Memorial High School - Reata Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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ORCHESTRA 'akin lifea little ea ter Strings, Woodwinds and brass make classical sounds alive ith talent in abundance, the orchestra had enlarged and improved over the past couple of years. As I see the future. I see it gettin even bigger and strongerf, said Conductor Lawrence Bush. l'I think it's im roved a whole lot, said Freshman grad Dalton. I've heard it's one of the best we've had in awhile. Fifteen members of the orchestra made the All-Region Orchestra which performed at Memorial December 7 under the direction of Abraham Cha- vez. Dalton, Principal viola Janie Gayle, Kristin Greer, Keith Hearn, Trent Hellerstein, Stephanie Joe. Con- cert mistress Sarah Kemery, Kira Obo- lensky, Laurie Olbrich, Dirk Silva, Chris Simon, Charles Stern. Jamie Turner. and Ed and Joe Wakil were members of this performing group. In addition to the All-Region people. there were four All-State orchestra members. These were the most presti- gious musical organizations in the nited States, said Bush. There isn't aniiplace in the nation like Texas. emery. Gayle. and Ed Wakil were in the High School Symphon , and Trent Hellerstein in the Youth Olrches- tra. which both performed February 9- ll in Houston. Orchestra students enjoyed being a part of the organization. lt gave us a chance to be with our friends and play music with them. said Janie Gayle. Mr. Bush was really a great teacher. I learned a lot from him. ACTIVE ORCHESTRA MEMBERS performed concerts for the student body during the year under the direction of Mr. Larry Bush. Orchestra took a lot of time, work, and preparation, and it was really worth it for something you enjoyed, ' said Sophomore Barbie Bennett. It was a challenge to me. It was really interesting - you really meet a lot of interesting people in the field of musicf' According to Sophomore Kira Obo- lensky, orchestra was like a melting pot with all different types of people. We played all types of music too - notjust classicalf said Kira. In the fall, the orchestra held their fundraising roject. We accounted for several million cavities selling 'Tur- tles',', said Bush. With that money the orchestra made a Christmas tour to the Homes of the Aged doing Christmas music. Among the orchestra's many activi- ties were a winter concert in Novem- ber. a concert prior to the March 16 UIL full orchestra contest, a 'kicker' type concert in earlry4April, and a spring concert in mid- ay, which fea- tured some members as soloists. We invited the junior highs to come per- form fat the spring concertjf' said Bush. Last year there were about 150 people on stage. - 30 - - Lorena Farb TOP: ORCHESTRA STUDENTS Laurie Olbrich and Holly Stroud tune their cellos prior to their daily rehearsal. Photo by Scott Waughtal. SERENADING THE CROWD with melodic tunes from the violin, Laurie Olbrich and Lois Wag- gener display their orchestral ability. Photo by om Freireich. I I ' K' 'u Strings

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--ng, is. 4 Hai - vm, F . HMBEQZ' ' .fa K QM V .. M Ili ,VJ 'I' . rf' .4 a s 1,4 'Is' 21 . I' V ww H ,N .- fl. x I MAKING ONE OF HIS RARE. WINTER APPEAR- BEYOND ANCES the sun comes out with the and of Fresh- t 'mx e TH E STRUC man David Coad. Photo by Bill Montgomery. - I I TURED CUR- ' . 'EICULSM of EYEING HER susiscr CAREFULLY. Stacy + if I C An 'span' Stadsvole puts finishing touches on her acrylic ment. SCUIOI' painting. Photo by Katy Epps. 1 .. - A Michele Hau- ' ' ser's interest in art education has prompted her to study art in Bra- zil. Mexico. Europe. and participate in art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts. I traveled with the Youth for Understanding to Brazil for the sum- mer and took art classes at a Brazil- ian school. Their program is differ- ent. We did mostly pencil drawings and watercolor. said Michele. Stricter and more structured. the art program in Brazilian schools encouraged a strong concentration on still life drawings. We drew stat- ues and figurines. Michele said. Taking advantage of a trip to Mex- ico. Michele sketched the people. scenes. and buildings of Guanajuato, Mexico. lt gave me several ideas for future paintings that I'd been consid- eringf' said Michele. Trips to museums abroad have influenced Michele's appreciation of art. I visited the Louvre in Paris and the Prado in Madrid, she said. Studies at the Museum of Fine Arts offered extra time for Michele to work in her favorite medium. pencil sketches. l've taken classes in visual fundamentals where you're taught the basics of art and the principles behind what you see. Michele said. The classes at the museum meet once a week and offered classes on various levels. -30 - -Judi' Cleveland CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT COLORS are needed to give his painting the final touch, Tom Smith Stares blankly at his color selection. Photo by Bill Montgomery. Arts and crafts l5l

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O ...Q ABOVE: ORCHESTRA MEMBERS SHIRLEY LAKE, Patti Mahon, Kathy Rivas, and Gilbert Valentine marvel at Janie Gayle's musical prow- ess. Photo by Scott Waughtal. JOKING AROUND FOR THE CAMERA, Keith Hearn hides behind his bass. Laurie Olbrich, who plays the cello, looks on. Photo by Scott Waughtal. BELOW: AN INTEGRAL PART OF ORCHESTRA, the bass provides the back seat of many pieces. Bass player Senior Richard Cole concentrates on plucking the correct tones. Photo by Scott Waughtal. PROG- RESSING EACH YEAR IN HER OWN ESTIMA- TION, Kathe Rivas has spent seven years playing the viola in junior high and high school orchestras. Kathe's the kind of person that really makes a school orchestra func- tion, said Conductor Lawrence Bush. Though Kathe has enjoyed the people and music, she admits that at times it's been tough. At concerts we'd like to have played better, said Kathe, but we try our best. As a freshman, Kathe was scared to death because there were only two violas then, and through the years they kept coming in. Since orchestra is so uncommon for this school, it's hard to get especially viola players, she said. Kathe feels that she has made improvement during her years in orchestra. I've progressed a lot con- sidering I don't take private lessons, said Kathe. Kathe was also an accomplished pianist. She was featured on the piano at the orchestra's Christmas tour. I plan to major in piano, said Kathe, who has played the piano for ll years. Musically, piano's my main love. Viola helps me achieve my goals in piano. - 30 - !Lorelra Farb Strings