'Symphony of Style' is accompanied by a local student-ran orchestra
ASU student and Symphony of Style designer, Erica Soekardono, helped to recruit the People's Community Orchestra of Tempe for the fashion show. The event featured a string quartet from the organization that Soekardono manages.
The Symphony of Style fashion show opened with the cascade of rich and crisp notes of orchestra music as Erica Soekardono listened from across the room.
She may have been prepping her models and garments to walk their debut at Fusion on First, but she also spent the past few months helping to create the soundtracks for each of the fashion lines.
Soekardono is a sophomore ASU student studying supply chain management and business sustainability with a minor in fashion.
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She also happens to be extremely involved in both the ASU and local community.
Not only was she a designer for the Symphony of Style fashion show, but she also works as a model for Style Line Magazine and is the manager of the People’s Community Orchestra of Tempe.
She, along with Style Line Magazine Director of Finance, Allie Woodard, worked together to orchestrate the addition of the symphonic music of the People’s Community Orchestra into the show.
“Basically, my whole idea was how [Style Line] has so many people that come together to create this one beautiful piece like an orchestra comes together to create one beautiful piece,” said Woodard on why she chose to incorporate that style of music into the show.
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Soekardono began the non-profit organization with a group of her friends about three years ago after one of the other members decided that they should expand and “make this into a real thing.”
The two aspired to create a place for people in their community to come together and harmonize in a welcoming and positive environment.
“We do rehearse in Gammage,” said Soekardono. “It’s like a $20 fee and that goes toward snacks, music and other things that go back to the members, so it is super accessible… we like having anyone from the community.”
Although the organization is open to all levels of people, the orchestra has mainly been a place for local college and high school students to gain more insight and experience within the musical world.
“I enjoy it so much,” said Ava Steckel, a member of the string quartet that appeared at the launch party. “I have been having a lot more fun this year with it because I think our community has really grown.” Steckel has been a violist for the orchestra for four semesters.
The quartet had prepared songs for each of the designers based on the theme of their collection using songs that were already written.
“Basically, we changed around the order [of the songs] from what was written but we didn’t write any of the music,” said Steckel.
After the runway shows had taken place, the quartet continued to serenade the audience at the launch party with the sweet sound of string music.
This is a clip of the string quartet playing at the Symphony of Style fashion show on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Fusion on First in downtown Phoenix.
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Members from left to right:
Makayla Blancarte (Violin)
Ava Steckel (Viola)
Hannah Martinson (Cello)
Elden Hendrick (Violin)
Erica Soekardono was eager to begin planning the fashion show on Feb. 25, 2023.