Student conductor has all the Wright moves
By Kathleen Rhames
Daily Bruin Contributor
They say opportunity only knocks once, but for UCLA
undergraduate Elizabeth Wright, things are looking brighter than
ever.
"My goal is to be a working female conductor," she says. "Music
these days is such an under-appreciated thing."
If this is the case, then Wright’s efforts to introduce
classical music back into the minds and hearts of concert-goers is
succeeding. As a graduating music student working toward a degree
in cello performance, Wright will conduct her third concert with
the Westwood Chamber Orchestra tonight at 8 in Schoenberg Hall.
The performance will mark Wright’s first appearance in
Schoenberg Hall as a conductor and will feature a guest solo
performance by the principal cellist of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, Ronald Leonard. For Wright, the night carries high
hopes and levels of anticipation.
"This is the first time the Westwood Chamber Orchestra will be
performing at Schoenberg, and each time we’ve played the group has
gotten larger," Wright explains. "The reason we wanted Schoenberg
was because we have the principal cellist of the L.A. Philharmonic
performing with us and we needed more of an overall professional
atmosphere."
Wright first discovered she wanted to conduct two years ago and
credits her decision to the inspiration given by various conductors
under whom she played. She especially acknowledges the support of
Jon Robertson, head of UCLA’s Music Department and conductor of the
UCLA Philharmonic Orchestra, in putting the concert together.
"The first concert was nothing like this one’s going to be," she
says. "It was held for a hunger benefit on campus and sponsored by
Cultural Affairs. Admission to the concert required canned
food."
Since then, Wright’s Westwood Chamber Orchestra has grown from
35 to 60 players. Thursday’s performers are all pre-professional
musicians between the ages of 18 and 29, matriculating from
different universities throughout California.
One such performer is Don Foster, a second-year master’s student
at USC. He will play principal clarinet on Thursday and compliments
Wright’s talent in putting together the show.
"It was a new orchestra when I joined," he explains. "I was the
first soloist for Elizabeth and wanted at first to play in her
Mozart clarinet concerto. But now, her talent is so amazing and the
orchestra is turning into such an wonderful group – it’s like a
bunch of friends playing together."
Wright notes the same camaraderie among the players and is
pleased with the success her concerts have produced.
"The music is very accessible for the people," says Wright.
"There’s such a positive response and I think the reason is because
we’re all so young. People come who have little or no experience
with classical music and the response is positive. That’s really
the goal of the performance."
Ako Yamamoto, the chair of the student committee that sponsors
the chamber orchestra, agrees. The committee, which is part of the
UCLA Center for the Performing Arts, relies on certain criteria
when choosing art to be performed or demonstrated.
"We always ask the question ‘is it something the student body
would want to see,’" says Yamamoto. "Whether it be a UCLA student
or a professional artist, art can be approved as long as the
committee votes on it."
And a unanimous vote is all they needed to support Wright’s
idea. Yamamoto herself is extremely impressed with Wright’s work
and adamantly supports her flair for conducting.
"The committee was interested in her project because we really
haven’t done anything classical this year," says Yamamoto. "We
thought it was really wonderful, especially because Elizabeth is
really the only female conductor at UCLA.
"I was personally impressed with the talent she displays in her
work, and it is evident with the appearance of the L.A.
Philharmonic cello soloist in her performance."
Thursday’s program will feature excerpts from Mozart,
Tchaikovsky and Brahms, and Wright calls on all audiences,
classical music lovers or not, to experience the show.
"The energy vibe is great,"she says. "It’s totally loud,
exciting, beautiful stuff."
CONCERT: Westwood Chamber Orchestra conducted by Elizabeth
Wright. Tonight at 8 in Schoenberg Hall. Admission is free.
(Elizabeth) Wright calls on all audiences … to experience the
show.
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