- Tonight, it is my distinct privilege to introduce you to the 2024 WSMA High School State Honors Orchestra and their esteemed conductor, Mr. Steven Amundson.

[audience applauds] - We have two trumpet players that need to go off stage, so they forgot to do that.

[audience laughs] I saw the panic in their faces when they realized they don't have time.

[audience laughs] Just take a moment.

[light percussion music] [bright trumpet music] [bright trumpet music continues] [light percussion music continues] [deep brass music] [airy orchestral music] [bright piccolo music] [airy orchestral music] [bright orchestral music] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [audience applauds] [audience applauds] It's a joy and a privilege to be here.

I've been here now, this is my third time, I think, conducting this orchestra.

And I'm filled with gratitude for that opportunity.

All three of them have been great.

This one has been special and remarkable.

I want to take 'em all home with me.

[audience laughs] But Minnesota has the Vikings and Wisconsin has the Packers, so I know.

[audience laughs] But here's the cool thing, I grew up in Wisconsin.

I'm a big Packer fan.

Seriously.

Yes.

Well, anyway-- [audience applauds] We're not here to talk sports.

But I wanted to just say that this, I told the orchestra, this concert has basically four basic themes.

The first piece, which was written right during the end of the pandemic, as a means of welcoming everyone back to making music.

The theme is kind of unity in my mind.

In fact, the composer mentions that, Gabriela Ortiz, very famous Mexican composer, mentions the idea of let's unite again and experience the joy of music.

The second theme is gratitude, and that's related to this next piece.

I'll say a few words about it.

The third piece is about peace in the world, and it's gonna be a sort of a dedicatory performance, a musical prayer for peace, if you will.

And the last piece is just kind of a celebration of music.

It's the big work on the program is the last one.

And we've had a lot of fun putting it together.

This next piece, I just wanna say a few quick words about it.

It was commissioned by a friend of mine named Doug Scott, and his wife is Grace Schroeder Scott.

And she was retiring from the institution I taught at, at the time, St. Olaf College.

And so he wanted me to write a piece in her honor.

So Grace and I got together.

I said, "What do you want?

Like, what would you like me to write about?"

And she said, we talked a little bit, and she says, "What about the theme of gratitude?"

And I said, "Sign me up."

Because from a little kid, our family was big on living with gratitude and having a thankful heart.

But here's the two serendipities about, the title is "Gratia Viva," which is loosely translated living in gratitude.

The word grace is another translation for gratia.

And her name is Grace.

The other serendipity is that in the word grace, how many letters are musical letters?

G, A, C, and E. So four of the five letters are musical letters.

And I thought maybe I can weave them in, but I really wanted to use R. So what about this?

♪ Do, Re, Me ♪ So I'm gonna have you play the first five notes, Oboe, listen to the Grace theme G, go ahead.

[gentle oboe music] That's it!

And those five notes become the melody for many, many parts of this piece.

So listen for that.

And because it's a piece about gratitude, I quoted the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God."

And it's hinted at, at the beginning, and then later it turns into a dance.

We hope you enjoy "Gratia Viva."

[gentle orchestral music] [gentle oboe music] [gentle orchestral music continues] [gentle orchestral music continues] [gentle orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music] [bright orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music continues] [light, playful orchestral music] [light, playful orchestral music continues] [light playful orchestral music continues] [bright orchestral music] [bright orchestral music continues] [gentle orchestral music] [deep orchestral music] [deep orchestral music continues] [deep orchestral music continues] [dramatic gentle orchestral music] [dramatic gentle orchestral music continues] [triumphant orchestral music] [audience applauds] [audience cheers] [audience applauds] I need to mention that in the program it says, Piano Solo by Sophia Bluma.

And it's not, there's not a big piano solo in this piece.

I don't know how that got on the program, but Sophia, you did a great job.

She's not the pianist sitting out front.

So I don't know how that got on the program, but I wanted to mention it 'cause it might've been a little embarrassing to Sophia to be listed as a pianist.

She also plays violin in the orchestra.

Okay, this next piece, you know, I think all of our hearts are full of sadness for all of the war in the world.

So many places we look.

This piece was actually written by a Ukrainian composer.

And when Ukraine was first invaded, I did this piece a couple of times with a couple of different orchestras and it just seems so fitting.

But today, we won't only recognize the war in Ukraine, we'll recognize other wars and just offer this as a prayer, musical prayer for peace in the world.

And it's just a poignant short piece.

And it's just a treasure.

And we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

[gentle orchestral music] [gentle, anxious orchestral music] [gentle, anxious orchestral music continues] [tense, anxious orchestral music] [tense, anxious orchestral music continues] [gentle, anxious orchestral music] [dramatic, anxious orchestral music] [gentle, anxious orchestral music] [audience applauds] So once again, thank you so much for having me.

This joy to work with these students, they're just so talented.

I think back to when I was their age, I don't think I measured up; I really don't.

And I'm just so proud of them, so proud of them.

I'm so grateful for the staff.

As you know, WSMA has a summer camp, right?

And we have all of these counselors and coaches who literally coach each of the sections and we already thanked them earlier.

But I wanted to second that bit of thanks because it was just such a joy working with them all.

I see some of them sitting right over here, and I just really thank you all so much.

It was just great; we had so much fun.

And Craig Kellenberger, who's the chief of this crew, I'm just so grateful for him.

And he was the one who made this thing happen from long time ago when he started working on this event.

And I'm just grateful to him and Tim Wurgler, and all of the staff, but mostly to these students.

And I want to thank all of you parents.

You remember when they were little and started and remember the sounds they were making?

[audience laughs] You know, so you stuck it out.

And now, look at this.

You should be so proud.

Parents and grandparents and all of you teachers who had a part in shaping these young people.

I talked to them about the gratitude they must feel for all of you for helping them get to where they are today.

And I know they're filled with gratitude and they just play their hearts out.

And this next piece is gonna be very exciting.

It's got just so much variety.

"Capriccio Italien" by Tchaikovsky.

Celebration.

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