goldberg and principal percussionist John Patton introduce us to the intriguing world of percussion with some historical references, interesting instruments that you may never have heard of, and percussion ensemble music to put it all together. Monday - February 3, 2020 - The Incomparable Dr. Mary Palmer interviewed by David Schillhammer:Dr. Mary Palmer, an internationally recognized expert in arts education, is President of the OPO Board and is Professor Emerita at UCF, having served as Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Education and Dean of the College of Education. She currently works with schools throughout the country to assist them in developing arts integration programs to enhance student success and create vibrant schools. Mary will share some of the current research on how music affects brain development, the impact of music on children, what is currently happening in music education, and what we can do to ensure that music becomes an integral and ongoing part of our children’s lives. Monday March 2, 2020 - Nikolay Blagov, OPO’s Virtuoso Clarinetist: The clarinet is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments in the orchestra, and Nikolay Blagov is the extraordinary artist who makes it sing. From an instrument of just a few keys to the modern instrument of today, hear how it developed as we listen to the music written for it, discover some unusual sounds and techniques (How does one do that glissando in Rhapsody in Blue?), and enjoy musicianship at its best. Monday April 13, 2020 - Do You Hear What I Hear: The Art of Listening: Our enjoyment of music is greatly influenced by how we listen. Jeff Thomas, Principal Trombonist of the OPO, will guide us in recognizing the musical elements that create our connection to the music and influence how we react to what we hear. Discover the fascinating reasons music sounds Romantic, where John Williams found the inspiration for Star Wars, or what Aaron Copland was really thinking of when he wrote Appalachian Spring (hint: It wasn’t mountains).