April 1 will be an exciting day for Josh DeVries, a Junior at Chesterton High School. That is the last day to donate to a cause that so far has raised just enough money to begin composing a piece titled “Bridge to Beijing”, by award winning composer Michael Schelle of Indianapolis. Additional funds raised will ensure travel scholarships and additional creative costs.
Josh is an accomplished cellist who plays with the Chicago Youth Symphony and CHS Advanced Orchestra. He is also a four year member of South Shore Orchestra, based in Valparaiso, and a two time traveller to China with the community orchestra on their cultural exchange hosted by the Chinese government and the Confucius Institute of Valparaiso University.
His idea for a new piece to honor our hosts began after our concert in Quangzhou last year, where over 250 youth and adult choristers dressed in regional costumes accompanied the orchestra in song for the New Year celebration. “I know very few people my age who can say they have had the opportunity to tour China, and play music by Beethoven, Copland, Ives, and Schelle. I kept thinking how can we top this?"
"The Chinese people have been the most enthusiastic and supportive audiences that I've ever encountered, so the piece came about as a "thank you" gift of sorts. It is definitely a very personal project for me; the first tour was, cliche as it is, life-changing. I owe a lot to the audiences and the country, as does South Shore Orchestra, so anyway that we can give back is very exciting.”
So Josh talked with Troy Webdell, Conductor and founder of the 9 year old orchestra organization whose mission is “orchestrating a musical community." With SSO President Pete Brannen assisting, the concept began to take shape, resulting in a proposed plan. Michael Schelle accepted and helped Josh launch a Kickstarter campaign which ends April 1. The link that will tell you more about the process, how you can help and become part of this exciting historic project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/131552828/new-music-a-bridge-to-beijing
Josh adds, “We learn in social studies what foreign countries are like, their culture, and their language but getting to actually experience that first hand was completely different. I was 15 on the first tour and had never traveled further than Minnesota, so China was a small shell shock to me! Everyone has heard the phrase, "Music is a universal language," but it is impossible to understand that until you witness an American orchestra receive a standing ovation, from a Chinese audience, for playing an Austrian march. I always remember that we are REALLY REALLY small in the grand scheme of things."
Help South Shore Orchestra build a musical bridge to Beijing! Please help in any way you can! Fundraiser deadline is April 1! No fooling!