Ensemble!

Owen has been playing cello for over three years, but this last year he's taken it up a notch. In addition to moving up to the Young Artist Ensemble at DCYOP, playing with Stuart-Hobson's orchestra and he recently auditioned and was accepted into the Chamber Music Intensive at George Washington University's Corcoran School's Department of Music for this summer. But most recently, he was nominated and got to perform in DCPS's Honor Ensemble, I Am Empowered.

This was the second year for the concert and the first year that instruments were included.
Owen missed school on Friday (which, since he's missing most of the following week for Space Camp, was a lot) and DCYOP on Saturday morning in order to spend the days rehearsing two pieces at Duke Ellington High School for a one-time performance on Saturday night.

A note about Duke Ellington: It's a public school that was recently remodeled for $180 million. Alumni include Dave Chappelle, Samira Wiley, and Deynce Graves. The acceptance process involves the DCPS lottery, auditions, academic assessment test and a family interview. It's located in Georgetown which means the commute from Capitol Hill is a nightmare. However, it is an absolutely amazing school and is (currently) Owen's first choice for high school.

Owen preferred the first piece the ensemble played,With Great Valor, Victorious, which he felt had more emotional heft. The second piece, however, was the clear fan favorite. It was also the debut of an original work, which involved spoken word, some improvisation from the musicians, and Dr. Seuss.

Oh, The Places You'll Go! seemed like one of those performances I would hate, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the various solos, to the alternative playing techniques (one of which was Owen's suggestion, playing col legno) to the emoting of the narrator, it all really worked, and was my personal favorite song of the night (though I also loved the solo by Stuart-Hobson's own Alysia Lawson - aka Violet in Willy Wonka - in Here's Where I Stand and Nora loved the elementary kids singing, No One is Alone from the Into the Woods soundtrack).

It was really exciting seeing Owen do something he loves in a places he'd love to go to... someday.

(To see all pictures, click here.)