A buzz of anticipation filled Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall on Saturday, February 21 as Merit Philharmonic musicians prepared for a special open rehearsal. Before the downbeat, student leaders huddled with their sections, fine‑tuning notes and bowings in hopes of impressing the distinguished guest conductor.
Since January, students from the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory have been immersed in a rare learning experience: the chance to work closely with Maestro Enrique Mazzola, Music Director of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Through workshops, visits, and hands-on rehearsals, this world-renowned conductor guided them through Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, II. Allegretto, helping them move beyond playing the notes to truly interpreting the music. Their collaboration culminated in an open rehearsal for families and supporters, a moment that showcased not only their hard work but the transformative power of sustained mentorship.
Finding the Story in the Score
In the weeks leading up to Maestro Mazzola’s final visit, Merit Philharmonic devoted their Conservatory Saturdays to meticulous rehearsals with their director, Steven Gooden. That groundwork paid off. When Mazzola stepped onto the podium, the students were ready to dive straight into the heart of Beethoven’s music, pausing only to refine a few technical details along the way. He urged students to stay curious, encouraging them to ask questions whenever something in the score didn’t immediately make sense to them, reinforcing that interpretation grows from inquiry as much as from practice.
But what Maestro Mazzola brought to Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall went beyond technique; he challenged them to imagine the story behind every phrase rather than simply playing the notes on the page. He guided the students through the emotional arc of the piece using vivid, specific imagery: the slow, solemn march of soldiers returning home from war, the ache of loss tempered by quiet, luminous hope in the piece’s final major chord. As he told the orchestra, this movement is all about “the sad things in alternation with the beautiful things.”
He asked students to sing their parts in order to feel the shape and breath of the passage; even the cellos plucking out a sparse bass line were encouraged to think of the part as more than simply accompaniment. “Every time Maestro Mazzola comes, I feel like my understanding of the music deepens so much,” says Jane S., a cellist in Merit Philharmonic. “I feel like I’m noticing things I’ve never heard before. I can feel my own performance progressing in a way in which I’m able to listen to the other sections, letting [Maestro Mazzola] guide my understanding of how my part fits into the music.”
Artistic Growth, Guidance, and Continuity
Merit School of Music has been fortunate to welcome Maestro Mazzola as an artist-in-residence since 2022. Over the past four years, his regular presence has provided meaningful, exciting continuity for the young musicians in the Conservatory.
Learn about the history of our collaboration with Maestro Mazzola →
While one-time workshops and masterclasses can provide invaluable feedback and insight, the longevity of this partnership has created a cumulative effect felt by the students. Jane, currently in 11th grade, has seen the impact of Maestro Mazzola’s regular visits over the past several years. “I think that his continued presence at Merit really raises the bar for our performance,” she says. “We all feel so inspired. We want to keep improving so that when he comes next year, he’s impressed—like, Oh, they’ve been working on it!”
Maestro Mazzola’s presence has become a touchstone for the Conservatory, a reminder that great music-making requires curiosity, imagination, and the courage to continuously dig deeper. As the students look ahead, they carry with them not only Beethoven’s Allegretto, but the confidence that comes from being challenged, inspired, and seen. And when Maestro Mazzola returns, they’ll be eager to show just how far they’ve come.
Hear Merit Philharmonic perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, II. Allegretto at the Conservatory Spring Concert at 3pm on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
