On March 23, eight Ravinia Women’s Board members attended a Sistema Ravinia Lake County middle school orchestra rehearsal for a unique and exciting collaboration. After hearing the students perform, the Women’s Board members enthusiastically joined the musicians in the orchestra to experience what it sounds, looks, and feels like to be embedded in the ensemble. They confirmed it’s quite a unique and fun vantage point!
Each Women’s Board member was paired with a student mentor for the day, receiving one-on-one lessons from their mentor and learning how to play their instrument. Once equipped with the ability to play a few notes, everyone reconvened into a full orchestra—including the newest musicians—and performed “Power Rock,” an arrangement of themes by Queen, side-by-side with Sistema Ravinia Lake County artistic manager Raimundo Pineda, who specially adapted the music for the group.
Sistema student Yuruem Ambrosio and Women’s Board member Marilyn Vender
Women’s Board member Char Hadley and Sistema student Samantha McDermott
Back: Women’s Board member Michele Ihlanfeldt and Sistema student Daniel Muñoz
Front: Sistema student Alison Arizmendi and Women’s Board member Gloria Reisner
Members of the Ravinia Women’s Board and the Sistema Ravinia Lake County middle school orchestra