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SEISO Kidsymphony kept the show going
Even with a venue hiccup, Kidsymphony performed eight shows throughout Southeast Iowa over the weekend
MT. PLEASANT — Children and families gathered throughout Southeast Iowa in schools, theaters, convention centers, and even a church as they enjoyed the discovery of orchestra music through Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra’s Kidsymphony performances this past weekend.
SEISO started the weekend off with an early performance for students at Lincoln Elementary in Washington followed by performances at WACO and Mid-Prairie.
While Friday’s performances at the schools went off without a hitch, a hiccup appeared Saturday morning as the orchestra prepared for another day filled with performances that started at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa.
“We were just getting ready to start our first rehearsal this morning and I got a call about 9 a.m. from Jeff [Phillips],” SEISO Musical Director Robert McConnell said.
SEISO Executive Director informed McConnell that they would not be able to perform in the Iowa Wesleyan Chapel in Mt. Pleasant that afternoon at 2 p.m. like originally planned.
“I don’t really know any of the details,” McConnell said. “I was just told the building had to be closed.”
Moore, who oversees many closing activities for Iowa Wesleyan, confirmed the building had to close due to “Mechanical problems.”
According to McConnell, as soon as they heard they wouldn’t be able to perform at the Chapel, they went to work trying to find another space to hold the Kidsymphony in Mt. Pleasant.
“We just started calling people right away,” McConnell said.
Their calls paid off, and the symphony performed in a last-minute change of venue at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant at their previously scheduled 2 p.m. showtime.
They quickly got word out via the radio, social media, and emails, and the crowd still showed up.
“It’s a pretty good crowd,” Arts IMPACT board member Ed Kopra said.
Kopra said he waited outside the IW Chapel for a while before the performance to make sure people knew about the change in venue and was surprised to find that most people made their way straight to the church thanks to the effective dissemination of the change.
The performance went off without a hitch.
Like he does with every SEISO performance, McConnell introduced the audience to the instruments and melodies before getting into the actual performance which consisted of a vibrate storytelling experience from professional Storyteller Michael Boudewyns of Really Inventive Stuff and familiar songs from Star Wars directed by McConnell and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s Encanto directed by Jilly Cooke.
Following the approximately 45-minute concert, the audience visited with musicians for a short time before they jetted off to their next performance in Burlington.
Katie Gratz and her children Morgan and Caleb enjoyed their first experience with SEISO.
“I thought it was good,” Katie Gratz said as her kids tried out beating on drums with Cooke. “I love music.”
“That was fun!” her daughter Morgan exclaimed as she left the fun instruments behind for the next kids in line.
Oboist David Cyzak, who played the duck in the “Peter and the Wolf” orchestra story, happily spent time with some of his youngest fans following the performance.
One fan, 8-year-old Gavin Stensvaag, says he would like to play the oboe like Cyzak some day and he loved the overall experience of the Kidsymphony.
“It was good,” Gavin said. “I liked Star Wars the best. It was really loud but really cool.”
Gavin’s younger 4-year-old brother Ethan wants to play the trombone.
These types of reactions from young music-lovers are the driving reason trumpeter Jeremy Henman, an elementary music teacher, returns for the fifth year to SEISO to play.
Henman says performing in the Kidsymphony is something he looks forward to every year.
“That’s kind of my goal as a teacher to inspire students to not even necessarily pursue music but find a life-long love and enjoyment for music,” Henman said dressed in his Jedi outfit after letting children help him play his trumpet following the performance.
“It’s my joy just to get to be a part of these concerts and spark that interest in a lot of young kids,” he said.
The Kidsymphony also performed at the Arts and Convention Center in Fairfield and Highland High School Sunday afternoon to wrap up their weekend of inspiring a love for music in people of all ages throughout Southeast Iowa.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
