Viral

Description

Loreta Fin

Inspired by the events of 2020, Viral starts out with one long note and then begins to grow and sweep through the entire orchestra. The music increases in intensity and drama as the virus spreads. Dynamics, bowing and accents should be carefully observed, to bring out the changing emphasis in the rhythms. Some position work, finger extensions, ties and syncopated rhythms are used. All throughout the work, there is a sense of needing to control and contain the tempo, ending with a feeling of triumphant optimism. A piano part is included, but is not essential.

Loreta Fin (A.Mus.A., L.Mus.A., ATCL) studied violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, with Faina Krel, and before that, with Sr Margaret Short OSU and Emily Finn (former SSO violinist). Loreta was a first violinist with the Sydney Youth Senior Symphony Orchestra, and later tutored and conducted several of the groups within the Sydney Youth Orchestra Association. She taught at Sydney Grammar School before moving to Brisbane in 1988. At present, she is Director of Strings and Instrumental Music at Somerville House Girls’ School, a full-time position she has held since 1993. Loreta conducts and oversees the school’s 6 String Orchestras and smaller ensembles. There are over 500 students in the instrumental music program, which includes more than 200 string players from Years 3 to 12. All of the string ensembles have been successful in competitions over the years, having gained first places in various eisteddfods for several years running. In the last 10 years, Loreta’s ensembles have consistently received Platinum Awards at all levels – and the senior group, Somerville Strings, was the winner of the Orchestra Australia Award for Excellence in school orchestral music.