A contingent of bright young Tucson Junior Strings players will share their music at the Arizona Senior Academy at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (June 23). As in previous concerts, the violin, viola, and cello players will consist of high school students drawn from Junior Strings students throughout the area. Each of Tuesday’s performers is part of the elite Chamber I, the highest of six levels of TJS orchestras.
Scheduled players include violinist Kristen Samoy, playing “Meditation from the Opera Thais” by Jules Massenet; violinist Kailie Szewczyk, playing the second (adagio) movement from Max Bruch’s “Concerto in G Minor”; Carlos Moreno on viola, playing the first (allegro moderato) movement from the “Arpeggione Sonata” by Franz Schubert; and cellist Benjamin Need playing three movements from J.S. Bach’s “Suite No. 2 in D Minor” (unaccompanied).
The Tucson Junior Strings have been part of the Tucson music education scene for nearly 48 years. Under the guidance, organization and dedication of Dennis and Anna Bourret (working together since 1970), along with Andrea Jameson, young Tucson string musicians progress through TJS’s six stages as they master increasingly difficult levels of music.
Working in concert with the school orchestra programs, the Bourrets have emphasized the gaining of leadership skills by playing without a conductor and rotating service as concert master or section leader. Basic to the program is the cooperation of everyone for the benefit of musical –and also interpersonal – harmony.
Summer tours are planned for each year. Last year, the players headed to Boston, where TJS students had the benefit of coaching sessions with members of the Boston Symphony and the New England Conservatory of Music.
The Tucson Junior Strings website, tucsonjuniorstrings.org , describes their program and entrance requirements.
Academy Village is an active-adult community located off Old Spanish Trail six miles southeast of Saguaro National Park East. Its residents support the Arizona Senior Academy, a non-profit charitable organization whose mission includes offering free concerts and lectures to the public. These events are held in the Great Room of The ASA Building adjacent to the Academy Village Community Center.
Due to the popularity of cultural events, non-residents who wish to ensure priority seating are advised to make reservations by email at info@arizonasenioracademy.org or by phone at (520) 647-0980. To learn more about the Academy, go to www.asa-tucson.org.
Written by Janet Kerans, Academy Village Volunteer