The Oxford High School Chamber Orchestra traveled to Detroit this past Monday (Feb. 1) after receiving an invite to perform at Wayne State University (WSU) for Wayne State’s Honors String Day.
The day was full of rehearsals with Wayne State’s University Symphony Orchestra and sectionals with Detroit Symphony Orchestra faculty. The students performed under conductor Professor Kypros Markou, director of Orchestral Studies at WSU. Prior to the event Oxford’s Director of Orchestras Natalie Frakes said the students would recieve ‘invaluable knowledge from the rehearsals and sectionals.?
‘This is a huge deal,? Frakes added. ‘These kids will have the opportunity to work with world-class musicians, literally some of the best in the Midwest, so we’re really excited about that.?
The orchestra performed Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor on their own and then performed P. I. Tchaikovsky’s ‘Finale? from the famous ‘Serenade for Strings.? with the University’s Symphony Orchestra and other high schools that attended the Strings Day event for a combined orchestra performance. Oxford also performed ‘Akinla? from the African Suite, which was written by a 20th century Nigerian classical composer Fela Sowande, with the University’s Symphony Orchestra.
‘Another big thing about bringing the kids to Detroit is a lot of them have not been able to experience being in the city, which is a big deal,? Frakes said. ‘I lived there for five years and went to school at Wayne, so it’s like my home. There is so much art and support for the arts down there.?
Upcoming events
Frakes noted that Professor Markou will be in Oxford this Friday to run some clinics with the high school orchestras.
‘I am glad the kids will again get to experience working with him, but it will be more catered to what we’re going to be doing on Feb. 20 for District Solo & Ensemble,? Frakes said. ‘We’ll be performing Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor.?
Speaking of Solo & Ensemble, Frakes said Oxford Middle School Orchestra students Madelyne Perry, Melodie Mitchell, Elizabeth Hartman, Emily McClear and Seth Palmer all received medals at the Junior MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) festival held last Dec.
On Feb. 11, the high school orchestra will hold an ‘All-City Oxford Orchestra String workshop,? where the seventh and eighth grade orchestras will come to the high school and rehearse on stage in the Oxford Arts Conservatory.
‘We’re having Dr. Wendy Matthews from Wayne State come in and do clinics with them,? Frakes explained. ‘Then we’re having some local musicians who play violin, viola, cello and bass working in sectionals with the students as well, so that’s going to be really cool.?
On Feb. 26 and 27, the MSBOA festival will be held at Oxford High School. The high school’s concert and symphony orchestras will be performing on Friday and seventh and eighth grade will perform on Saturday.
‘We get to perform three pieces in front of three really esteemed judges who are trained to judge this type of event,? Frakes said, speaking of the high school orchestra.
Scores are given as a rating of one, two, three or four, with one being the best and four being the worst.
‘We’ve been working really hard,? Frakes added. ‘So, I think it’s going to be a really cool thing for us to perform for (the judges).?
In April, the orchestra will be teaming up with the Oxford Dance Conservatory for a performance.
‘We’re going to be playing for them and providing the background music for them to dance to,? Frakes said.
New to the district
Frakes is the latest teacher to take over the high school’s orchestra programs after Bill Milicevic stepped down from his position last year. She also teaches fourth-grade orchestra.
Frakes grew up in Dearborn where she graduated from Dearborn High School and attended the Dearborn Center for Math, Science and Technology.
She graduated from Wayne State in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in music, music education and performance.
‘Interestingly enough, I went to college thinking I was going to double major in (biology) and music,? she said. ‘Then I found out, I really didn’t want to do the (biology) side of things.?
Prior to Oxford, Frakes was a long term substitute and interim orchestra director for Berkley Schools. She has also had a lot of experience working for a group called El Sistema, which is a publicly-financed voluntary sector music education program in Venezuela.
‘It’s a government-funded, free music education for children who could not otherwise afford it,? Frakes explained. ‘So, it’s making music accessible to everybody, instead of those who are privileged enough to have that.?
She has worked in El Sistema programs in Baltimore and in Costa Rica.
Frakes feels really lucky to be here and hopes to stick around in Oxford for awhile.
‘I love Oxford and the kids are fantastic,? she said. ‘It’s a really, really nice job with a great system and ton of support.?
Outside of the classroom, Frakes plays violin for a wide-variety of groups, which she believes helps keeps her on her game as an instructor. ‘I think I can bring a lot to the table because I perform all the time,? she said. ‘I haven’t forgotten how to play (in front of a crowd).?