YOP WINTER 2023 PLAYBILL
STRING SINFONIETTA CAMERATA STRINGS YOUTH CONCERT ORCHESTRA PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE RICHMOND SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
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DEGREE PROGRAMS:
Bachelor of Music in Performance Bachelor of Music in Music Education Bachelor of Arts in Music Music Minor
AUDITION FOR FALL 2024:
Saturday, November 11th, 2023 Saturday, January 27th, 2024 Saturday, February 3rd, 2024
For more information go to arts.vcu.edu/music.
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra
Winter Concert
Daniel Myssyk RICHMOND SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR (pg. 12)
NOV 14
TUES • 7:00 pm Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center
BARTÓK (1881–1945), ARR. ARTHUR WILLNER Romanian Folk Dances (1917/arr. 1929) I. Jocul cu bâtă II. Brâul III. Pe loc IV. Buciumeana V. Poarga Românescă VI. Mărunţel VII. Bot tánc / Jocul cu bâtă
Gabriel Harding VIOLIN PIAZZOLLA (1921–1992), ARR. JOSÉ BRAGATO Tango Ballet (1956/arr. 1977) RICCIOTTI (1681–1756), ARR. PERGOLESI (1710–1736) Concertino V VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) Sungu Flottman VIOLIN Hayley Dunn VIOLIN Grace Lee VIOLA Sahana Narayanan CELLO
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ABOUT YOP & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Richmond Symphony’s flagship educational program consists of five youth ensembles providing beginning to advanced musical training. In service to central Virginia since 1962, students participate in weekly rehearsals, coachings, and masterclasses by Richmond Symphony musicians. Thank you to our Youth Orchestra families for making it possible for our concerts to be presented free of charge. The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program thrives with the active involvement of many parent volunteers. We gratefully acknowledge their assistance and enthusiasm. Additional recognition is given to the 2023/24 Parent Representatives: Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra: Holly Hutto Youth Concert Orchestra: Catherine Earnest and Tiffany Owens Camerata Strings: Teresa Maclin and Nisha Patel String Sinfonietta: Valerie Nohl and Jennifer Young Special thanks to our volunteers from the Richmond Symphony League. EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STAFF
Walter Bitner, Director of Education & Community Engagement Jennifer Tobin, Assistant Director of Education & Youth Orchestra Manager Marcey W. Leonard, Community Partnerships Manager & RSSoM Program Manager Anita Williams, Education Coordinator Caitlin Barry, Youth Community Strings Program Manager & Lead Instructor Anna Mitchell, Education Assistant 4
Youth Orchestra Program
Winter Concert Matt Wilson STRING SINFONIETTA CONDUCTOR (pg. 13) Melissa Jones CAMERATA STRINGS ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR (pg. 13) Dr. Justin Alexander PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR (pg. 14) Dr. Sandy Goldie YOUTH CONCERT ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR (pg. 14)
DEC
11 MON • 7:00 pm
Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at W. E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts
STRING SINFONIETTA
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
BOB LIPTON A Touch of Glass (2023)
NATHAN DAUGHTREY (B. 1975) Drums of Moria (2019)
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH SONG, ARR. MORGAN DENNEY
Winter Aire (2023)
Blaise Bell PERCUSSION Darsh Daddala PERCUSSION
YOUTH CONCERT ORCHESTRA
RANDALL STANDRIDGE (B. 1976) Shadow Fire (2023)
G. F. HANDEL (1685–1759),
CAMERATA STRINGS
Hornpipe from Water Music (1717, arr. 2004)
TRADITIONAL, ARR. RICHARD STEPHAN
When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1963) CARYN WIEGAND NEIDHOLD Tour of Ireland (2023) VERDI (1813–1901), ARR. DEBORAH BAKER MONDAY
ARR. RICHARD MEYER (B. 1957)
BRAHMS (1833–1897), ARR. LOUIS BERGONZI
Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (1880, arr. 2017) ILARI HYLKILÄ Waltz (2014–2017)
Overture to Nabucco (1841, arr. 2017)
RANDALL D. STANDRIDGE (B. 1976) Fragile (2023)
FRANCIS L. FEESE (1926–1995) Contrasts in E minor (1979)
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904), ARR. RICHARD MEYER (B. 1957)
Allegro con fuoco from New World Symphony (1893, arr. 2002) 5
