Local orchestra to play professor's new piece

The Camerata Orchestra of Bloomington will honor David N. Baker, distinguished professor of music at IU, in its commemoration performance 8 p.m. Saturday in the Bloomington North High School Auditorium.\nThe Camerata is celebrating its 13th season and will host the world premiere of Baker's newest composition, "Daydreams and Detours." Simon Streatfeild will appear as the principal guest conductor, and Trio Indiana, consisting of music professors James Campbell, Eli Eban and Howard Klug, will perform clarinet solos. \nBaker, a graduate of IU, is a world-renowned jazz musician and started the jazz degree program here when he returned to teach in 1966. His piece, "Daydreams & Detours," is a three-movement work which he said "encapsulates the way I write." He said the title describes the way he communicates musically and the directions he chooses to take. His ideas change as he writes, and these variations are the detours that he adopts as he goes along. While there are usually no clarinets in the orchestra, Trio Indiana will perform them in its first group presentation with the Camerata.\nSaturday's performance will also mark the debut of Baker's piece. Baker said he welcomes the chance to perform with a group he admires.\n"I think that the music that they make is so well prepared and always has interesting composition," Baker said.\nExecutive Director and Concertmaster Lenore Hatfield founded the Camerata Orchestra in 1989. The mission of the group is to offer students, faculty and townspeople of all ages the opportunity to work side-by-side in a professional setting, while offering students scholarships and valuable experiences in their musical careers. Between scholarships and competition prizes, the organization has given out about $375,000 to its student members.\nJon Whitaker, a second-year doctoral student trombone player, said the organization is "very much a professional group," and that there are great opportunities for all interested and qualified IU students to get involved in the program. \n"A good majority of wind and brass players are faculty members," he said. "The most enjoyable thing is that we learn a lot from the faculty members." \nThere are 70-85 players in the unit at this time, making it almost a full-scale symphony orchestra. The majority of these members are students, who attend only three rehearsals prior to each of the five performances in the season. \n"The conductors come from around the world and play three rehearsals with us," Hatfield said. "It's amazing how well it works."\nThe Camerata will also hold its annual solo competition March 3; the piano is the featured instrument. The winner of the competition receives both a cash prize and the honor of becoming a soloist with the Camerata Orchestra in the following season. \nTickets for Saturday's performance will be available at the door for $12 for adults and $4 for students. Adult tickets will also be sold in advance at Mr. D's and Smith-Holden for $10.