Started in 1988 by Charles Nail, Permian High School’s Satin Strings ensemble is one of the premiere groups in the Basin.
It has traveled around the world and made its mark. Nail got the idea from watching an Air Force strolling strings ensemble at a conference. He decided he could have his students do the same, Permian High School Orchestra Director Todd Berridge said.
Berridge was a junior at PHS when Satin Strings started and now he directs it.
There were about 15 people in it at the time.
“We started going around and memorizing music. There was even a book that we followed along that had predescribed music, predescribed motions. It’s not a unique idea, but for West Texas at that time, it was one of the first truly independent ensembles outside of your traditional orchestra or your traditional marching band,” Berridge said.
After Nail retired, Kathy Fishburn took over and made it “super popular.” When she was director, they got invited to go to the 50th anniversary of D Day and played in Normandy, France.
They were also invited to do two inaugurations in Chihuahua, Mexico.
“They’ve been all over the place. When David Golden was the director, he took them, along with the bands from Odessa High School and Permian High School, to Pasadena, California, and Satin Strings, while they were there, played for (renowned composer) John Williams,” Berridge said.
Since Berridge got to PHS, they have traveled internationally several times. When they’re asked, they do a tour and play in several different places. But Berridge likes to say that their favorite gigs are at home.
“That’s true, because we like to play for our local people, but ever since COVID, most of the live performances out in the public have kind of dried up,” he said.
They are starting to get some of them back, but some of the larger corporations no longer have Christmas parties, he said.
There are 30 students in Satin Strings this year.
Berridge said they average anywhere between 25 and 35 musicians. One year, they had 40, but when he was in it, there were 12 or 15.
“We try to keep it that way, so that every part is covered twice or three times. So if we have a performance, there’s always going to be somebody on the part and not playing solo,” Berridge said.
Satin Strings plays everything from classical to rock to country to bluegrass to Celtic music.
“It’s all there. We do everything. Matter of fact, this first concert we’re having, we’re doing classical, country, bluegrass, 80s, synth pop and some Scottish music,” Berridge said.
The group will perform at the 22nd annual Spooktacular Concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the MCM Grande FunDome.
The event will feature the orchestras of Permian, Bonham, Nimitz, and Wilson & Young.
There will be music, food, prizes for the best costumes, and fun. Reserved tickets are $20 and are on sale until noon on Oct. 28 at tinyurl.com/c36kyaw
They also get called to perform at HEB’s Feast of Sharing and different retirement homes.
“And of course, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We go out there. … They’re very gracious; (they) pay us for our time, or they buy the kids food. But that’s part of the charter of Satin Strings is that we go out in the public and we spread the gospel of MOJO, so to speak,” Berridge said.
Students audition for the group every April even if they are already in it. It’s rare that a freshman makes it, but it has happened.
“It’s a difficult audition to make. Some kids, you know they’re going to make it (and) they slide right in. That’s why we tend to have a freshman orchestra so you can kind of feel out who’s going to be in there.
“But then some kids will come in, they’ll just surprise you, and they’ll have worked on it and worked on it and worked on it, and through working on that audition, they become better musicians themselves. … It translates into the orchestra. They make it translate into Satin Strings. It translates into their confidence, their willingness to go out into the public and play a solo. It’s amazing what this does to kids,” Berridge added.
All the students in Satin Strings are the ones that usually pass their classes. If they pass their classes, they can play.
They used to have more crossover from band and orchestra than they do now because students have to choose pathways and have to select from orchestra, band, choir or theater.
They have the most crossover right now with the dance team Panther Paws and orchestra.
The hierarchy is the Symphony Orchestra.
“They’re the parent organization and then Satin Strings is just an auxiliary part of it. Over in choir, you have Kantorei, that’s their top choir, and Black Magic is an auxiliary,” Berridge said.
An El Paso native, he moved to Odessa in second grade.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas Tech University and got his first job in Vernon teaching choir and band.
Berridge taught for 10 or 11 years in the Metroplex in Denton and Flower Mound. Then he got a call from then Director of Fine Arts Randy Talley that brought him back to Odessa. That was 17 — almost 18 — years ago.
Nail was a big influence on Berridge.
“He taught me patience, virtue, how to practice,” he said.
Nail was in charge of band and orchestra at the time.
“The way he handled kids, and the way that he brought music out of kids, that just made me want to do the same thing. I felt that was my calling,” Berridge said.
Berridge and his wife, Jessica, an assistant principal at Reagan Elementary School, have two children.
Seniors Aliana Rivera and Andrea Valenzuela have been in Satin Strings for three years. Rivera is 18 and Valenzuela is 17.
Both are in the symphony, play violin and first saw Satin Strings in elementary school around Christmas time.
Valenzuela thought it was cool that Satin Strings players didn’t look at music. Her aunt works at a nursing home and Valenzuela was there when the group would play for the residents.
“I just thought that was so sweet to give back to the community with music, and that’s why I wanted to join,” Valenzuela said.
Rivera and Valenzuela said they have enjoyed bonding with everyone and they enjoy practicing together as an ensemble.
“My favorite part of being in this group is definitely the community and being with people that think alike and they have the same passion in music as you. We’re also close together being in the same group for multiple years. You build all these friendships with people and that spreads throughout your high school. It’s not just in orchestra,” Valenzuela said.