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Roster Daniel Myssyk, Conductor VIOLIN 1 Sungu Flottman Principal Homeschool
Thomas Do*
Midlothian Middle School
Samantha Flottman Homeschool
Gabriel Harding Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Macey Hutto*
Hanover High School
Shayna Hertz
Thomas Dale High School
Chris Qian
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Annie Yuan
Mills E. Godwin High School
VIOLIN 2
Hayley Dunn
Andrew Park
Deep Run High School
Nick Poxon
Atlee High School
Elizabeth Ray Nisarg Shah
Peter Lee
Mills E. Godwin High School
Isaac Wilson Veritas School
Ashley Xiao
Deep Run High School
Augusta McNulty*
Midlothian High School
Shruthy Rajkumar
Deep Run High School
John Randolph Tucker High School
Grace Yoo
Lily Wershbale
VIOLA
BASS Jude Molique*
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s SchooI
Grace Lee
Principal Deep Run High School
Sara Elmi*
Midlothian High School
Abigail Chang
Midlothian High School
Homeschool
Adam Aquilo
Mills E. Godwin High School
Shreesh Kalagi
Anne Elder
Principal Deep Run High School
Trinity Episcopal School
Principal Deep Run High School, Center for Information Technology
Deep Run High School
CELLO Sahana Narayanan
Glen Allen High School
Principal Clover Hill High School
Kai Mitchell VCU Student
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Elizabeth Mackie Anna Mitchell
Richmond Symphony Staff
* Denotes RSSoM Honors student 6
String Sinfonietta Roster Matt Wilson, Conductor VIOLIN Phoebe Akbar
St. Catherine’s School
Peyton Anderson
Holman Middle School
Lauryn Brown
St. Catherine’s School
Dylan Chen
Midlothian Middle School
Graham Dye
Richmond Montessori School
Eleanor Ebinger Homeschool
Sylvia Gresko
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Iris Hess
Homeschool
Victoria John
Short Pump Middle School
Makenna Landa
Virginia Connections Academy
Maclaren Lockhart St. Catherine’s School
Camden McCatty
St. Benedict Catholic School
Mason Nohl
Holman Middle School
Camille Pellumbi
St. Catherine’s School
Rob Reid
St. Christopher’s School
Augustine Solano
Richmond Waldorf School
Alaina Wei
David A. Kaechele Elementary School
CELLO Beatriz Lisboa
Richmond Academy
Ian Noh
Colonial Trail Elementary School
Sidney Pollard
Central Montessori School
BASS Caroline Hubert
Oak Knoll Middle School
August Wester
Franklin Military Academy
Gigi Young
St. Catherine’s School
VIOLA Sloane Burnett
Collegiate School
Colin Ebinger Homeschool
Ryan Graham
Liberty Middle School
Aubrey Howard
George H. Moody Middle School
Sahana Mittal
Collegiate School
Sarah Ramseur
Quiocassin Middle School
Oishi Mukhopadhyay David A. Kaechele Elementary School
Roster accurate as of November 1. 7
Camerata Strings Roster Melissa Jones, Conductor VIOLINS Gabriel Kuhnle Principal Homeschool
Eleanor Pluta
Hannah Harris
St. Catherine’s School
Grace Anne Hunt
The New Community School
Principal Homeschool
Brynn Johnson
Claire Adcock
Finn McCallister
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Homeschool
Ananya Alaparthi
Arjun Nair
Collegiate School
Midlothian Middle School
Dean Angert
Kaya Patel
Richmond Waldorf School
St. Catherine’s School
Kenley Blackwell
Sam Versen
Bell Creek Middle School
Albert Hill Middle School
Elyce Burnett
Ella Wang
Bailey Bridge Middle School
George H. Moody Middle School
Danielle Chen
Emma Wang
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Gisselle Chen
Genevieve Williams
George H. Moody Middle School
Collegiate School
Brendan Cosby
VIOLA Ridhima Vennu
St. Christopher’s School
Kit Czajkowski
St. Catherine’s School
Jenny Ding
L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Abigail Farmer
Chickahominy Middle School
Hanover High School
Principal Holman Middle School
Hannah Bowen
Hanover High School
Evelyn Canada
Hanover High School
Frances Coats
J.R. Tucker High School 8
Isabella Eberl
Abhay Kadiri
Cam Maury
Chad Maclin
CELLO Harper Williamson
Sophia Magalhaes
Collegiate School
The New Community School
Principal Richmond Waldorf School
Jaedin Barna
Cosby High School
Laila Collins
James River High School
Gray Gardner
Albert Hill Middle School
Reagan Harris
St. Catherine’s School
George H. Moody Middle School
Monacan High School
Richmond Academy
Nathan Mister CodeRVA
Ethan Parrish
Cosby High School
Avery Vorenberg
Richmond Montessori School
BASS Argo Ruff
Principal Dogwood Middle School
