Colonial Times article, Sept-Oct 2004

"They are passionate about making music," says Jessie Foster, as she speaks of the Lexington Sinfonietta, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season with the appointment of a new conductor. Jonathan McPhee comes with exceptional credentials. He is the conductor for the Boston Ballet Orchestra, the Longwood Symphony, Symphony by the Sea, and now the Lexington Sinfonietta. He enjoys each orchestra for different reasons and finds the variety offered by his multiple roles "quite fascinating." As a professional conductor since 1979 (and tracing his musical career back to the Royal Academy of Music at age 16), he welcomes the new opportunity to introduce pieces from his wide repertory.

"The Lexington Sinfonietta is a jewel in my own backyard, that I didn't know much about," admits Jonathan, who lives with his family in Sudbury. He adds, "There is great talent in this area."

Elizabeth Whitfield, concertmaster and a founding member of the orchestra, agrees. "It's the quality of the music," she says that has kept her with the group since its inception ten years ago.

"Being associated with the orchestra is truly a musical experience," says Elizabeth. "The people really want to be there. Everyone involved is extremely dedicated."

That level of commitment is what attracted Jessie L. Foster, now President of the organization, to the orchestra in the first place. She was introduced to the group several years ago while working on Last Night Lexington. The symphony's performances for that occasion were sold out and the concerts, according to Jessie, were "amazing." As a non-musician (she's a financial advisor), Jessie fell under the spell of the orchestra and wanted to help spread the word about this great "jewel in the community." Today, as president of the organization, who has just been reelected to serve three more years, Jessie oversees the various committees, helping to define the group's goals and determine where it will go as it begins its next decade.

The unique aspect of this symphony, she says, is that rather than being solely board-driven, as is the case with so many orchestras, the Sinfonietta relies on both the board and the orchestra for important decisions. Currently the ten members of the board represent both musicians and non-musicians, while the orchestra is a semi-professional group consisting of professional and avocational musicians. "We have a strong core of people who love making music," explains Jessie. Furthermore, the orchestra can range from a small-scale chamber group to a full-scale orchestra depending on the piece to be played. "The beauty is that we have the flexibility to accommodate whatever the music requires," she says.

As the group celebrates their tenth anniversary, they can feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that their following has grown over the years to a larger, appreciative audience. Among their goals, as they approach the next decade, is to reinstate their outreach program, an important component of their initial bylaws and one that was necessarily neglected as they were without a conductor for two years. In the past, for example, they performed for the Department of Youth Services in Roslindale, and they plan to include such programs in the future. They are also striving to achieve a 100% paid orchestra. At the present time, approximately only two-thirds of the members receive payment and many donate back their checks.

In his tenure as Conductor Jonathan McPhee hopes to secure a strong place for the orchestra as part of the community and to pique the interest of new audiences. He wants people to see an evening at the symphony as a "great night out," that can be enjoyed as entertainment that might include fine art and good dining at a local restaurant. He looks forward to the orchestra becoming even more a part of the "fabric of the town."

The past concerts, he says, have been eclectic and reflect a broad-based appreciation on the part of the audience, an aspect he welcomes. In the last 25 years much knowledge of orchestral music has declined, and many fine pieces have received little exposure. He hopes to present programs that include both familiar and not-so-familiar pieces.

The first concert of the new season is scheduled for 8 pm, October 2, 2004 at the National Heritage Museum and features guest conductor Bruce Hangen, Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Pops, and Ronald Lowry, Principal Cello for the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. A pre-concert talk will begin at 7pm. The program, Mozart and Two of His Biggest Fans, includes Mozart's Overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" and Symphony No. 38, "Prague". It seems that both Tchaikovsky and Wagner (understandably) admired Mozart, so Wagner's Siegfried Idyll and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations for Cello and Orchestra are also on the program, hence the title.

The remainder of the season reflects Elizabeth's assessments that part of the appeal of the orchestra for participants and audiences alike is the variety of music. Celebrating the Dramatic, Jonathan McPhee's inaugural concert, which takes place January 8 at the Hancock Church on the Green, showcases dance music by Stravinsky, Hindemith, and Tchaikovsky. The February 12 concert at the National Heritage Museum has the improbably long title: The Concerto by Which All Violinists are Measured, which refers to Beethoven's Violin Concerto to be performed by Lexington resident, Magdalena Richter, Chair of the String Department at the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division. Also on the program are works by Stravinsky and Ravel.

The final concert scheduled for April 9, 2005 at Cary Memorial Hall is a particularly celebratory one. A British-American Gala for Patriot's Week is a fitting conclusion for a concert series set in historic Lexington. The highlight of the program is a piece by New England composer, Amy Beach. Also included is Leonard Bernstein's Fancy Free, familiar to those who first saw it in the Gene Kelly/Frank Sinatra movie, On the Town. Jonathan is certain that "those who attend this concert will be glad they were there."

Obviously, the convenience of listening to quality music so close to home, without the traffic and parking problems of Boston, offers a strong appeal. But what really counts is the music. Jessie Foster says the most common comment she hears as she sits in the audience is, "My gosh! These people are really good." Jonathan McPhee called the Sinfonietta "a well-kept secret." Perhaps is it too well-kept; it may be time to spread the word!