On Sunday, Nov. 3, Centennial Hall welcomed the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) as they partnered with the Augustana Choir to produce a rendition of Shakespeare’s classic, “A Midnight Summer’s Dream.” With vocals from Augie students and tunes from the orchestra, complete with a series of dancers from Ballet Quad Cities, the crowd was happy to sit back and enjoy the show.
But stepping into the spotlight isn’t the only benefit Augustana students get from working with the QCSO. Choir members are thrilled to step into the professional music world and get a taste of what awaits after graduation.
Junior Maddy Overstreet, a second-year member of the Augustana Choir, said that working with the QCSO is a fantastic experience that helps her gain experience in the professional music industry while still in school.
“I think that these experiences in college are a really great transitory opportunity for us college-age musicians to see what it’s like as adult musicians,” Overstreet said. “We get to see the transition in things like, ‘if you don’t show up on time, then don’t show up at all,’ and ‘if you’re on time, you’re late.’ Everything is run like a tight ship, and it’s so professional and organized.”
For those going into music education, such as junior Maggie Meyers, the orchestra was not only a part of her growth as a musician but also provided her with tools for her future.
“Getting the chance to see how an orchestra runs is a great opportunity for me and for my personal career,” Meyers said. “I might be thrown in front of an orchestra someday, and now I have a better understanding of concepts like rehearsal tactics.”
Not only did students have the chance to work alongside professionals, but they also had the chance to work under Mark Russell Smith, the music director and conductor of the QCSO. As a part of his performance, Overstreet said Augie students were eager to learn from him.
“This is my second time working with Mark Russell [Smith],” Overstreet said. “He’s so knowledgeable and so particular about how he wants everything, definitely a total perfectionist. But it’s so beautiful, and it shows in the work that QCSO produces. To see how he cultivates their sound is a true honor.”
And Smith’s work has paid off, as the Augie choir pulled off two spectacular shows with the QCSO over the weekend. The first performance was held on Saturday at the Adler Theater in Davenport, and Sunday brought the choir home to campus for the second and final showing.
Junior Abby Malina, a member of the Augustana Choir, said it was an unforgettable performance that combined all musical arts elements into one.
“It was awesome,” Malina said. “I don’t think a lot of people do a play with a ballet on top of an orchestra and a choir. It just had so many elements to it and was so layered. Overall, a really amazing experience.”
Their performance blew away the Augustana community, but it also served another purpose: to bring the community of the Quad Cities together on campus.
A large part of music is the aspect of community.The partnership between the QCSO and the Augustana Choir helps further foster a relationship between Augustana College and the people of the Quad Cities.
“Not only does working with the QCSO give Augustana students the opportunity to sing with a full orchestra and all these professional actors and dancers,” Malina said. “But it’s also really special to the whole community itself. Having all these Quad Cities people coming to the performance really helped us to connect the bridges with them.”
Meyers said the relationship between the QCSO and Augustana Choir also highlights the importance of arts in the community.
“If you’re not reaching out, then what’s the point of making music?” Meyers said. “Making music is awesome and sometimes, it’s this really intimate and personal experience. At the core of it, music is about bringing people together. You can’t just have an orchestra with one person, so I think of that same philosophy when I think of reaching out to others. If you’re making music, share it with your community.”
Even as the curtains close on this performance, the impact of shared experiences between Augie and Quad Cities communities remain.