Kieran Johnston Collegiate School
Percussion Ensemble Roster Dr. Justin Alexander, Director Blaise Bell
Micah Pittman-Kidd
Darsh Daddala
Eleanor Qureshi*
St. Bridget Catholic School
George H. Moody Middle School
Harrison Parsons
Deep Run High School
Cosby High School
Collegiate School
David Trice
Mechanicsville High School
* Denotes RSSoM Honors student Roster accurate as of November 1. 9
Youth Concert Orchestra Roster Dr. Sandy Goldie, Conductor BLUE VIOLINS Axel Nevarez Carrillo
Principal CodeRVA Regional High School
Geunyoung Chung
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Marguerite Eccard
L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Lydia Joh
Clover Hill High School
Aditi Nair
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Aliya Perry
Mills E. Godwin High School
Violet Salen
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Candice Santos
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Gentry Vaiksnoras
St. Christopher’s School
Emily Zhou
George H. Moody Middle School
GREEN VIOLINS
Leo Chan
Principal George H. Moody Middle School
Minha Ahn
Nico Amelinckx
Tuckahoe Middle School
Mary Grace Cale
Echo Lake Elementary School
Eli Chang
Deep Run High School
Angus Frazier
Thomas Jefferson High School
Anne Berkley Hark
St. Catherine’s School
Lily Hess
Homeschool
Cathleen Liu
George H. Moody Middle School
Katelyn Luu
Cosby High School, Governor’s Health Science Academy
Samantha Read Homeschool
Isabelle Schorr Bridge Academy
VIOLA Jeffrey Qureshi
Principal Collegiate School
Will Rohrs
Tomahawk Creek Middle School
Principal Tuckahoe Middle School
Sadie Altman
Thomas Bowen-Rees
Patrick Henry High School
St Christopher’s School
Colin Chen 10
Clover Hill High School
CELLO Johanna Kim
BASS Peter Yanovitch
Aryanna Traynor
Gavin Mauritsen
Principal George H. Moody Middle School
Principal Cosby High School
Briahna Allgood Homeschool
Zoey Altman
Patrick Henry High School
Jackson Earnest Veritas School
CLARINET Harper Nishimoto
Principal Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Principal J.R. Tucker High School
Lucian Pozzi
Chickahominy Middle School
Cheyla Owens
Highland Springs High School
Zaki Siddiqui
Josephine Kronenberg
Sophie Curtis
Homeschool
Hermitage High School
Fraser Griffith
Richard John
St. Christopher’s School
Deep Run High School
Laura Mauritsen
OBOE
Manchester High School
Will Phillips
Veritas School
Adrien Samuel Homeschool
BASSOON Maeve Foster
FLUTE Stella Jozic
Elaine Farmer
Ryan McQuade
Appomattox Regional Governor’s School
Principal J.R. Tucker High School
Homeschool
Atlee High School
Juno Taffs
Midlothian High School
Principal Hermitage High School
Grayson Ebinger
Sabot School
Toby Gardner
George H. Moody Middle School
Samantha Grossman
George H. Moody Middle School
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
TRUMPET Lucas Tambakakis
Albert Hill Middle School
TROMBONE Christopher Um
Midlothian Middle School
PERCUSSION Blaise Bell+
St. Bridget Catholic School
Darsh Daddala+
George H. Moody Middle School
Micah Pittman-Kidd+ Cosby High School
Carter Shust
Powhatan High School
+ Denotes Percussion Ensemble member Roster accurate as of November 1. 11
About the Conductors Daniel Myssyk Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony, Canadian-American conductor Daniel Myssyk was Music Director of the Montreal-based Orchestre de chambre Appassionata from 2000 to 2016. A few years ago, he led his orchestra on its first American tour, which included two concerts in Richmond. The group also toured before enthused audiences in Ontario in January of 2014. In recent years, he has made critically acclaimed appearances with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, among others. In 2015, Myssyk made his debut in Guanajuato (Mexico) where he has been returning every season since, and also conducted the Michoacan State Orchestra. In 2019, return engagements have brought him back to Canada to conduct the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières and the Orchestre de la Francophonie. Myssyk conducts repertoire from the classical, romantic, modern and contemporary periods with great attention to stylistically appropriate detail. He maintains a continuous engagement with opera in a variety of styles ranging from Mozart to Menotti. Sensitive to the music of our time, he has contributed to the creation of