Ryan Dakota Farris, ’19, ’25, raises his baton and the hall quiets. The baton cuts through the air, and the musicians respond as one. Though it looks seamless, this performance is the culmination of weeks of learning and rehearsal in which Farris (above, right) and the 80 members of this Campus Philharmonia Orchestra build knowledge and trust with each other.
The University of Washington’s Campus Philharmonia Orchestras welcome non-music majors along with community members, faculty and staff, all of whom enroll out of a love of performing music. Director of Orchestral Activities David A. Rahbee (who holds an Adelaide D. Currie Cole Endowed Professorship at the School of Music) created the orchestras in 2014 to serve these students, with weekly practices that can fit into busy schedules. Continued philanthropic support can help the School of Music create more opportunities like this for Huskies to learn, perform and continue bringing art to our communities.
The groups are also a training ground for graduate students like Farris, who’s in his final year of the Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting program. Leading their own orchestras is the best way for conducting students to gain experience, Rahbee says: “If you want to practice piano, you can walk up to a piano and practice. If you want to conduct, you need an orchestra.”
Conducting is about seeing a piece of music as a whole, says Farris, who’s also a cellist. A conductor must consider every layer and guide musicians as they learn together.
“You’re always thinking about, ‘How am I going to help these musicians trace a path from the beginning to the end, to create a satisfying kind of musical idea?’” Farris says.
Farris’ education at the UW has already led him to a professional role: He was recently named music director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra. He’s also gained lifelong career skills in communication, administration and management—all part of the extensive behind-the-scenes effort leading up to the seemingly effortless moment on stage.