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34 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 3, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene · WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE w w w. g e a r m u s i c . n e t 324 Kerr St. 905-339-3515 A little night music in Halton Local orchestras draw young talent By Tina Depko I in common." Obermeyer also plays piano, flute and sings. She studies violin privatet's 8 p.m. on a Tuesday night and ly, but says there are things you can a classroom at a school in north only learn by playing in an orchesOakville is packed with more tra. than 50 musicians. "Orchestra helps with the theory String, wind and brass players, as aspect of music, as well as music hiswell as percussionists, are working tory, because you learn the comthrough a gruelling violin concerto posers and the different styles," she by Dmitry Kabalevsky. said. "It has been an amazing experiTwo doors down, about 35 string ence being able to play with such a players are fine-tuning sections of great group of people." Van Morrison's hit, Moondance. Responsibility is a major life skill The fact musicians are rehearsstudents get out of the orchestra. ing late on a weeknight isn't surprisJust ask Tyra Sweet, who serves as ing. The fact that these are children principal violist of the chamber and youths aged 9 to 20 might be. orchestra. Tuesday night rehearsals from "Lots of people might think we're September though May at King's not professional because of our age, Christian Collegiate are a way of life and while we are good friends and for members of the Halton Youth like to have fun, when it comes to Symphony Orchestra, and its music, we're as professional as it can younger counterpart, the Halton get," said Sweet, 12, who has been Youth Chamber Orchestra. playing violin for 10 years and viola Not only are these for about five years. youths regularly "It has been an "We listen to the condevoting a school amazing experience ductor, we listen to night to making being able to play the music and we music, they are also know what to pracwith such a great coming in from places tice. Being in this like Burlington, group of people." group also helps with Milton, Mississauga, Robyn Obermeyer dynamics and sight Ancaster and other Concertmaster, HYSO reading." parts of Oakville -- in Sweet has been a rush hour, nonethemember of the chamber orchestra less -- to be here. for two years. She is also a teen menBut the significant time committor with the Oakville Suzuki ment doesn't seem to bother the Association, as well as a participant students one bit. in a program called the Young For musicians like Robyn Artists Performance Academy at the Obermeyer, there's nowhere else Royal Conservatory of Music in she'd rather be. Toronto. "Music is my life," said the 14She said one of her favourite year-old violinist. aspects of playing in the HYCO is the Obermeyer, who picked up the music selection. violin at age three, is the concert"I like playing because we do so master of the HYSO. She was in the many interesting songs," she said. chamber orchestra for two years "We get to play songs we've heard of, before advancing to the senior like Moondance, and a lot of fun orchestra in 2007. stuff." "I help tune the orchestra, make Sweet is also working on the sure everyone has their music and Telemann Viola Concerto in G has it practiced, and has the right Major, which she will perform with fingerings and bowings," she said the HYCO at an upcoming concert. when asked about her responsibili"It should be exciting," she said. ties as concertmaster. "I have to "I've been busy practicing and I'm make sure everyone is prepared. I've pretty much ready." learned that there is a lot of responWhile there are many musical sibility being a leader, especially of a skills to be garnered from playing in group this big. Socially, as well, you such a group, it is also just plain fun, learn to be everyone's friend, but it's according to violinist Jean-Paul really easy to get along with everyAugurusa. one here because we all have music See Youth page 35 OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF SOUND OF MUSIC: The halls of a local school were recently filled with the sound of music as the Halton Youth Symphony Orchestra and its younger counterpart, the Halton Youth Chamber Orchestra, rehearse. Above, members of the HYCO prepare a piece for their holiday concert; left, HYSO member Remy Audel focuses on his music, and below, the trumpet section of the HYSO has a chance to toot their own horns. For a complete slideshow, visit: www.oakvillebeaver.com/community/gallery/slideshow. PHOTOS BY DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER