BEATRICE, Neb.—Come Tuesday evenings the halls at Beatrice High School are empty, the lights are out in most classrooms and the janitors are finishing up their tasks.
But, inside the high school music room, the sound of violins, cellos, violas, brass and woodwinds is heard as the members of the Beatrice Regional Orchestra begin their weekly practice.
“They’re sounding good,” orchestra director Connie Moon says about the group. “I think they were surprised how quickly they started sounding good.”
The group began about six weeks ago after several members of the community expressed interest in participating in a community orchestra, Moon said. With some experience of starting an orchestra before, Moon knew it was possible.
And it was, especially with the numbers that were interested in participating and a grant from the Hevelone Foundation, she said. Today, the group has close to 30 people from as far east as Steinauer to as far west as Fairbury. There are also members from Clatonia, DeWitt and Odell, as well.
The group is made up of a variety of talents, both young and old, Moon said. Some of the members haven’t played in years and are dusting off their instruments for the first time in years.
“In the first rehearsal I could hear the rust coming off,” Moon said.
Other members have played on and off in other community or school music groups. There are also a handful of professional music teachers.
Barb Tiemann of Beatrice hasn’t played the viola since 1973, she said. But, after she was invited to join the group she thought she’d go ahead and pick it up again.
Not owning a viola, Tiemann said, the first practice she used a drumstick to practice with the group, enabling her to get used to playing again.
Luckily that didn’t last too long, as someone was able to find a viola for her to borrow, she said.
“The music is in us,” she said. “It’s in our hearts.”
It is especially fun for Tiemann, who is now playing in the group with her high school music teacher, Joan Davison.
There are a couple of Davison’s former students in the group, Davison said.
Karen Higgins of Beatrice, who plays the cello, enjoys the opportunity to play with the group. She sees it as a great opportunity for woodwind and brass to play with strings. It’s also a great opportunity to play with others in the community as they all come from different backgrounds.
Some are students, some are teachers, some are business owners, some are doctors, Higgins said.
Rosanna Rinne of Steinauer rides in every week with her brother, Chad, for violin lessons. They then stick around to play in the orchestra, she said. At home the two practice together.
“I started doing it so I could help her,” Chad Rinne said.
Whatever the playing level, Moon said musicians are welcomed with open arms.
“There’s an experience that playing a piece of music in a group can be, it’s an exciting experience, a moving experience,” she said.
The group practices every Tuesday evening for two hours at the high school, Moon said.
The musicians are preparing for their first concert, scheduled for May 19 at the Hevelone Center. They plan to play an assortment of music, including the jazzy “St. Louis Blues” and a more classical piece, “Pavane,” Moon said.
“People have been practicing hard on their own as well as getting down to the nitty gritty at rehearsal,” Moon said.
“We know there’s some things to work out, but we’re confident that it is going to come together well.”
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Information from: Beatrice Sun,
