As the orchestra begins to tune its instruments, the crowd goes silent. Suddenly, as the conductor waves her wand, a burst of music echoes through the halls.<\/p>\n
From Beethoven<\/a> to Mozart, Ravel and Debussy<\/a>, the ASU Philharmonia <\/a>fosters a safe space that transcends mere music with an ensemble composed of both non-music major and music major<\/a> students.<\/p>\n “It’s a bunch of people that know how to play instruments,” Irina Andriananjason, a violinist and a senior studying chemistry, \u00a0said. “We come together twice a week, and we just put our skills together and make music.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Music director Julie Desbordes has been with the Philharmonia Orchestra for the past six years and has been a large inspiration for her students.<\/p>\n “The culture we are able to create within this orchestra is extremely kind, welcoming (and) open-minded to a diverse range of beings,” Desbordes said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Throughout her time as a conductor, Desbordes said the experience brought her greater appreciation for her students’ skill sets, the challenges that come with various instruments, testing students’ abilities and growing together in the orchestra.\u00a0<\/p>\n When watching an orchestral performance, no one section takes the lead; they all work together in unison.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The level of equality in an orchestra, truly, everybody has the same power. Everyone has the same ability to uplift the music or to do something to its detriment,” \u00a0Patrick Shambayati, the principal bassist and a freshman studying classical performance, said. “It’s one of the things that fascinates me about the orchestra. It works in perfect harmony.”<\/p>\n The power of music, especially classical music, is something that transcends all meaning for the musicians in the orchestra.\u00a0<\/p>\n Desbordes said \u00a0music “speaks to any human beings across language and opinions” and because of that power, the genre is necessary in the world.<\/p>\n The orchestra practices and performs at ASU Gammage<\/a>.<\/p>\n “It is like Hollywood movie magic, where we have these rehearsals and things haven’t come together yet, and then you get on the big stage and everything is finally in its final form,” Shambayati said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Jacob Giltinan, a violinist and sophomore studying music learning and teaching, wrote in a statement that there are two important views in classical music.<\/p>\n “First, it shows that every member of the music-making must be involved and engaged in the process of creating music. If everyone has this engagement, we get the second, and more important view on classical music,” Giltinan wrote. “The second view I have taken away from this orchestra, is that classical music (and music as a whole) is a thing that everyone universally can experience.”\u00a0<\/p>\n For music majors, the Philharmonia Orchestra allows them to gain real-world experience for their future professions.\u00a0<\/p>\n “What’s so cool about being a music major is a lot of what you do when you’re performing, you are quite literally doing the exact thing you’re trying to do as a professional,” Shambayati said.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Giltinan, the orchestra has created one of the most unique communities on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It allows everyone to experience the joys of making music with fellow musicians,” Giltinan wrote. “The main agreement that every member makes is that they are going to always put their best effort forward, which truly makes this group a joy to be a part of.”<\/p>\n Music in general can help one process emotions they are not aware they had, Desbordes said. It is therapeutic, healing, transformative and informative for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n “There’s so much work that goes behind the scenes. I truly appreciate being able to learn and develop these new skills,” Andriananjason said. “My favorite part is just being able to collaborate and just be present in the moment, to enjoy the music.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Senna James and Ellis Preston.<\/p>\n Reach the reporter at galawre3@asu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n Like The State Press<\/a> on Facebook and follow @statepress<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n \nGrace Lawrence<\/strong>Community Reporter\n<\/p>\n Grace Lawrence is a reporter for the community culture desk at The Arizona State Press. This is her 1st semester working with The State Press.\u00a0<\/p>\n Continue supporting student journalism and donate<\/a> to The State Press today.<\/p>\n