Despite in-person music performances coming to a halt this spring, the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed musicians across the globe to find new and creative ways to continue making music together. Ensembles around the world have produced virtual performances of their music as a substitute for canceled live performances, including students from CYSO’s CORE (Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble) program. Comprised of select musicians from Symphony Orchestra, CORE members took inspiration from the many virtual ensemble videos that have been produced to produce an entirely student-led virtual performance of Mendelssohn’s Symphony no. 3, II. Vivace non troppo.
Symphony Orchestra harpist Catherine Ramsey discussed the project with CORE cellist Eytan Raviv, who put the ensemble’s virtual performance together.
Note: this interview has been edited slightly for length and clarity
CR: What was your inspiration for this video project and how did you come up with the idea?
ER: The idea of making a video like this came up in a CORE group Snapchat, but I don’t exactly remember whose idea it was. We all felt that CORE was left unfinished. I volunteered to produce and edit the project.
CR: How did you communicate the idea to the other CORE members and how much of CORE is represented in the video?
ER: I started by talking in the group chat which has 30 members of CORE (Snapchat group chats are limited to 30 people). [Then, people] spread the word to the rest of their instrument sections so that everyone was on the same page, and everyone who wanted to participate could. 31 people sent in videos, so it isn’t the entire ensemble but includes most of us.
CR: What was the video creation process like for you?
ER: It started with a backing track like the Wagner*, with the clap in the beginning [followed by] a metronome and recording of the piece [which people followed while recording their videos]. Then people sent in videos, and I compiled the audio tracks on GarageBand, where I was able to edit and balance all of the instruments. I also received helpful feedback from Brandon Cheng [CORE cellist] and Ariana O’Connell [CORE violinist] on the musicality. Finally, I began to create the visual aspect using Final Cut Pro. The entire project totaled to about 30 hours of work (this had a lot to do with the fact that my laptop took a long time to process the footage. If I were to do something like this again, I would want a more powerful computer).
*CYSO Symphony Orchestra students created their virtual orchestra performance by using a similar audio track to guide their individual recordings.
CR: What was your favorite part of this video process?
ER: When I compiled the audio tracks on GarageBand, I realized that a number of parts were missing. These included a trumpet part and both clarinet parts. Having previously watched a video of their family playing Rhapsody in Blue together, I thought it would be a good idea to ask Connor and Stephen Williamson to fill in these parts. Connor is a trumpet player in [Symphony Orchestra] and Mr. Williamson is the principal clarinetist for the CSO. After sending them an email, they were both super nice and said that they were willing to help out. Mr. Williamson sent in both clarinet parts, and Connor sent in his trumpet part. Without their parts, the piece would have sounded very different.
Watch CORE’s virtual performance of the second movement from Mendelssohn’s Symphony no. 3 below:
About Catherine Ramsey
Catherine Ramsey has served as the Principal Harpist of CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra since 2018. This spring, Catherine graduated from Downers Grove North High School where she participated in orchestra (harp) and marching band (flute). Catherine shares the music of the harp around the Chicago-land area, regularly performing for private events and public festivals. In fall 2020, Catherine will begin studying at Southern Methodist University where she will pursue degrees in Harp Performance and French on the Pre-Law track.
