Per Brevig believes in using physical expression to help orchestra's interpret his musical intentions.
On Thursday, the finalist for the F-M Symphony director's position was guest conductor for Moorhead's Robert Asp 6th grade orchestra. There was no mistaking his feelings following the experience.
"When you see the discipline and those bright eyes, it's an emotional experience," Brevig said, glasses off and eyes red.
The Norwegian conductor, a former principal trombonist for the Metropolitan Orchestra, said he choked up while talking to Brian Cole, the group's teacher, and hearing that a third of the students there participate in string music.
"They even play in tune," he said. "I couldn't believe it."
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Brevig is in town this week to prepare for his trial concerts Saturday and Sunday at North Dakota State University. Between practices with the F-M Symphony and guest clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, he has toured the community arts scene with Bill Law, the Symphony's executive director.
For 15 minutes Thursday, Brevig challenged about 75 Robert Asp students through an up-tempo version of Aaron Copland's "Shaker Hymn." Dressed in black slacks, a dark blue dress shirt and a black suede jacket, the maestro stopped the music intermittently to regroup, help students focus on speed and speak praise.
"You sound fabulous," he said after about a minute of work. "I can't believe it; are you all from one school?"
After the session, Brevig heaped more praise on Cole for getting so many students excited about music. Such a commitment to the arts in Fargo-Moorhead is one of the main reasons why Brevig wants the position, he said.
A native Norwegian who moved to the United States in the early 1960s, Brevig said the local Scandinavian heritage is welcoming, too, though it wasn't a main factor in his decision to apply.
Besides the arts, Brevig said he's been impressed by the overwhelming positive attitudes here.
"You feel that everything is possible (and) anything can be done," he said.
After 26 years of playing for the Metropolitan Orchestra, Brevig quit the position in 1994 to focus entirely on conducting. In one of his most recent accomplishments, he beat out more than 200 applicants last year to be named music director and conductor for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.
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Before flying to Fargo last weekend, Brevig performed a fall series of three concerts with the Texas orchestra. Workers there called Brevig delightful, easy to work with and a knowledgeable teacher. Audience and orchestra members alike have enjoyed the quality of Brevig's work and his choice of material, said Margaret Rowan, the East Texas Symphony's director of finance.
"So far the musicians are just clamoring to become part of the orchestra because of him," Rowan said.
This week, though, the F-M Symphony members have Brevig all to themselves. The group will perform two shows, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with music by Mikhail Glinka and Cesar Franck. Fiterstein will play pieces by Carl Maria von Weber.
Brevig, the third of five finalists to audition for the F-M Symphony director's position, said he has been demanding in practice this week and expects a lot from the group. This weekend, he said, the audience will see the joy of music-making.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Forster at (701) 241-5538
