VOA标准英语2013--Youth Orchestra Bridges Worlds of Music

 

Youth Orchestra Bridges Worlds of Music

There are high school students in the group as young as 15, and young professionals up to age 25, and conductor Roger Kalia says they all bring passion to their music.

“There is a certain amount of energy and excitement, which is just contagious¹, and I love seeing that," said Kalia.

The musicians prepared for a recent performance at a local middle school that included selections from Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. 70 young musicians get to work with the best in the field.  

Flutist Mira Magrill recently performed a solo as the orchestra played a selection from John Williams' score for the film War Horse.

“And it starts and ends with a huge flute² cadenza, which I got to perform, with John Williams conducting.  It was probably the best performance I have ever been a part of," said Magrill.

Rehearsals³ help the orchestra master difficult compositions.  And as part of the foundation's outreach, members mentor⁴ kids in local schools and perform in small chamber⁵ music ensembles⁶. The foundation also sponsors competitions and scholarships.

Young conductors who led the orchestra early in their career include Michael Tilson Thomas and Andre Previn, according to Kalia, 28,  the current music director who is a doctoral student at Indiana University.

“This is also for me a training position, and I am learning so much working with these younger musicians," he said.

This orchestra helps young musicians make the transition from the school or conservatory⁷ to the concert hall, says Julia Gaskill, the foundation's executive director.

“They build confidence.  And their love of music and their natural talent is nurtured," said Gaskill.

She says the orchestra is the bridge to a career and a lifelong love of music. 

1 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

2 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

3 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

5 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

6 ensembles   

整体( ensemble的名词复数 )； 合奏； 乐团； 全套服装（尤指女装）

参考例句：

• I love to play in all types of ensembles. 我喜欢参与吹奏各种各样的合奏曲。
• The 5th Brigade is now taking 895 Land Warrior ensembles to Afghanistan. 第五旅现在携带895套陆地勇士装备去阿富汗。

7 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。