Musicians trickle into the room one by one, find their seats and start to unpack. The sounds of an orchestra warming up start to fill the room. It sounds like a professional orchestra that might play at The Lied Center, but in reality is the sounds of school age students who might dream of playing there. Many students at Lincoln Southeast High School (LSE) participate in extracurriculars at and outside of school, but one activity that might be overlooked is a youth orchestra, some of the only ones to be provided free of charge and to youth. With a combined age range of 3-12 grade, the three youth orchestras offered in Lincoln are the Youth Ensemble of Strings (YES), Junior Youth Orchestra (JYO) and Lincoln Youth Symphony (LYS).
Del Whitman, the Music Director and Conductor of JYO, said that the environment in the organization is fun and motivating, and it’s made him love people more. “When you’re around them and we’re all working hard, we can see the results. And you really want to spend your time doing worthwhile things like learning or making music and using the skills you have been given.” The orchestras are open across the district, and are free to all participants. The LYS orchestra was established in 1957, and has traveled to and performed in many places, including Rome, Prague, China and Hong Kong. LYS is open to students during all four years of high school. One student that has participated in all of the orchestras and is currently involved in LYS is sophomore Hudson Lewandowski.
Lewandowski says that participating in the orchestras has made him a better player. “I’ve been able to listen to the whole orchestra and I have a better ear from it. You [also] get experience and it could be something you want to do for the rest of your life.”
These orchestras are audition-only, so using a teacher’s ideas to help improve your technique and practicing can better your chances of getting in and being able to play the music.
“Practice regularly, just like you brush your teeth regularly, and you do your math homework regularly, because that just makes a big difference. It’s not always fun, but homework’s not always fun, but you can see the results right? You get good grades, you learn. So practicing is a big factor,” Whitman said.
After getting into an orchestra, you don’t have to participate or audition in future years. “My advice would be just try stuff out,” Lewandowski said.
Many residents of Lincoln and Nebraska do not know about these opportunities that young musicians have. A lot of people interact with music in different ways, and it’s a great way for young musicians to express themselves and share their talents.
“I think music should be in everybody’s life. It just means that maybe you don’t play or sing but you listen to it. Or you go to a concert and it can be any style of music, of course rock music or hip hop or jazz. It’s all kinds of great styles of music, but music is all around us. You just want to appreciate it and not take it for granted,” Whitman said.
