It All Began With An Experience Anna Edwards
D uring my DMA studies years ago, I learned many important academic life lessons at the University of Washington, though my most gratifying educational experience was the launch of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra (SCO) for my graduate recital. As the sole Music Director/Executive Director/Development Director/ Educational Outreach Coordinator for SCO over the past 10 years, I have learned many critical leadership lessons from hiring musicians, organizing student outreach visits, grant-writing, dealing with QuickBooks (oh my!), as well as so many other tasks required in running a 70ish person, multi-generational, semi-professional orchestra. At
times, it has felt overwhelming, but always super satisfying.
As I look back over the last decade, my most influential lessons stemmed from
In 2011, the year before I started the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, I was highly anticipating my new freshman class of RHS string players. Because of my involvement with a local youth symphony, I knew there were two “violin prodigies” entering my freshman class. I was looking forward to a great four years of awesome talent. What I was NOT anticipating however, was how this particular class changed the way I looked at music, race, and privilege. One particular student, who was not at all on my radar, became my tipping point in the way I look at talent, possibility, and the importance of opportunity. This story begins with two students who were close friends coming into my class. ‘James’, one of the child violin prodigies entering my class, and ‘Simone,’ a cellist. (I have changed the student’s names to protect their privacy.) James, a white young man, came from a talented, well-educated, and upper-middle class family. An extremely confident young man that played like a dream. Simone was a mixed race black student. My initial reaction for Simone was that she was “tricky.” She was vivacious (talked a LOT) and had lots of personality (again, talked a LOT). My first and very lasting memory of Simone was of her dragging her school cello across the floor after our first orchestra rehearsal. After seeing Simone drag her cello, I thought, “Here is someone who doesn’t appreciate what the school has loaned her. This seems ungrateful and she obviously needs to show me that she is able to care for her equipment before getting extra support from me!” So, I decided that I would not loan Simone a nice cello until she could prove to me that she would take care of her stuff. While today I am horrified that this was my initial reaction, it has been one of the most important lessons for me as a musician, educator, and advocate of diversity. Over the course of the year, Simone grew on me. She had a great personality and she was funny. What I did not anticipate was how she would change the way I think. Simone became quite frustrated during her first year because she couldn’t seem to get higher than 4th chair in the cello section. Her friends, the two violin prodigies, were 1st and 2nd chair. It was clear that she wanted to do well, she was just not playing at the level she needed to in order to get a higher ranking. This prompted after school discussions.
SCO’s journey. From the beginning, SCO’s mission was highly influenced by my research concerning gender and leadership. Most of the SCO board members were parents of my high school orchestra students and they enthusiastically embraced our original mission which stated that we were “ a diverse, multigenerational performing arts organization dedicated to diversity in symphonic classical music. SCO musicians include students, community members, and professionals who work together to create a unique and collaborative
....it has been one of the most important lessons for me as a musician, educator, and advocate of diversity. Over the course of the year, Simone grew on me. She had a great personality and she was funny. What I did not anticipate was how she would change the way I think.
musical experience that includes a creative mix of traditional orchestral music and works by female composers.” This initial spark strongly influenced my path to promote diversity on the concert stage and clearly has defined my career choices as I go forward. I would love to share my story of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra and the profound effect it has had on who I am as a musician, educator, and promoter of great music. Beginning in 2000, I had the opportunity to teach orchestra at Roosevelt High School (RHS) in Seattle. My friend and musical partner (the RHS legendary band and Jazz band director) Scott Brown and I fully treated the Roosevelt Music Program as a career and life preparation program. Our music program has been well known across the country, as our band, jazz band, and orchestra programs have won numerous regional, state, and national awards over the decades. During my twenty year tenure at RHS, our combined students went on to attend every major conservatory and top university music program in the US. Today, many of our students are performing with top orchestras and bands across the country.
Voice of Washington Music Educators Association January 2023
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