Cover_Jan 05 (Page 2) - The Parklander Magazine

Musicians have grown in four years together
Douglas High Quintet
Plays Out The String
By Helene Foster
When Dean Calmer, orchestra director at Stoneman
Douglas High School, needed a string group to play for a
holiday event at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport
four years ago, he asked his freshmen orchestra members.
Five of them were a natural fit, already friends who enjoyed
playing together. They quickly formed a group and
grew as friends and musicians.
The students — Jarita Jarvinen, first violinist;
Michelle Ditto, second violinist; Sally Deschamps,
violist; Andrew Serpa, cellist and Nate Becker,
bassist — formed the Quintessential String Quintet.
“It has been a tradition at the school to have a
string group each year,” Calmer said. “I have
watched them progress from being new students to
a really mature group of musicians. This is the
longest-lived group in the history of the school.”
“We are such close friends, aside from the
quintet, and we work so well together,” Ditto said.
“I think that’s what really sets us apart.”
The group is still going strong, performing at a
variety of venues. They have played at numerous
charity events including fundraisers for Cystic
Fibrosis and Breast Cancer research. At school they
play at functions such as Honor Society induction
ceremonies.
Although classical music is their forte, they
manage to have fun with Beatles’ songs and their
own arrangements of Metallica music.
Said Jarvinen: “We have already arranged some
of the slow and lyrical songs of Metallica, like
Unforgiven, Fade to Black and Nothing Else Matters and
debuted them at our school concerts.”
“Our selections really depend on the occasion,” added
Jarvinen, who began her musical education at eight years old.
“We try to gear our music to our audience and we take
requests in advance.”
Jarvinen said that performing in a chamber music group
is very different than playing with an orchestra. “We really
have to listen to each other to see where we fit in,” she said.
The four years of performance, classes and rehearsals
have paid off for the group, Ditto said.
“We’ve really improved through the years,” she said. “At
our very first gig at the airport we were nervous and tense.
Now we have a big repertoire and we can accommodate more
musical tastes.”
The Quintessential String Quintet holds regular
rehearsals. But they get together more often prior to a
performance. They are sometimes allotted rehearsal time
during class for a school function but mostly volunteer their
time and energy outside of school.
Calmer provides guidance but they also manage their
own schedules for outside performances. Besides playing at
school or charitable functions, they are often asked to play at
weddings and other special occasions. These “gigs” provide
valuable experience and some financial rewards.
Orchestra director Dean Calmer with Quintessential String Quintet members
Andrew Serpa and Nate Becker, and (front, l-r) Sally Deschamps, Jarita
Jarvinen and Michelle Ditto.
The musicians have also reached out to younger children
at elementary and middle schools in the area, Jarvinen said.
“We participated in a mentoring program and perform at
elementary school graduations, too.”
Although the group members will be going their separate
ways for college next fall, they all want to continue their
performing and musical education. Several are planning to
major in engineering and have been accepted to Ivy League
and top schools. They all plan minors in music or to continue
to study on their own. P ●
Helene Foster, a Parkland resident, is a freelance writer whose articles
have appeared in numerous local and national publications.
www.naturalwonderslandscaping.com
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