Professional Symphony Conductor Leads WHS Orchestra Students For Special Pre-Concert Opportunity [PHOTOS]

In advance of this weekend’s concert performance by the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) at Wilton’s Clune Auditorium, Wilton High School orchestra students enjoyed a special opportunity to work with RSO Music Director Eric Mahl when he visited their classroom.

During the class Mahl conducted the students — all stringed instrument players — as they rehearsed three pieces — Adagio from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and Danse Negre by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, specially selected this semester because the songs will also be performed by the RSO at Saturday’s concert; and the 4th movement of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, because Wilton orchestra students elected Dvořák as “Composer of the Year” after students gave campaign speeches for their favorite composers.

WHS music teacher Malcolm Karlan said the experience of having a guest conductor gives students a chance to hear a new perspective and interpretation of the music. It also challenges the students to adapt to a different conducting style than that of the teacher.

“Many times, a guest conductor will say things that the regular teacher has been saying over and over, but all of a sudden the students actually listen!” Karlan said.

Someone of Mahl’s professional caliber adds another level to what they’re learning too.

“Bringing in a top-level musician like Eric to work with the group brings a sense of importance and seriousness to the work we’re doing in class, and it pushes the kids to give their all,” Karlan said.

The transformation over the almost two hours that Mahl worked with the student musicians was evident in both technique and emotion with which the students played. It mirrored Mahl’s animated and expressive way of conducting them.

During one moment he asked one section to refrain from playing and instead breathe where they felt the music played by their classmates moved them to, and he wove the exercise into the lesson.

“There’s something about Rachmaninoff, like a lot of romantic music, but especially Rachmaninoff, … that are so connected to the body and the breath specifically. It’s either natural breathing, heavy breathing, really quick breathing, or there’s this breathlessness going on. And for string players, what is the equivalent of breath — the bow! If it’s a big breath, it’s like that [as he mimed a long steady violin bow stroke]. And if it’s a breathlessness, maybe it’s less pressure and more speed, something like that [as he mimed short, rapid back-and-forth movements] on the strings, kind of crazy stuff, right?”

Then Mahl asked them to take a leap of faith with him:

“So let’s do something weird. You guys —” (he pointed to the cello players) “— play at 18. You guys —” (he said pointing at the violinists) “— breathe, but, like, not just regular. Breeeeeathe. Like, don’t just exist. Breathe in the phrase. I’ll do it with you.”

As one group played, Mahl led the other group in exaggerated breathing. “Do you hear what that does? Breathe in, breathe out, then it gets more dramatic… da-da-di-da-di-da–daaaaaah…” he said, as his voice elongated and dropped at the end. “There’s a longer breath out, and then breath in again there, but it’s all connected to the body and the breath.”

“Now,” he continued, “let’s all play and everybody breathes at the same time. Now we can put that energy into the bow.”

The whole orchestra then began again together, this time more connected and the music more emotive.

Watching his students progress through the lesson with Mahl was not lost on Karlan.

“Eric brought in such excitement and energy to our rehearsal, and inspired my students to take risks and play boldly. It was awesome to watch the orchestra play so expressively and really listen to each other,” he said. “I am so grateful to Eric and RSO leadership for making this visit possible.”

While teaching a room of students who have never played with him as the conductor, Mahl said he approaches the lesson as one of process, and not the goal of getting to a perfect ending.

“The beautiful thing about being a musician is that music — it’s so cheesy and corny — but it is universal. It brings us all together. So whether it’s adults or kids or students or elementary kids all the way through Juilliard master students, we’re just trying to express ourselves the most meaningful way that we possibly can, and we’re trying to do it together. It really doesn’t matter who’s in front of you, you’re gonna make something beautiful. It doesn’t even matter how good it sounds, sometimes it just matters how well we’re able to express who we are.”

The wider community will get to see Mahl at work on Saturday, Feb. 8 when he conducts the RSO concert titled “Prowess & Passion.” The performance also features a special appearance by Grammy-award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh. Wilton High School students can reach out to Karlan about attending the concert at no charge.

For the orchestra students learning to play pieces that they’ll be able to see performed by a professional orchestra is an important opportunity, Karlan said, especially after their experience with Mahl.

“Eric has become an expert in these particular pieces in his own preparation for Saturday’s concert, making his input [during the class] particularly insightful. My hope is that my students will now enjoy Saturday’s concert even more having had this familiarity with the music, and both Eric’s clinic with them and the concert this weekend will enhance our own performance of this music at our Spring Concert in March,” Karlan said.

And for the rest of the community, Karlan encouraged everyone to attend.

“I hope that Wilton students (and adults) will take advantage of the incredible opportunity to hear the RSO this Saturday. This is an absolutely fantastic, top-notch orchestra, and they’ll be right in our backyard. The music on the program is exciting and beautiful — you won’t be disappointed!” he said.

The RSO concert will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clune Auditorium (395 Danbury Road). Doors will open at 6 p.m. There will be a pre-concert talk in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. with Music Director Eric Mahl, open to all ticket holders.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the RSO box office at 203.438.3880 or on the RSO website. [Editor’s note: Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra has extended a 20%-off offer to GOOD Morning Wilton readers! To receive the special offer, click this link in the article, scan the QR code below or use promo code SALE.]

Correction: An earlier version of this story said that all Wilton High School students can attend the RSO concert for free. It has been updated to reflect that students need to contact the teacher, Malcolm Karlan, about available tickets at no cost.