Join us for Session 95: The Planets Extravaganza on March 16, 2024 from 11am-5pm at Uptown Body Fender in Oakland! 🚀✨ Featuring both a full orchestra and big band, this six-hour celestial celebration will feature The Planets Suite in full by Gustav Holst AND the The Planets: Reimagined arranged for big band by Jeremy Levy.
To fit in all this epic music, we’ve made it an all-day Extravaganza! Musicians can sign up for the full event (11am-5pm), or either half (11am-2pm or 3-5pm — see the full schedule below). This event includes a one hour break for lunch (we’ll have vegetarian Costco pizza for all players who opt in on the sign-up form)!
This event is in partnership with Activate Oakland! Out of 700+ applicants, Awesöme Orchestra were one of 38 groups that was given a grant to bring art, community, and celebration to neighborhoods all over Oakland - we’re so honored! We’ll also be partnering with them for another Oakland session in Fruitvale later this year!
SESSION 95 DETAILS
* Musician sign-ups will start on Thursday, February 15 at 12pm*
**NOTE: Due to the complicated and unique nature of this event, there will be multiple factors taken into consideration when Ambassadors are assigning their sections. It is not merely first-come, first served. Thank you for understanding. Ambassadors will build section rosters based on the preferences you share in the sign-up form and confirm section assignments by March 2.**
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 11-5pm (yes - 6 hours, but it's in 2 halves!)
WHERE: Uptown Body & Fender, 401 26th St, Oakland, CA 94612
(This session will he held inside the body shop!)
ADMISSION: Free and open to all ages. Capacity for the venue is 300 people (musicians + audience).
TRANSPORTATION SUGGESTIONS: This venue is very accessible via public transportation. 19th St. BART is a 10 minute walk away, as are numerous AC Transit lines. Please join our Discord to coordinate walking buddies or a carpool! (https://discord.com/invite/UvCFQTsZrA). Parking is extremely limited, so plan accordingly!
SCHEDULE AND INSTRUMENTATION
Conducted by Artistic Director David Möschler, featuring guest conductors Brian Adam McCune, Cyrus Ginwala, Sixto Montesinos, Marty Stoddard, Ondine Young.
11:00-11:35am: ORCHESTRA - Mars
11:35-11:50am: BIG BAND - Mars
11:50-11:55am: >>BREAK <<
11:55-12:20pm: ORCHESTRA - Saturn
12:20-12:35pm: BIG BAND - Saturn
12:35-12:40pm: >> BREAK <<
12:40-1:05pm: ORCHESTRA - Venus
1:05-1:20pm: BIG BAND - Venus
1:20-1:25pm: >> BREAK <<
1:25-1:50pm: ORCHESTRA - Uranus
1:50-2:00pm: BIG BAND - Uranus
2:00-3:00pm - >> LUNCH BREAK <<
3:00-3:25pm: ORCHESTRA - Mercury
3:25-3:35pm: BIG BAND - Mercury
3:35-3:40pm: >> BREAK <<
3:40pm-4:10pm: ORCHESTRA & CHORUS - Neptune
4:10pm-4:25pm: BIG BAND - Neptune
4:25-4:30pm: >> BREAK <<
4:30-4:55pm: ORCHESTRA - Jupiter
4:55-5:00pm: BIG BAND - Jupiter
ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTATION (the instrumentation playing at one time):
4 flutes (includes 2 piccolos and 1 bass flute for some movements), 2 oboes, 1 english horn, 1 bass oboe, 3 clarinets (B-flat & A), 1 bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 6 horns (F), 4 trumpets (C), 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 euphonium, 1 tuba, 6 timpani (2 players), 5 percussion (glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, side drum, cymbals, bass drum, gong), 2 harps, 1 keyboard (organ / celesta), treble chorus, strings
BIG BAND INSTRUMENTATION:2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, drum set, 1 keyboard, 1 electric guitar, 1 double bass
SHEET MUSIC for upcoming open sessions can always be found on Google Drive at: bit.ly/AOCSheetMusic
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HEALTH SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
We follow the safety protocols of the venue.
*Masks are optional*
*No vaccination proof needed*
**IMPORTANT**
If you are feeling ill, or you’re taking care of someone who is sick, we ask that you not attend this session. We look forward to having you join us at a session in the future.
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Be sure to sign up before the deadline on February 23. You can expect an email from your Awesöme Ambassadors with specific info by March 2 EOD (check your spam filters if this is your first session). If you are signing up after February 23, you might not get your Ambassador email until after March 2. Please be patient—they have a lot of information to collect before emailing everyone. Their information can be found at https://awesomeorchestra.org/section-ambassadors
MUSICIANS + SINGERS
* This event is open to all ages*
Musician + Singer sign-ups begin on Thursday, February 15 at 12pm.
PER HALF we will have space for: 12 flutes, 4 oboes, 12 clarinets, 4 bassoons, 8 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1 euphonium, 2 tubas, 8 percussion, 2 harps, 2 keyboards, 16 singers (treble chorus only), 20 first violins, 16 second violins, 16 violas, 16 cellos, 8 double basses.
If you want to participate in the big band ensemble, there will be a checkbox on the form to let your Section Ambassador know that you’d love to be considered!
Waitlist Protocol
Our community of musicians is growing (which is AWESOME), but sometimes that means that some sections fill up quickly (especially flutes and clarinets). You can still sign-up via the form, but if you notice on the form that your instrument has a “this section is getting popular” tag on it, don’t despair! We usually take players off the waitlist as some folks’ plans change. When that happens, you’ll be notified by your Section Ambassadors via email.
AUDIENCE
If you’d like to attend this event as an audience member (feel free to stay for as much or little as you’d like!) Please RSVP so that we can send you audience-specific info closer to the date! There will be limited audience availability due to venue capacity, which we’ll have a better idea of after our musicians sign up!