Our kids attend the Graz International School (GIBS). It is primarily a language school, however they do value the arts too. There is a music program, but it is more for basic music education. If a child in Graz wants to participate in a musical group, they must attend the Music Conservatory. Unfortunately because we came half way through the season the kids weren’t able to join an ensemble. But as I mentioned GIBS does enjoy supporting their musical kids.

Mrs. Canizares is the school music teacher. She is originally from NYC. She has a volunteer afternoon junior and senior choir and hosts at least three or four concerts a year. She often will have the kids who play instruments accompany the choirs at concerts. Our kids were welcomed into the after school “pick up” orchestra.

Mrs. Canizares has a background primarily in Jazz. She was very excited to have me join her and help teach some of the string players because the concert was classical in nature, instead of pop or jazz. Liam was also called upon to lead violin sectionals. I thoroughly enjoyed attending the rehearsals, which were sometimes in the middle of the school day or after school. I got to meet several of the GIBS students and teachers, not to mention getting to use my musical training.

The choirs meet after school on a regular bases because there are far ore kids in the school who like to sing than can play an instrument. Between the two choirs there are over 120 kids strong! Faywen chose to sing instead of play her viola because the string music was a bit too advanced for her. She is however the only violist in the school!

On the evening of Thursday 28 March the gym was packed as the choirs and orchestra gathered to give a concert. The Oberton Octet inspired the concert. This group of young professional string players offered to come and give a concert and clinic at GIBS. One of the cello players, Florin, is a former GIBS graduate. The Oberton Octet has played in various prestigious concert halls throughout Europe. Liam said he really enjoyed the string clinic the members gave the kids earlier in the day.

• 

• 

The Octet played several selections and also sat in and played with the orchestra students during the GIBS performances. The students performed the following:

1. An arrangement for choir and strings of Beethoven’s 7^th Symphony, movement 2

2. An arrangement for choir and strings of Dvorak’s New World Symphony “Going Home” theme

3. Arrangement for choir and strings of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”

• 

• 

It was amazing to hear what these kids put together after meeting only a couple of times a week for a month! Bravo to choir and orchestra!