Charles Kenney has a pulse on the string community of Sacramento and the needs and wants of the players.. Chuck became aware of the declining string participation in local orchestras and community colleges.. He shared his vision of meeting the needs of displaced string players with another cellist.. The concept of making contact with an available conductor was discussed and 3 very good candidates were ''asked'' but their current availability kept them from jumping on board.. Pete was ''asked'' about his interest in being a conductor of my orchestra concept (july 2012 at Cal Cap) and though his ''timing'' was not right just then, he asked for a few months of schedule settling down and then would be ready.. The initial discussion was about being a ''grassroots'' beginning with members who democraticly choose their music, representation and direction... It was a concept that was to be 'unique'' and original for this area, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PRE-EXISTING ORCHESTRA in our area.. We were not following any preexisting pattern of How to build or run an orchestra..(like AN existing band or existing director starting it with a following of musicians or a rehearsal site) We'd make sure we played music that was ''known both to the audience and musicians'' (revisiting light classic music that would attract our community to hear music they loved but don't get to hear anymore)so that we'd both grow into being a purely community operated and run orchestra.. This was the ''premise'' that was given to the ''then'' invited string players to join and they all loved this ''different'' concept of how this orchestra should be joined.. We've all been in previous groups where someone or some control group made decisions ''FOR THE PLAYERS'' without getting the input from the musicians themselves.. Pete was of like mind and persuasion so string players were invited to join this orchestra based on those promising goals.. A name had to be picked for this group and with the help of GARY (part of the initial formation -with Margo, and Alison)who secured an attachment to Rancho Cordova city council, Chuck picked the name of Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra (which started as THE CIVIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA). OUR FIRST rehearsal had 45 string and wind players (jan 25, 2013) at this initial gathering.. and we were in a building memebership mode (may 4 2013, First Covenant Church of Rancho Cordova WAS OUR FIRST CONCERT) and got up to 65 orchestra members at this first stage..(the initial plan that Pete and Chuck discussed of being an orchestra of 100 + players was in view) As Chuck had this 'vision and ability'' to grow this group from zero to ''off and running'' , Chuck maintained this push to keep the orchestra growing and put it in the Musical Map for the audience community to choose to attend.. His accomplishment to this point was unpresidented and obviously just what the string players in our area needed and wanted.. so that after one year of existance Chuck was responsible for a new orchestra(full compliment of strings and winds)(NOT STARTED BY AN EXISTING ORGANIZATION or musical group, neither started by an existing director of a band with a place to rehearse or an existing following) in the Sacramento area that was able to command the attention of the rest of the string players in the community.. Congrats go to the three people what worked with Chuck to make 'his vision'' become a reality..
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