for the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

When Trinity High School's orchestra director invited some of his former students to participate in the annual spring concert, Carnegie Mellon music major Matthew Campbell graciously accepted and offered to compose a piece for his alma mater.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium, Trinity's orchestra will perform Campbell's contemporary-style composition entitled "Piece for THS."

Campbell, a 2005 graduate, is pursuing a bachelor of humanities in arts degree in professional writing and music composition. Upon graduation, he hopes to work for an orchestra in public relations. This summer, Campbell will intern with The Chautauquan Daily, where he will report on music events.

"Hearing the entire orchestra play my music is pretty amazing because the sound is so lush and rich," said Campbell, as he recalled hearing his piece for the first time.

Campbell said the nearly four-minute piece was written with a rationale and an analytic approach.

"I like to compose in a more contemporary genre. In this piece, I had to change my style a bit," he said. "It was still rewarding and intellectually engaging, but I tried to make it more straightforward and accessible to the audience and more enjoyable to play. Each part is important. At rehearsal, I told them that every note, even if it doesn't seem important, is, because each note contributes to the piece."

For orchestra director John McCarthy, next week's concert is exciting on many levels, especially considering that it marks the 15th year that the school district has been offering an orchestra program.

McCarthy is honored to have Campbell's work included in the lineup, which includes Hayden's Symphony No. 92, known as the "Surprise Symphony," for which the wind ensemble will join the orchestra.

Each year, McCarthy tries to include original masterpieces like those created by Hayden, Beethoven and Mozart.

"I like that my students are looking at the same notes that the Pittsburgh Symphony is looking at. They don't get a watered-down version. They play the real masterworks that don't get played enough."

McCarthy said Campbell's piece was an eye-opener for the students because it was so different than what they normally play.

"They hated it at first," McCarthy said. "But it is like that with most music that they just start playing. Then when they begin to master it, they have a new attitude about it. They are not used to playing a piece that is written in such a modern style."

McCarthy taught Campbell and said he always was a significant contributor.

"He was quiet and deep, an excellent musician," said McCarthy.

McCarthy started taking composition seriously in 2001, and in 2004, the violinist wrote a quintet that was performed at the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. In November, one of his recent pieces premiered at Carnegie Mellon, featuring his contemporary techniques.

"That piece was complicated and had wired techniques all for expressive content," Campbell said. "I make rules and I'm deliberate, but I still want you to be able to perceive that there is something going on. I like keeping it right on the edge and right below consciousness. ... There is logic to my music."

In concert

n Canon-McMillan High School band, under the direction of Mark Falvo, will hold its spring concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $2 and can be purchased at the door.

n Avella High School Music Department will present a spring concert featuring performances by the junior and senior high choir, concert band and steel drum band at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school gym.

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