Symphonette Spring Break Tour

The Symphonette

The Hope College Symphonette is selected each year from the larger 75-member college symphony orchestra.  Through the Symphonette, the music department of the college is able to offer concerts to church and school communities some distance from its campus and, at the same time, afford its more proficient players an unusual opportunity for group participation and concentrated study of musical styles.

The Symphonette has made numerous radio and television appearances and has presented children's and youth concerts in addition to its series of formal concerts.  The Symphonette has performed for the biennial meetings of the Music Educators' National Conference (MENC) and appears regularly in cities in Western Michigan.  The Symphonette has appeared on the nationally televised Hour of Power from Garden Grove Church in California.

The annual tour has taken the Symphonette from coast to coast in the U.S. as well as two Provinces in Canada, the British Isles, six countries in Europe, and to Australia and New Zealand. Last year they toured Enlgand and Wales in May.

Conductor Dr. Gabe Southard

Robert “Gabe” Southard is currently teaching at Hope College, where he is the Director of Bands, part of the Music Education Consortium, and is also serving as Director of Orchestral Activities as a sabbatical replacement.  Dr. Southard recently completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting at Michigan State University, where he worked with Professor John Whitwell.  Prior to his residence at MSU, he served as Wind Symphony conductor and Flute Studio teacher at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he also taught Orchestration, Music Appreciation, and Advanced Conducting.  While living in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Southard served as conductor of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble from 1999-2002.  Under his direction, CYWE toured England and Scotland, taking first place at the Bournemouth International Musicmakers Festival; completed a CD of the works of Mark Camphouse; and was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Educators Regional Conference. 

In addition to his collegiate teaching, Dr. Southard has served as clinician at several high schools and taught at the New England Music Camp in 2002.  As a flute player, Dr. Southard maintains an active performing schedule by giving recitals and playing in chamber ensembles.  He has also performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Lucca, Italy Opera Orchestra, as well as a number of community orchestras.   

Dr. Southard received his Masters of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied conducting with James Smith.  At UW, he created the UW Brass Choir and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras Brass Choir program.  At Ithaca College, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Wendy Mehne, where he was instrumental in the creation of the Ithaca Chamber Winds. 

Dr. Southard lives locally with his wife Sarah, who teaches oboe at Hope College and performs with the Midland Symphony Orchestra, as well as several other area orchestras.  They own a six month old puppy named Arthur and a twelve-year old chinchilla named Nyssa.