Unmuted: Spirit of Orchestra (2021)
Virtual Composition Project with the Duluth-Superior Youth Symphony Orchestras
Virtual performance
Unmuted: The Spirit of Orchestra is the result of a guided collaborative composition project between the DSSYO and composer Ian Deterling. Students worked together in groups to create and record their own musical cells within set parameters designed by Ian. These recordings were then arranged and layered to form the sonic foundation of the piece. Melodic ideas were solicited from the students, and these ideas were manipulated and developed by Ian for the final stage of recording. Student audio recordings were submitted and collected through Soundtrap for Education, an online digital audio workstation.
The title, Unmuted, was suggested by members of the youth orchestras. It reflects not only their collective experience in Zoom sessions of needing to stay muted (with the exception of being allowed to unmute one at a time to speak or play), but also in the overall sense of not being able to make music in person with and for other people during the pandemic. This project is the product of long hours spent in isolation and virtual connection, coming together virtually to show that they are still here and have a voice to be heard.
A special thank you to Melanie Sever and Ho-Yin Kwok for making this collaboration possible.
2020-2021 DSSYO Virtual (Pandemic) Program Members:
Violin
Della Bettendorf
Emily Bock
Rylie Corton
Martyn Dahl
Hannah Deng
Hailie Evans
Anja Harju
Michon Harju
Elyanna Hewitt
David Hjort
Rachel Hjort
Beatrice Javaherian
Daniel Johnson
Maggie Johnson
Abagail Jordan
Mia Kraker
Zinnia Kraker
Kunchen Liang
Karena Loban
Kiersten Loban
Noah Loban
Hannah Mason
Yoko Nakajima
Jacob Nephew
Lily Norman
Tuuli Rova
Lily Mae Rud
Greta Shields
Madeleine Swanson
Katrina Wozniak
Olya Wright
Kate Yapel
Eric Zho
Viola
Alyssa Averill
Leif Braaten
Erin Coleman
Piper Linn
Colleen Maloney
Isaiah Mason
Elsa Mowers
Julian Robbins
Hannah Vincent
Cello
Campbell Amundson
Nathanael Andrs
Hans Bettendorf
Kai Braaten
Ella Corbin
Nicholas Dylla
Kate Gish
Millie Grover
Jackson Hagen
Eleanor Harrison
Nathan Hjort
Mark Kaczmarczyk
Lydia Kraker
Caden LaFontaine
Logan Madsen
Toko Nakajima
Sylvia Reller
Alexander Ren
Ava Revoir
Sophia Revoir
Frank Robbins
Isaac Schwetman
Grace Wightman
Bass
Sanne Breeuwer
Thea Kramer
Paavo Rova
Flute
Leah Coleman
Emma Jones
Luis Kruchten
Faith Matvey
Caden Parajuli
Naomi Sandstrom
Jocelyn Wittenberg
Clara Wodny
Piccolo
Emma Jones
Oboe
Audrey Mueller
Clarinet
Isaac Quaas
Bassoon
Alexandra Risdal
Jaden VonBrethorst
Alto Saxophone
Thomas Carlson
French Horn
Aidan Fitzpatrick
Brayden Frey
Grace Lavan
Saige Mattson
Trumpet
Lars Erickson
Nathaniel Fechtelkotter
Isaiah Kline
Christopher Kirby
Ethan Lavan
Josiah Schwetman
Trombone
Peter Gran
Luke Hilliard
Ryan Rohlader
Tuba
Isaac Ryss
Percussion
Ian Hopp
Tommy Kishida
Grace Matvey
Isaac Rud
Tyler Stark
Sinfonia Program Coaches
Violin: Erin Aldridge (DSSO Concertmaster)
Viola: Kevin Hoeschen (DSSO Principal Viola)
Cello: Betsy Husby (DSSO Principal Cello)
Bass: Vincent Osborn (DSSO Acting Principal Bass), James McLeod (DSSO Bass Section Member)
DSSYO Artistic and Administrative Staff
Brandon Vanwaeyenberghe | DSSO Executive Director
Dirk Meyer | The Charles A. & Carolyn M. Russell DSSO Music Director
Melanie Sever | DSSYO Administrative Director & Concert Orchestra Conductor
Ho-Yin Kwok | DSSYO Youth Symphony Conductor
Erin Aldridge | DSSYO Sinfonia Program Coordinator
Brett Jones | DSSYO Percussion Ensemble Director
Ronald Kari |DSSYO Coordinator
Kristin Sande | DSSYO Administrative Assistant