Informatics Philharmonic with IU Summer String Academy 2015

July 15, 2015



It is hard for me to believe this year marks the 7th annual Info Phil concert with the IU Summer String Academy! When I first did this in 2009 I had no idea it could ever become a SSA tradition, though I am glad it has. Every year I work with such a dedicated, musical, intelligent, interesting, and fun group of young musicians I can't resist coming back to do it again.

To some our concert probably seems like the focal point of the whole experience, though I have never regarded it this way. To me the more valuable experience happens in my studio where we rehearse, rather than perform, focusing on musical issues, learning to interact with the program like an ensemble, leading the music, (and tuning, rhythm, balance, etc.). However, they say: "When in Rome do like the Romans," so I give into the String Academy tradition of public performance during the summer and conclude the Info Phil experience with a concert.

For the skeptical (I hope there are some): The Info Phil was never intended to be a replacement for the human orchestra. Rather, it is a laboratory for exploring musical expression providing a chance to experience and understand solo literature as a whole, from the inside. Of course it isn't all education, since I hope it is also fun to play with.

Thanks so much to all the people who helped make the Info Phil concert happen this summer. Special thanks to Yupeng Gu, who recorded the concert, as well as being the event photographer, Mary Peckham who baked cookies and gluten free rice crispy treats, Mimi Zweig for having faith in this sacrilegious blend of technology and music while giving it a chance to flourish, and to Christina Hightower for all the logistical support. Also thanks to the teachers for their hard work in preparing the students' pieces.

Christopher Raphael

Download note: The video and audio don't stream, so you need to download the entire file and then watch or listen. Video files are large!

Video of the Concert



Sam Parrini Beriot: Scene de Ballet
Jasmine Ong Beethoven: Romance #1 for Violin and Orchestra
Maude Cloutier Beethoven: Romance #2 for Violin and Orchestra
Claire Arias-Kim Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Mvmt 1
Anna Raphael Wieniawski: Violin Concerto #2, Mvmt 2
Tabitha Mason Wieniawski: Violin Concerto #2, Mvmt 3
Sarah Ma Saint Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso


Some Audio Rehearsals



Carlota Combis Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, Mvmt 1 Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2
Darius Soo Hoo Mozart: Concerto #5, Mvmt 1 Excerpt 1
Elisa Ramirez Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, Mvmt 1 Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2 Excerpt 3
Erin Kim Massenet: Meditation from Thais Excerpt 1
Grace Carnie Wieniawski: Concerto #2, Mvmt 2 Excerpt 1
Harin Ok Massenet: Meditation from Thais Excerpt 1
Mary Grace Rudolph Beriot: Scene de Ballet Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2
Tommaso Scemini Saint Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2 Excerpt 3
William Mayhew Beethoven: 2nd Romance for Violin and Orchestra Excerpt 1


Group Picture


Back 5 (left to right): Carlota Combia , Mary Grace Rudolph, Elisa Ramirez, Chris Raphael , Anna Raphael
Middle 7 (left to right): Claire Arias-Kim, Sam Parrini, Erin Kim, Tabitha Mason, Harin Ok, Maude Cloutier, William Mayhew
Front 2 (left to right): Sarah Ma, Jasmine Ong