many contemporary North American works, including the world premiere of Anthony Brandt’s opera, The Birth of Something with Da Camera in Houston. Under his leadership, three recent VCU Opera productions of The Gondoliers (2015), The Old Maid and the Thief (2012), and Hansel & Gretel (2011) won top prizes at the National Opera Association competition. Myssyk’s recordings have received widespread critical acclaim. In 2012, he completed the recording of Czech Serenades with works by Suk and Dvořák. The CD was in nomination for best recording of the year at the ADISQ awards, Quebec’s equivalent of the GRAMMYs® and at the Prix Opus from the Conseil québécois de la musique. Jean-Yves Duperron of the Classical Sentinel wrote: “Conductor Daniel Myssyk and the members of the Appassionata Chamber Orchestra ply their magic in this music, and shape each and every phrase, and infuse each and every note, with care and sincere expression. I’ve rarely heard these two works played with this much conviction.” In 2010, his CD Idyla (on Fidelio label), was nominated for an Opus Prize as best recording of the year. A CD featuring American trumpet player and VCU colleague Rex Richardson playing Dana Wilson’s Concerto for Trumpet and Strings was released on Summit Records, earning rave reviews from the International Trumpet Guild Journal. His most recent CD, on the Atma label, features works by Quebec composer François Dompierre and has earned excellent reviews from Radio-Canada and Magazine Son et image. Professor Daniel Myssyk has been Virginia Commonwealth University’s Director of Orchestral Activities since 2007. His involvement with youth reflects a well-honed passion for music education. In addition to his work at VCU, he is a regular collaborator with the All-Virginia State Orchestra, and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players, among many others. He is currently the music director of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. In the early 2000s, Myssyk was a conducting fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School where he spent two summers under the tutelage of David Zinman. A student of Larry Rachleff, he received his master’s degree in Conducting from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in 2006. 12
About the Conductors Matt Wilson String Sinfonietta Conductor A 20-year music educator in Richmond and the surrounding communities, Matt Wilson currently teaches elementary orchestra for Richmond Public Schools. Mr. Wilson works to create a joyful and challenging learning space to help students explore and grow to their full potential as musicians. Originally from Missouri, Mr. Wilson received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Truman State University. He has also received his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Wilson serves as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout central Virginia.
Melissa Jones Camerata Strings Conductor Melissa Jones is delighted to direct the Camerata Strings Ensemble with the Richmond Symphony School of Music and its Youth Orchestra Program. She received music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Tennessee. She taught strings in Hanover County Public Schools for 16 years and is currently in her third year as current Director of Orchestras at the Collegiate School in Richmond. She has guest conducted for honors school programs in Virginia and has served as an adjudicator for statewide orchestra assessments. Ms. Jones is especially driven to explore and appreciate a diverse set of music styles and genres as applied to our orchestral instruments. Ms. Jones maintains a private studio of violin and viola students and is an active musician in the Richmond scene. Her current musical project is performing with the local indie rock band, Timothy Bailey and the Humans; she enjoys being a violin-playing human. She has participated in many album recordings and has performed with local and regional orchestras on violin and viola. Ms. Jones is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Virginia Band and Directors Association, and the American String Teachers Association. Melissa resides in Ashland, Virginia, with her husband, Aaron, and two sons, Charlie (4) and Ezekiel (23), where they enjoy spinning records, making up songs, and building epic LEGO creations.
