Years in Tulsa Youth Symphony:
Lara Ortega Clark: 2001-2005
Oriana Dobson-Ortega: 2008-2009
Instrument:
Both: Cello
Favorite Memory from TYS:
LOC: I don't know why because I don't really even like them, but eating those big, fluffy, grocery-store sugar cookies with friends during breaks!
ODO: Playing our first concert, because we were playing with what were considered "band" instruments in high school as well as the stringed orchestra instruments. Being able to play as a full symphony was very powerful!
From Left: Oriana Ortega Dobson, Lara Ortega Clark
After TYS: College Experience
Your Educational History:
LOC: After graduating from Jenks High School in 2005, I went on to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where I double-majored in Cello Performance and Economics. After that, I attended the University of Georgia School of Law, where I earned my Juris Doctorate.
ODO: I graduated from Jenks High School in 2011. In 2015 I graduated from Oklahoma State University with my degree in Psychology. Finally, in 2021 I graduated from University of Oklahoma - Tulsa with my Master's in Social Work.
Your College Orchestra Experience:
LOC: I played in the Emory Symphony Orchestra throughout my college career, and was also a member of the Emory Chamber Music Quartet and Honors Quartet. Even though my eventual career path (arguably) has nothing to do with cello performance, I loved studying music full-time, and I am SO glad I took the opportunity to do it!
ODO: I formally played cello from 6th grade to the end of 9th grade. I was involved with the Jenks orchestra, the Tulsa Youth Symphony, private lessons, and the Cello Choir throughout that time. Currently, I play cello alone in my house as stress relief!
Current Job:
Describe a day to day in your life as an ATTORNEY:
LOC: I am a Partner at Chartwell Law, where I am a civil litigator specializing in defending businesses against personal injury and wrongful death claims. This is a very broad practice area, so it is rare that I am ever doing the same thing two days in a row. Some days, I am in the office where I might be writing a brief, responding to emails, drafting client reports, or preparing for depositions or hearings. Other days, I may be on the road at depositions, mediations, site inspections or hearings. Still other days, I might be traveling to attend conferences or other marketing activities. Bottom line is, I am never bored!
Describe a day-to-day in your life as a THERAPIST:
ODO: It is hard to describe a "day-to-day" aspect of my job. I see clients for hour-long increments all day. In my department we use evidenced based practices such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to engage clients in processing abuse, neglect, and other stressful experiences they have had in their lives. I am very fortunate to work for an amazing non-profit agency where I can serve Tulsans every day and contribute to the lives of kiddos!
What are your goals for your job over the next year?:
LOC: My goals for this year are pretty broad. I am working on my management skills (both people management and time management), and my main focus right now is getting the new members of my team up and running so that I can transition to more of a supervisory role, rather than the "boots on the ground" role I have been occupying for the past several years.
ODO: I am excited to continue being trained in and utilizing new evidence-based practices. I excel in working with adolescents and I hope to continue learning and practicing skills to help my clients in many areas such as trauma, suicidality, and grief.
Personal Life:
Where do you live now?
LOC: Atlanta, Georgia
ODO: Tulsa, Oklahoma
How do you use music in your everyday life?:
LOC: During this season of my life, I am more of a consumer of music than a creator. That said, I still use music in lots of different ways! I listen to music all day while I work to help me focus, and I also rely heavily on music to help summon the motivation to work out and keep me awake on long drives. My husband and I also bonded over live music (our first date was seeing a Reptar show at the 40 Watt in Athens, GA). We have been together almost 12 years now, and we still make sure to go to several live shows together every year which can range from seeing the Atlanta Symphony to catching a Thom Yorke solo show, to anything in between.
ODO: Music is my greatest coping skill. I have gotten through all of life's hard moments with a good song. In addition, I still play cello to relax and connect in the evenings.
Do the two of you ever play together?:
LOC: Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), unless we can count karaoke duets, Oriana and I have not made music together in years! We will have to make that happen next time we are in the same place at the same time.
ODO: Lara and I haven't played music together (unless you count listening to music) for a very long time. I would love to play cello with Lara as an adult, but unfortunately if I am with her I am typically borrowing her cello and not playing with her! Lara will not brag about herself but she really inspired me to play cello and she is a beautiful musician! She also played cello on Ben Rector's first album, which I think she deserves to shout out!
Favorite childhood memory of each other?:
LOC: There are A LOT, but the first ones that come to mind are the long afternoons spent playing together in our backyard with our dog, Neo, exploring the creek that ran behind our house, swinging on the swing or laying in the hammock.
ODO: Lara was my idol growing up. There are almost too many memories to pick one... BUT since it is spooky season, I will say I enjoyed wearing a Scream mask and scaring her and her friends while they were in high school. I was just a precious 12 year old wanting to hang out with my cool older sister, so logically I decided to scare all of the high schoolers instead. (P.S. thank you Lara for still growing to be my best friend despite these actions!)