From Crofton to Russia With Love

It's a long way from Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis to a Russian palace in St. Petersburg. This past month, members of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) made that journey for the performance of their young lives.

From June 27 to July 7, 60 musicians and their chaperones traveled to Russia to perform in a side-by-side concert with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. The group included Crofton musicians Alex Bartlett, Paige Berkebile, Rita Scamurra, Sarah Elert, John Malloy and Spencer Newsom.

Music Director Julien Benichou led the group through five rehearsals and the performance on July 5. All rehearsals and the performance were held at the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, the city's municipal cultural center. The mauve rococo structure was also at one time the palace of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna, and during the Cold War, served as Communist Party district headquarters.

The performance, on July 5, was attended by a largely Russian audience. The side-by-side program included Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, followed by performances by the CYSO flute choir, and an encore vocal, Mozart's "Voi Che Apete," sung by Ashley Foss.

The audience was very receptive, although the American musicians were surprised to learn that Russian audiences clap in rhythm, rather than stand. Evidently moved by the performance, this audience did both.

The group had time for sightseeing and other cultural excursions. For some, the highlight was the 1 a.m. Neva River Boat Tour, which presented a view of the city at night, including the famous raised drawbridges of St. Petersburg.

For others, it was the hydrofoil ride to Peterhof Palace, or the castle itself, an imposing structure with, according to Rosalie Chesley, a harpist with the CYSO, fountains that were “impressive ... framing the front of the house—large terraces cascading down to golden images of lions and men...”

The concert, culture and the Russian people are indelible in the minds of the young performers. According to Ellie Harrison of Arnold, the trip was "eye-opening." The architectural and cultural differences were duly noted by the group, especially the fact that the Russian people tend to dress up and people "don't go out in sweatpants."

The food was a major experience with pickles, dill and "mystery soup" a part of almost every meal.

Alex Bartlett of Crofton said, "Being in a country where people speak a different language is challenging. You don't realize how much you need to communicate. I found I needed to be flexible and patient with how I communicated."

More photos and impressions of the trip can be found on the group's Shutterfly page, which features an insightful blog by Chesley.