Sistema Ravinia students participated in a workshop with rising conductor Jonathan Rush at Ravinia Festival on July 10, their first in-person orchestral performance since December 2019.
“We were all excited. It had been a really long time since we’ve seen each other, so it was important that we finally had an in-person connection with others,” clarinetist Arlette Silva said.
Rush is one of the world’s most exciting young conductors, and the students were instantly inspired and moved by his craft and dedication. They saw that being a musician at a professional level is within their reach, which is exactly what Rush wanted to convey when meeting these students.
Cellist Madison Welch felt the message resonate deeply. “It shows that there are people who care about spreading music, especially to children and people of color who don’t have as much of an opportunity,” Welch said.
Before joining the students outdoors for the workshop and performance, Rush shared that his artistic mission is to inspire young musicians and pave the way for those that face challenges, discouragement, and lack of access to music.
He even provided advice for these Sistema Ravinia students. “I would tell them, stay with your instrument, stay committed, and if you have a goal, if you have a dream to play in a top symphony orchestra or to conduct or to compose, don’t let anybody push you back,” Rush said.
Leading up to the event, all students received virtual individual lessons and a group class during the week of June 28. They also had smaller in-person rehearsals at Ravinia in early July.
“It’s been really cool hearing other instruments and seeing people in real life instead of Zoom,” violinist Gregory Dandridge said.
On the big day, Maestro Rush led the kids’ orchestra in a rehearsal of Mambo Amable and music from the “New World” Symphony. The orchestra’s energy and sound grew with the guidance of Rush. The students tapped into a new sense of musicianship alongside the young conductor, and when the final piece was performed, they played with greater confidence as their guests danced on the Lawn. In addition to hearing Maestro Rush’s feedback and ideas to help them develop their sound, the students also had the chance to ask him questions about his life and musical career.
Ravinia’s Chief Conductor and Curator Marin Alsop also made an appearance and shared her excitement for the students. Alsop also recognized the significance of the day. She was the Baltimore Symphony’s Music Director for 14 years, and she took Rush, who is now that orchestra’s Assistant Conductor, under her wing. A baton was passed down to Rush, who on the day of the event conducted the next generation of musicians— the Sistema students in Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play music education programs.
At the end of the day, students got to see Rush make his Ravinia debut conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the first time alongside Maestra Alsop.