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The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
NEWS OF NOTE
Gonzalo Farias , a native of Chile , is the BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellow .
Roland Lim Photography
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Gonzalo Farias is at home in the hall
When Marin Alsop was rehearsing Mahler ’ s Sixth Symphony with the BSO last fall , she came to the part where cowbells are heard offstage . She wanted to see how it would sound to have the percussionist ring them from the second floor balcony . She asked Gonzalo Farias to help make that happen — not only secreting the percussionist to the designated spot on cue , but making sure that spot worked acoustically .
“ During rehearsals I move around to different parts of the hall to experience how people hear the music from their seats ,” says Farias , this season ’ s BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellow . Later , he will go over his notes with Alsop , often helping her to adjust balance . “ You can ’ t tell when you ’ re on stage how people in the audience hear it ,” he points out .
The Fellowship is designed to train students for the role of assistant conductor , says Farias . “ You have to prepare for everything ,” including , he says , stepping up to the podium if the scheduled conductor can ’ t . “ That ’ s very scary ,” he says , “ especially if you don ’ t know the conductor ’ s interpretation of the piece .”
A native of Chile , Farias , 30 , played piano as a child and came to the U . S . in 2004 to study at the New England Conservatory and then at Peabody , where he expects to receive his graduate conducting diploma . He hopes to join an orchestra as an assistant conductor , eventually finding a post as a music director . “ When you work with an orchestra , you have the chance to develop relationships with the musicians and the audience members ,” Farias says . “ I ’ m looking forward to that .”
Does he have a favorite composer ? Farias points to Mahler and Beethoven . “ They were able to step inside the human condition and find some answers about who we are and what we are supposed to do in this world ,” he says .
Music Box in Silver Spring
On April 29 at 10 am and 11:30 am , the “ Our Maryland ” Music Box returns to the Silver Spring Civic Building . Music Box , OrchLab and BSO on the Go are BSO education and outreach programs in Montgomery County .
For information contact Richard Spero at 301-581-5212 or RSpero @ BSOmusic . org .
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