The Golden Valley Orchestra opens its 2024-25 season with a concert entirely dedicated to musical compositions by women. What makes this celebration special is it includes a world premiere by a Twin Cities composer.
Alongside works by Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach, and Clara Schumann, the program features the first-ever performance of “Mill Creek Trombone Concerto” by Samantha Hogan.
Mill Creek Park, located near the university campus where Hogan studied composition, serves as inspiration for the piece. Hogan was sometimes found at this park practicing trombone duets with her best friend under its canopy of trees, and it plays a key role in the concerto’s creation. It’s also an expression of gratitude for this friend, Robert "Bo" Violette, and his contributions to her musical journey.
“Mill Creek Trombone Concerto” will feature Twin Cities musician Gavin Carney on trombone, as the musicians of the Golden Valley Orchestra conjure the park’s moods and natural setting.
A Tribute to Women Composers takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Golden Valley Lutheran Church, located at 5501 Glenwood Avenue in Golden Valley. Admission is $20, free for those ages 18 and under. Buy tickets in advance or purchase at the door. Hogan will offer an autographed score of the concerto for the orchestra’s fundraiser raffle at the concert.
Expanding the Vision Through a Symphony Orchestra
For Hogan, this world premiere marks a satisfying conclusion to a decade-long musical journey that unfolded with a little help from her friends. Originally composed solo trombone with a string orchestra, Violette premiered a version with a reduced piano score for his senior recital.
Years later, another friend of Hogan’s, Golden Valley Orchestra conductor and artistic director David Carrillo, encouraged her to expand the piece to full orchestra.
As it turns out, an orchestra arrangement was precisely how Hogan had initially envisioned it. But her composition professor encouraged a different approach.
“While writing it, I knew what colors and textures I wanted, but my professor persuaded me to be more practical and write the accompaniment for piano,” Hogan says.
Now, she is thrilled that the piece will reach its full potential and be heard as it was meant to be, with the full richness and color of an orchestra — a culmination of encouragement and support of her musical friends.
Mill Creek Trombone Concerto: A Story of Friendship
The Mill Creek Trombone Concerto is rooted in friendship, encouragement and weekend adventures while Hogan studied composition at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University in Ohio.
Despite Youngstown’s reputation as a run-down remnant of the steel mills' glory days, Mill Creek Park is an oasis of nature, just down the road from the university.
“When you go to this park, it feels like you’re entering another world, like Narnia through the wardrobe,” Hogan says. Mill Creek Park, the largest metro park in the U.S., has all the ingredients of an enchanting escape, including waterfalls, historic relics, a lily pond, a Cinderella bridge, and a rose garden, leaving a lasting impression on Hogan.
As a composition major, Hogan sought to find her place within the musical community on campus. Although her primary instrument was the trombone, she struggled to be taken seriously as a performer due to her focus on composition. That changed after she met Violette. She found in him a willing duet partner, adventure companion and ultimately her best friend.
“I became a better player because of his encouragement,” Hogan says.
In gratitude, Hogan composed and dedicated the trombone piece to Violette, while also aiming to capture the seasons and moods of Mill Creek Park, where the two friends would play duets under the trees.
In Hogan’s Words: A Walk Through Mill Creek Park Via a Trombone Concerto
Movement one
Movement one was inspired by the beauty and mystery of the trees and the illegible writing that adorns the bark from past lovers and general graffiti artists.
Movement two
The second movement is a scherzo of sorts, reminiscent of those pesky geese that gathered around and plotted evil while Bo and I would play duets under the trees by the lilly pond. They would stare at us with their malicious glare and “listen” while we blissfully ignored them (and cautiously watched them back of course). Sometimes they would even march in time and inch near us, the honking devils.
Movement three
When spring comes, the snow melts, and there is a thunderous roar as an increased volume of water gushes past the mill. Eventually, this runoff is tamed as it reaches the Mahoning River and beauty and tranquility is once again restored as summer returns once again in Movement Three.