Dear subscribers,
Being a member of an ensemble, playing music together, creating music that comes from multiple instruments and musicians is a great experience. We sure do have some fun and lively practice sessions in our group with my siblings and our friends the Simmons. Here are some pictures of the ensemble from throughout the year. We had several concerts:
January 2014 was our winter 2013 semester concert at Mountain View Gardens;
May 8: we were guest performers in the Cochise County Youth Orchestra spring concert
May 18 was our spring 2014 semester concert.
May 25: We then played the same program at the impressive Gadsden Hotel in Douglas.
August: We played at Mountain View Gardens for friends, family, and elderly, our summer pieces.
September 20: Performers at “Medley of Melodies” a fundraising concert for the youth orchestra.
November 1: We played in the 7th annual Autumn Grace Recital.
And tomorrow, we will play at the end of my studio recital as guest performers.
We are currently working on our repertoire for our next concert. Some of the pieces will include Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto Movement 3; an arrangement of the Marine’s Hymn for string quartet; Movement 4 of Schubert’s Trout Quintet, Come Thou Fount, and Scottish Ballade.
That’s all for now, Maranatha Struse
![Group photo on May 8th.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Sonshine_May_CCYO.jpg)
Group photo on May 8th.
![We were getting set up for our group picture and were having a great time.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Having-a-good-time_Sonshine-Ensemble.jpg)
We were getting set up for our group picture and were having a great time.
![The staircase in the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Staircase_Gadsden-678x1024.jpg)
The staircase in the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas.
![Some of us played on this landing where the stands are. The cellists were to the left of that staircase and the bassist was to the right.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Gadsden_Hotel.jpg)
Some of us played on this landing where the stands are. The cellists were to the left of that staircase and the bassist was to the right.
![The violinists.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hannah_Maranatha_Jacob_Gadsden-678x1024.jpg)
The violinists.
![Hope Struse one of the cellists.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hope_Gadsden-380x1024.jpg)
Hope Struse one of the cellists.
![Deborah and Sarah Simmons (cello/guitar).](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Deborah_Sarah_Gadsden.jpg)
Deborah and Sarah Simmons (cello/guitar).
![Jeremiah and Sarah Simmons (violin/viola). Although Jeremiah didn't join us for that semester, he performed as a guest on the very last piece, Shamrock Polkas.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Jeremiah_Sarah_Gadsden-588x1024.jpg)
Jeremiah and Sarah Simmons (violin/viola). Although Jeremiah didn’t join us for that semester, he performed as a guest on the very last piece, Shamrock Polkas.
![James Simmons, the bassist.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Jimmy_Gadsden-377x1024.jpg)
James Simmons, the bassist.
![Ruth Ann Simmons as a guest performer on solo piano.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Ruth_Gadsden-678x1024.jpg)
Ruth Ann Simmons as a guest performer on solo piano.
![All of us at the Gadsden.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Sonshine_May.jpg)
All of us at the Gadsden.
![We were rehearsing the Music Box Dancer which we played at the Autumn Grace Recital. Jordanne, on snare/bass drum and Daniel Struse on electric guitar were guest additions to our ensemble for that piece. This photo was during the rehearsal for the piece...and after we got back from a 11 mile hike!](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Sonshine_Musicbox-dancer.jpg)
We were rehearsing the Music Box Dancer which we played at the Autumn Grace Recital. Jordanne, on snare/bass drum and Daniel Struse on electric guitar were guest additions to our ensemble for that piece. This photo was during the rehearsal for the piece…and after we got back from a 11 mile hike!
![Group photo at our spring concert in August.](../blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Sonshine-Ensemble-August.jpg)
Group photo at our concert in August.