The St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association selected Maggie Franklin and Jocelynn Wolfe of Hazelwood Central High School to the All-Suburban Orchestra. Performing with the orchestra as a trumpet soloist is Robert Altman, band director at HCHS. The orchestra concert is Saturday, January 7 at 4:00 p.m. at Pattonville High School.
This is the second year that Franklin, a sophomore, and Wolfe, a junior, were chosen for the high school orchestra, said Kim Jackson, director of orchestras at Hazelwood Central High.
“In order to be selected for the orchestra, the students had to audition for judges. The audition was blind and the judges could not see the students,” said Jackson, explaining that students had to play two excerpts, a three octave scale and a 90-second solo of their choice.
Wolfe plays the violin and harp. She’ll play the violin with the orchestra. She began her training at 6 years old. At school, including the orchestra, she is involved with Student Council, National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, and has performed for school musicals.
Franklin plays the cello and started six years ago. She is involved in orchestra and book club.
Wolfe enjoys music and playing an instrument because “it’s fun, and for the way music makes you feel. It can evoke different emotions. It’s pretty cool to me.”
Franklin said that she “likes the idea of making music. It feels good to play and to be good at it.”
As members of the orchestra, the expectations are well understood.
“We will practice with the group once or twice, but we must practice on our own,” said Franklin.
“The pieces are fast and meticulous,” said Wolfe.
“I practice, at my best, three to four times a week up to 45 minutes,” said Franklin.
“I’m expected to practice every day for an hour, but school comes first,” said Wolfe.
As the concert approaches, they both feel they are better prepared, although the “competition was harder this year,” said Franklin.
“This is an amazing opportunity for the students as it gives them an opportunity to play with some of the best students in the area,” said Jackson. She said the guest conductor, Dr. Robert Gillespie, a professor of music at Ohio State University, is the author of many books for band and orchestra.
“As an educator, I love when students have the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than what our school district can offer. There are many opportunities for our students to be a part of different ensembles, such as Cameron Youth Orchestra, St. Charles Community Orchestra or Alton Symphony, but this is one of the best in the area that they can be a part of,” said Jackson.
Although Franklin and Wolfe have time to decide their future beyond high school, both are interested in pursuing music.
“I sort of want to be a music teacher because music is something I’m good at,” said Franklin. She is also interested in the idea of being a psychiatrist.
Wolfe wants to focus on music therapy to “help people through music and its healing qualities.”