Program
SOAP offers a unique program that bridges the education and training received at a university or conservatory and the professional life as an orchestral musician. The comprehensive program supports advanced students and young professionals in obtaining a position in a professional orchestra.
Download SOAP Brochure pdf
The SOAP Program includes:
Orchestral rehearsals and performances
Concerts
Master classes
Private lessons
Audition training
Forums
Program Details
Orchestral Rehearsals
The SOAP orchestras rehearses daily. Repertoire is chosen to provide players with a broad experience in orchestral playing and musical interpretation. The experienced guest artists lead sectional rehearsals and offer solutions to specific technical difficulties of the repertoire.
Concerts
Students will perform a concert each week in the Evergreen Theatre to an enthusiastic, sophisticated audience. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of chamber music concerts presented by
the SOAP guest artists. In addition there will be performances by student ensembles.
Private Lessons
During the private lessons, students will work on selected repertoire, concertos and orchestral excerpts. Guest artists will assist students with their specific needs to improve their skills and techniques for orchestral playing. Students prepare 3-5 excerpts from a list of audition requirements for solo and tutti jobs in major orchestras within North America, Europe and Asia, as well as the repertoire played in the Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific.
Master Classes
SOAP students will further develop their skills in Master Classes. These classes provide an opportunity to play for and to listen to colleagues under the guidance of the faculty.
Audition Training
Preparation for an audition is a very important aspect of the SOAP program. During SOAP students will take part in four auditions. At the beginning of each week there will be auditions for placement in the orchestra. At the end of each week, students will take part in ‘live auditions’ to improve their skills and gain more experience. The guest artists, consisting of musicians who have principal positions in world-renowned orchestras, will train students to become more comfortable with the process of auditioning. Students will play a first and second round of a ‘live audition’. During the first week the audition will be behind a screen, like a ‘first round’ and in the second week the audition will be open, like a ‘second round’. Students together with the faculty will also be part of the jury and discuss the audition results of others. All private lessons, master classes and forums will help students to be prepared for these auditions. The experience will be far more important than the specific result of the audition. Being a member of the jury will give students the opportunity to experience “the other side” and to improve their own presentation/performance in an audition.
Forums
Forums will be held in which students can ask questions of faculty about playing in an orchestra, the differences between orchestras in America, Europe and Asia and their mode of operation plus all aspects of the professional life of an orchestral player.
Harp Intensive Workshop
Harp students will study with Rita Costanzi in a 3 day intensive workshop held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday - June 16, 17, and 18th. Harp students should plan to arrive Friday, June 15th.
The three-day Harp Intensive provides the SOAP harp students a period of concentrated study, laying the foundation for the ensuing two week festival experience. Because of the importance and high profile of the annual Harp Ensemble concert – considered a highlight of the festival – the Intensive creates a preliminary, more intimate setting in which to prepare and practice, providing more time and space during the festival proper.
Following the SOAP format, the Intensive offers daily master classes (including interpretation, technique, musicianship and stage presence), harp ensemble and private instruction - without the pressure and demands of daily orchestral rehearsals. This will enable detailed study of the major solo and chamber music repertoire.
Students are urged to submit special repertoire requests as well as to bring one polished solo piece to play in the opening master class. In addition, works “in progress” will be studied throughout the festival. Repertoire will include concertos, solo, chamber music, orchestral cadenzas and excerpts, plus the harp ensemble pieces chosen for this year’s concert.
As a unique feature of Rita Costanzi’s teaching, study of the musical pieces will be enhanced by the integration of art history, literature and philosophy.
