Baseball fans who lament the slow passage of time between the end of the World Series in October and the beginning of spring training in April were offered a pick-me-up last Friday evening through a community concert celebrating “150 Years of Baseball” at the University of Rochester.
The concert was put on by the University’s Chamber Orchestra in partnership with the Rochester Red Wings, the Rochester Historical Baseball Society, Roberto Clemente School No. 8, the Yellowjackets baseball team, and the University’s Concert Choir.
Rachel Waddell, director of orchestral activities for the Department of Music, recently began incorporating Rochester’s spaces into the Chamber Orchestra’s musical programs as way to engage students in learning about the Rochester community and its history. Earlier in the year, the ensemble performed at the Two Saints Church with a program tailored to the venue, one of Rochester’s oldest public buildings. This latest performance presented a program of classical and historical music, poetry, and music inspired by America’s pastime.
The evening featured a collection of baseball-themed medleys, from a patriotic kickoff of the National Anthem to traditional stadium favorites and sing-a-longs, like “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “God Bless America,” and “Here Come the Red Wings.”
The entire performance mimicked at night at the stadium. Mittsy, the Rochester Red Wings mascot, greeted fans as they entered Strong Auditorium. The musicians wore baseball jerseys and caps. And from their seats to the bottom right of the stage, Red Wings Stadium on-field announcer Grant Anderson and KISS 106.7 FM DJ Megan Carter narrated the evening.“It has been the most wonderful adventure,” said Brenda Richey, music director at Roberto Clemente School No. 8.
Richey worked with Waddell to bring elementary school students—from third to eight grade—to the River Campus so they could learn about the instruments, the orchestra, as well as have some fun with baseball and its rich Rochester history. Named for one of baseball’s greatest legends and most revered of Latino ballplayers, the school, part of the Rochester City School District, counts spotlighting the arts as a key part of its mission.
“A hero to millions – not only for his greatness on the baseball diamond, but with his heartfelt desire to help others less fortunate,” was how Grant Anderson described Roberto Clemente as the children presented “Clemente: Tribute to a Baseball Hero.”
The evening also featured a fast-moving performance of a version of P.D.Q. Bach’s Beethoven Symphony No. 5 as well as a special presentation of “Casey at the Bat,” by the Concert Choir, led by its director Julie Covach.
A final highlight was the premier of a new arrangement of the 1860 baseball classic “The Live Oak Polka” written by Eastman School of Music doctoral candidate Keane Southard.
“This is a wonderful evening for all of us to get together and celebrate the same thing – whether you’re here for the music or here for the baseball or a little bit of both – we’re all here for the community,” said Waddell.
