On December 8, 2024 the Civic Orchestra branch of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed at Northside College Prep. Guests from all around the city attended the event, the auditorium was full of excited chatter in a multitude of different languages.
Led by conductor Erina Yashima, the orchestra performed Gustav Mahler’s symphony No. 5 – a cathartic odyssey that traverses the complexities of human emotions. The composition is composed of five movements, which are grouped into three parts. The story progresses from a solemnity of its Funeral March, to a blend of Australian folk dance and Viennese waltz, and finally to Adagietto – Mahler’s most renowned piece, a tender love letter to his beloved wife.
Erina Yashima is an alumni of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago where she received the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Apprenticeship and was under Riccardo Muti. The performance on December 8 marked her return to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has worked with countless orchestras across the country as well as across the globe. Yashima’s passion for her work was on full display during the performance, showcased through her dynamic and expressive conducting.
After the performance, we had the opportunity to speak to musicians Layan Atieh and Hamed Barbarji. Atieh, who played the french horn, and Barbarji, who played the trumpet, were both situated towards the back left side of the ensemble.
Atieh began playing the french horn when she was around fourteen years old after her band director selected it for her. Barbarji began a little earlier at just ten years old. Initially lined up for percussion, he wondered what the loudest instrument would be. When he decided the trumpet fit the bill, he chose it and has remained loyal to it ever since. When asked about composers they enjoy, both musicians expressed their adoration for the Austrian composer Mahler, as well as for Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Barbarji’s personal favorite, Bach.
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago prepares young musicians for careers in orchestral music. The members undergo rigorous training under chief conductor Ken-David Masurm, alongside a host of other instructors. The orchestra performs free and low-cost concerts in Orchestra Hall and across Chicago. This serves not only the orchestra itself, but also the schools and communities they visit. Each performance is better than the last and a testament to the beauty of classical music.
