Come join Awesöme Orchestra for the first FULL ORCHESTRA session in over 20 months! We’ll be hosted by OMCA in their newly remodeled outdoor garden performance space. Bring a picnic, or sign up to play with us and get ready for an afternoon of music including Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Marquez, songs from Dia Luna arranged for orchestra by Brian Adam McCune, “Sweet Thing” by Chaka Khan, and “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
*** Please note that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required to participate in this session as a musician. ***
Links to join as a MUSICIAN or AUDIENCE can be found below the full session details
Full Session Details
WHEN: Saturday, October 16, 2021, 12–3pm
WHERE: Oakland Museum of CA, 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607
This session will take place in Oakland Museum’s outdoor garden in the east corner of the block, directly across from Lake Merritt. Musicians are invited to park in the OMCA parking garage (the entrance to the parking garage is on Oak Street between 10th and 12th streets) - the parking fee is $20 for 4 hours, or there is plenty of street parking available.
(Sadly, we do not have a back-up location for this session. If we need to cancel due to inclement weather or AQI above 100, we’ll notify all players and audience members 24-48 hours before the session).
TRANSPORTATION SUGGESTIONS: It's a 2-minute walk from Lake Merritt BART, has multiple AC Transit lines that stop right in front, or you can use their parking garage. Detailed instructions here! We also recommend reaching out to other players on our Awesöme Discord server to set up a walking group or carpool!
COST: FREE for musicians and audience. Please note that musicians are capped at 100 players total and MUST sign-up to participate (link below). Audience capacity is unlimited, but we are asking audience members to RSVP (link below) if possible.
HEALTHY & SAFETY PROTOCOLS: *** Please note that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required to participate in this session as a musician. ***
Awesöme Orchestra staff will ask you to present this proof before signing in. California residents may get a digital copy of their vaccine record at: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
This is an outdoor session. All attendees will be REQUIRED to wear face masks when not actively playing their instrument or drinking.
OMCA is not requiring proof of vaccination to enter the venue, so audience members will not need show us vaccination cards.
**IMPORTANT**
If you are feeling ill, or you’re taking care of someone who is sick, we ask that you not attend this session. Deciding to sit this one out for health or safety reasons is entirely your call and we look forward to having you join us at a session in the future.
REPERTOIRE AND SCHEDULE:
conducted by Artistic Director David Möschler, Associate Artistic Director Brian McCune, and special guest conductor Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr.
12:00 - 1:00pm - Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez (with guest conductor Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr.)
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 1 piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (in F), 2 trumpets (in B-flat), 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 tuba, timpani, 6 percussion (claves, guiro, snare drum, bass drum, sus. cymbal, tom-toms), 1 piano, violins, violas, cellos, double basses
1:15 - 2:00pm - "Walk in Beauty" by Dia Luna (arranged by Brian Adam McCune) - world premiere featuring Dia Luna on vocals!
INSTRUMENTATION: 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 1 english horn, 2 clarinets (in A or B-flat), 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 4 horns (in F), 3 trumpets (in C), 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 tuba, timpani, 5 percussion (glockenspiel, vibraphone, chimes, wind chimes, sus. cymbal, drum set), 1 harp, 1 celesta, violins, violas, cellos, double basses
2:15 - 3:00pm - “Sweet Thing” by Chaka Khan and “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire (arranged by Brian Adam McCune)
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 1 english horn, 2 clarinets (in A or B-flat), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (in F), 3 trumpets (in C), 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 tuba, timpani, 2 percussion (glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, vibraphone, wind chimes), 1 harp, violins, violas, cellos, double basses - plus rhythm section: solo trumpet in B-flat, solo tenor sax, electric piano, electric guitar, electric bass, drum set
SHEET MUSIC: As always, sheet music for upcoming sessions can be found on Google Drive at: bit.ly/AOCSheetMusic
EXTRA DETAILS: We'll provide chairs, sheet music, and free beverages for participating musicians. MUSICIANS please bring your own music stand, water bottles, layers, and sunscreen. This venue is outdoors and exposed to the sun, so also bring hats!
POST-SESSION: There will be a casual social hang at Mad Oak directly following the session. Audience and musicians are all invited to join!
Meet Guest Conductor Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr.
Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr. is Assistant Professor of Music and Head of Instrumental Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA where he is the music director of the Saint Mary's Instrumental Ensemble and oversees the Jazz Band, pep band, and applied lessons. He is an active Mexican-American conductor, flutist, music educator, and scholar researching new and effective ways to strengthen Mexican-American relations through the study and performance of music. His writing has been published by The Instrumentalist Magazine and the WASBE Journal and his clinic "Surpassing La Cucaracha and the Mexican Hat Dance: The Importance of Diversifying Mexican-themed Repertoire for Instrumental Ensembles" was recently selected for the 2021 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. He is also scheduled to present on Mexican wind band repertoire at the WASBE International Conference in Prague (summer 2022) and at Dartmouth College (spring 2022). Dr. Montesinos completed a masters degree in orchestral conducting from The University of Texas at Arlington and a doctorate in wind conducting from Rutgers University where he was a finalist for The American Prize in Conducting—college/university band division( 2017-18 ) as a result of his work with The Rutgers Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds. Contact info: sfm5@stmarys-ca.edu
MUSICIANS
MUSICIANS: We have capacity for 8 flutes, 4 oboes, 8 clarinets, 4 bassoons, 6 horns, 6 trumpets, 8 low brass, 7 percussion, 2 harps, 3 keyboards, 24 violins, 10 violas, 10 cellos, 6 double basses. We will update the sign-up form once we hit section capacities and keep a small waitlist.
The sign-up deadline for all sections is Friday, October 8 - But we expect to hit section caps and overall capacity before that date - so be sure to sign up early! You can expect an email from your Awesöme Ambassadors with specific info by Monday, October 11 (check your spam filters if this is your first session). Email your ambassadors if you haven't heard back by Monday 10/11. Their information can be found here.
AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE: The audience capacity for this session is unlimited, but we are asking each person to fill out their own RSVP form (for contact tracing purposes). Feel free to bring a picnic spread, hats, sunscreen, water bottles, and layers! Email us (baily@awesomeorchestra.org) if you need to cancel or if you have any questions!
Please join us after the session for a social hang at Mad Oak (it’s very close to the venue!) starting at 3:30pm. We’ve been thrilled with the popularity of these get togethers, so come out and meet your fellow community members!