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About the Conductors Dr. Justin Alexander Percussion Ensemble Director Justin Alexander currently serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. A dynamic and versatile percussionist, Justin has performed throughout the United States and the world, with performances in Belgium, Australia, Sweden, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. As a percussionist who started on the drum set, Justin’s creative work has revolved around this instrument. He has commissioned and performed new works for the instrument in concert and chamber music settings while also centering the drum set in his teaching curriculum. His early affinity for both popular and classical music has enabled him to move between genres and styles effortlessly, as evidenced in his recordings and performances with an eclectic range of musicians and ensembles, from sound artist Stephen Vitiello to the GRAMMY®-nominated Richmond Symphony. An Aspen Music Festival alum, Justin has performed with the Florida Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, the Arkansas Symphony, and has held the role of Principal Percussionist with the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival since 2015. Justin’s recent interests have explored the role of non-western percussion traditions in the percussion studio. He is currently studying Carnatic and Hindustani music with Erode Nagaraj and Shawn Mativetsky, respectively. His interest in and commitment to an integrated approach to non-western traditions in the percussion studio led to a presentation at the 2018 National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy as well as a co-authored article in Percussive Notes (2020). As a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Justin has presented at PASIC 2014 and 2018, published articles in Percussive Notes, and currently serves on the PAS World Percussion Committee. Justin holds the Doctor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from Florida State University. His primary teachers include Dr. John W. Parks IV, Dr. Blake Tyson, and Prof. Leon Anderson. He is proudly endorsed by Pearl/Adams Musical Instruments, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Grover Pro Percussion, and Remo, Inc.
Dr. Sandy Goldie Youth Concert Orchestra Conductor Sandy Goldie is Director of Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, President of Virginia Music Educators Association Higher Education Division, and serving as immediate Past President of the Virginia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association as the author of two popular books on string teaching and instruments. She is an active guest conductor/adjudicator and orchestra clinician across the United States. She is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international music education conferences such as Midwest, NAfME, ASTA, VMEA, ISAME, and TMEA. She takes great joy in working with the students of the Richmond Symphony Youth Concert Orchestra. 14
Upcoming Events YOP Parent/Guardian Engagement Sessions Join with other parents and Richmond Symphony staff for an informal gathering during your students’ rehearsal. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and sharing about how your family can become more involved in the Symphony community! Light refreshments will be served. An invitation will be sent to all YOP families via email. Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | RSYO 5:00 pm | DEC 4th Floor Lobby Monday, December 4, 2023 | Sinfonietta & Camerata 5:00 pm | VCU Singleton Center for the Arts Monday, January 8, 2024 | YCO 5:00 pm | DEC 4th Floor Lobby
RSYO Winter Concert Free and open to the public—no ticket required Saturday, March 2, 2024 | 7:00 pm Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center
YOP & GRYWE Spring Concert Featuring Sinfonietta, Camerata, Youth Concert Orchestra, and the Greater Richmond Youth Wind Ensemble Monday, May 13, 2024 | 7:00 pm Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center
RSYO, Percussion Ensemble, & GRHSJB Spring Concert Featuring the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 7:00 pm Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center
YOP 2024–2025 Auditions Mark your calendars and tell your friends! Saturday, June 8, 2024 | All Day Location TBD
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Richmond, Virginia’s Premier Professional Violin shop 804-873-0247
— A proud supporter of Youth Community Strings —
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SUNDAY, JAN. 14 3:00 pm TICKETS START AT $15 � FREE FOR 18 AND UNDER 16
GRYWE and GRHSJB will come together with YOP in the spring for two special joint performances! 17
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
The Youth Orchestra Program is generously supported in part by Hamilton Beach Brands.
Additional support is provided by: Chesterfield County; Chesterfield County Public Schools; the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond; the Margarete and Siegfried Eckhaus Charitable Trust; Moses D. Nunnally, Jr. Charitable Trust B; Pete and Sandra Chase; the Rea Charitable Trust; and the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation. The Richmond Symphony is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This program is supported in part by these funds of the Richmond Symphony Endowment: The Dunkum Endowed Fund for Music Education, Hopkins-Eggleston Family Fund for Discovery Concerts, Music Education Scholarship Fund, Martha D. Newell Memorial Scholarship Fund, James L. and Lucia M. O’Connell Fund for Classical Music Education, Mary Morton Parsons Education Fund, and the Brian Szabo Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please consider supporting the Youth Orchestra by giving a gift to the Richmond Symphony annual fund. Contact 804.788.4717 ext: 102 or email ksmith@richmondsymphony.com.
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2023-24 Audition Days
Undergraduate Concentrations in: Music Studies Music Theatre Performance
20 School of Music Admissions | Harrisonburg, VA | 540.568.3851 | music_admit@jmu.edu JMU