The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/31419
Classical Rock “I’ll be doing this for the next 3,000 hours,” Jason Curley said as the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” blared in his office at Hartwick College. On his computer screen was an orchestration of the rock song, one of 21 that will be performed with a full orchestra and backing choir for the second annual Rock Orchestra on Thursday, May 19, at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. “I’ve been up 24/7 arranging and orchestrat- ing,” Curley said. Although Curley is doing a large portion of the arranging, students from his orchestration and arranging class at Hart- wick College are also contributing work. Rock Orchestra is put on by Hartwick’s music department, but it will also feature community members, high school students and SUNY Oneonta students in addition to Hartwick stu- dents, faculty and staff. Curley will conduct, as well as perform a song or two, most likely “Ants Marching” by the Dave Matthews Band. “I can do a really good impersonation of Dave Matthews,” he said. Musicians will dress up as “rock stars,” accord- ing to Curley, who said he will shave his head to Rock Orchestra to merge musical styles Want to write for the Scene? E-mail clips and resume to Cassandra Miller at editor@otownscene.com ROCK ORCHESTRA TUNES AC/DC, “Thunderstruck” ALIEN ANT FARM, “Smooth Criminal” BON JOVI, “Livin’ on a Prayer” BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, “Born to Run” COHEED & CAMBRIA, “Welcome Home” DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, “Ants Marching” FLEETWOOD MAC, “Landslide” HEART, “Barracuda” HEDWIG/TRASK, “Origin of Love” KANSAS, “Carry On My Wayward Son” MOODY BLUES, “Nights in White Satin” RUSH, “Tom Sawyer” PEARL JAM, “Jeremy” PETER GABRIEL, “Sledgehammer” PINK FLOYD, “Comfortably Numb” SANTANA, “Black Magic Woman” SMASHING PUMPKINS, “Tonight, Tonight” STEVIE WONDER, “Superstition” STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, “Interstate Love Song” TINA TURNER, “River Deep, Mountain High” TOTO, “Africa” make a mohawk and wear chaps for the performance. Curley said he put together the event last year to help diversify offerings for students and be something different from the usual classical repertoire of the wind ensemble and string orchestra. “Hartwick flourishes on pluralism,” he said. “We’re always trying to open students to different cultures and music genres. ... I need them to tap into other areas, and I want them to have as many skills as possible to be marketable when they leave.” Rock Orchestra is not only an interesting project for the music department, but it’s also a fundraiser for Foothills and the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival. Pro- ceeds will help pay for scholarships for the summer music “camp.” Tickets range from $10 to $20, and $5 rush tickets will be available for students younger than 18. The event will include the concert at 8 p.m., but there will also be a pre-party at 6 p.m. and a post-concert dance party at 10 p.m. The Foothills bar will also be open. For more information, call Foothills at 432-2080 or Hartwick at 431-4800. _ Cassandra Miller May 12, 2011 O-Town Scene 15