Lind-Ritzville High School students attend Coeur d’Alene Symphony on Oct. 10

In order to give students more exposure to the fine arts, members of the Lind-Ritzville High School (LRHS) band took a field trip to the Coeur d’Alene Symphony on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The students who were able to attend enjoyed the opportunity to listen to professionals who share their passion, including their band director, Jennifer York, who has been a member of the Coeur d’Alene symphony since 2003, and became principal bassoonist in 2005.

Abby Gering, a student who participated on the trip, said, “I mainly wanted to go because Mrs. York is always talking about it and I felt like it would be a really good experience for us, as a band, to see our band director do what she teaches us to do, outside what she shows us in the classroom.”

York explained, “I was very excited to be able to take students to my last concert for a few reasons. One, I knew this was going to be an exciting concert that would show how exciting classical music can be.

“Two, when I saw we were doing ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst for our concert, I right away wanted to find a version that the high school band could play and connect with. This is such a powerful and emotional piece of music to share.”

Among themes from Star Wars and Star Trek, the “Realm of the Stars” themed concert featured “The Planets” by Gustav Holst, a piece of music the high school students are working on for their own winter concert.

Being able to draw parallels between their own musical studies and professionals’ interpretations of the same piece of music was a large part of the learning experience for students.

Student Morgan Lane explained, “I wanted to go to the symphony because of the chance to hear the music that we are currently studying. I was very happy with the experience. I learned how our music is supposed to sound and the way it can be played with different instruments.”

Caden Liberty, another band member, added, “I wanted to experience a professional concert and see the full versions of some of the pieces we are doing in band. It definitely met my expectations. They sounded great and I had fun.”

The positive experiences resulting from the trip makes both York and her students eager and excited to return.

York said, “I would most definitely take students to another performance. The students were all well behaved, and grateful that they were able to attend. We all got dressed up and had a night on the town. We all went to dinner after the performance and again, they made me proud.

“I love my students and my job. Having my students in the audience at my symphony concert was one of the best feelings I have ever experienced as a teacher.”

Gering agreed: “I would of course go back! It was an exciting and fun experience, and a good way to show us what would come next if we wanted to continue

music as our lives go on.”

Michael Carruth, another student who was present, continued, “I would want to go again just to experience the strong feeling of music and passion made by the musicians.”

“Our next concert will be our holiday concert,” York said. “We will be playing Tchaikovsky’s first symphony the first half, and then featuring a local composer for the second half.” It will be played December 3 and 4 at the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.cdasymphony.org for community members interested in attending.

York added, “I love sharing my passion with people—it is why I became a teacher in the first place—to share the joy and satisfaction of great music with all.”