Orchestra Nova Sets Sights on Young Listeners

Orchestra Nova, formerly known as The San Diego Chamber Orchestra, performed on Oct. 24 at the Sherwood Auditorium in La Jolla, Calif., with vigor and panache, led by its artistic director, Jung-Ho Pak.

Orchestra Nova states that their mission is to create a bridge connecting centuries-old classical music to our contemporary audience, presenting a sense of familiarity to its promising new patrons.

Prior to the on-stage concert, patrons were entertained with a prelude in the lobby, to “Mozart Loves Prague” by high school and college students Stephanie Slagle and Jason Slagle.

Donning elaborate wigs and costumes befitting Mozart’s musical reign, and performing the minuet, the two brought the evening’s program alive.

“Music is not a vacuum … it has social relevance, and it helps to create a sense of theater,” said the talented and innovative Pak.

The seemingly impromptu display of Mozart’s era was enjoyed and appreciated, with several of the younger patrons joining in the dance and learning the steps while the long-time devotees of classical music watched and enjoyed their wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Conductor Jung-Ho Pak’s forward-thinking approach aims to bring a new (nova) approach to the classical world, enlivening the presentation by reaching out and engaging the audience directly with more relevance, and attracting younger audiences, making Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven more appealing to generations of music lovers who might not otherwise learn to appreciate the classics.

Remaining true to its mature audience while seeking to captivate the interests and expectations of the generations who have grown up on “PCs” and “macs” is a challenge Orchestra Nova has taken on wholeheartedly.

In order for classical music to survive in today’s present world, a shift is being made from the size of the concert hall to smaller venues, from very staid musicians who perform well to more dynamic musicians who play with their hearts and soul.

In order to accomplish this and enliven the spirit of the audience, Pak presents the evening’s program with the eloquence of a head master and the celebrity style of an Oscar host.

Pak hopes to create a world where the musicians play “from their hearts” in roles that are “theatrical, as actors on a stage, with eye contact, a smile when the music moves them and a look of joy when they feel joy.”

In the past, classical music has appealed to society’s elitist upper crust members, excluding the majority of cultural seekers, with a snobbism: “if you don’t understand Shakespeare or Puccini, that’s your problem,” said Pak, illustrating a typical view.
Now Orchestra Nova is attempting to systematically reverse this perspective, whereby the musician needs to convey what is in his heart to the listener, elevating one’s spirit and taking away a new appreciation and real experience of the composer’s work.

Although Pak believes that “classical music is a tool to make people discover their own humanity, to be more compassionate and become more connected,” he also knows that, in order to attract more people, “You cannot just say it is important. You have to be practical … and make it relevant” to present-day music aficionados.

But perhaps more fundamentally, is their effort in reaching out to grade-school children.

Orchestra Nova’s Education Ambassador Ross Moore discusses the programs being provided to the local public schools.

“Take 5 for Music,” Moore explained, is where “students listen to five minutes of classical music each day through the school’s audio system while teachers spend a few minutes to read fun facts on the background of the music piece.”

Moore said that Orchestra Nova actively supports the nationwide effort of “The Hunter Family Music Memory” program, where each year students in grades 3¬–6 learn to identify and appreciate 16 pieces of classical music through a music specialist or teacher at school.

On another note, in keeping with current marketing trends, Orchestra Nova’s ‘iNova’ connects PC-savvy patrons through Twitter and Facebook.

Also, the tickets for students and educators remain affordable at $10.

With reporting by Jane Yang