Keeping Tempo April 2017

Volume 8, Number 3, April 2017

Keeping Tempo

Inside this issue: Master Classes with Phila.

Orchestra Musicians

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Chris Brubeck Brings His Eclectic Sound to YOBC

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Alumni Focus: Trish Hartman

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Executive Director’s Corner: Yesterday, Today, and the Future

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Student Spotlight: Clarence Kwong

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YOBC International Tour to Andalusia July 2018

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SIC Achieves Five-Year Milestone in BTSD

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YOBC Students in All-Star Orchestra Performance

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YOBC Graduate’s Composition Premieres At Kimmel Center

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New This Year: YOBC Summer Music Camps

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Important Dates: 

April 29 & May 6: New Member Auditions

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May 21: 25th Anniversary Gala Concert, Patriots Theater, Trenton War Memorial

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June 10: YOBC Concerto Competition

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June 20: 2017–18 Season Registration Deadline

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YOBC Summer Camps— BCCC Kids on Campus: June 19–23 (Orchestra); June 26–30 (Band); August 7–11 (Band)

25th Anniversary Gala Celebration May 21 On Friday, May 2, 1992, the YOBC Symphony Orchestra presented its firstever performance at BCCC’s Library Auditorium. Sixty young musicians performed under the baton of the founding conductor, Robert Loughran.

This year, on May 21, YOBC celebrates its 25th anniversary, still under the direction of Mr. Loughran, with a Gala concert and reception at Patriots Theater in the Trenton War Memorial. And this concert will include all 269 members of YOBC’s eight different ensembles performing in the grand finale.

YOBC’s Gala features Chris Brubeck and his group Triple Play. Brubeck will perform his Concerto for Bass Trombone with YOBC’s Fanfare Winds and revisit some of the mu-

sic of his famous father, jazz great Dave Brubeck, with YOBC’s Symphony Orchestra.

Triple Play consists of Chris Brubeck (on bass, trombone, and piano) guitarist Joel Brown, and multi-instrumentalist Peter Madcat Ruth. Together they have honed a vast and vivid repertoire encompassing Delta blues, Tin Pan Alley standards, New Orleans grooves, jazz gems, and incisive originals. With all three contributing vocals, Triple Play delivers an epic sojourn through American music unlike any other band on the scene.

The grand finale will showcase a new work— Loughran’s Lark— commissioned by YOBC and composed by Eric Sessler. Defining a “lark” as “engaging in harmless

fun or mischief,” Sessler created this piece to celebrate Mr. Loughran’s 25year “lark” at the helm of YOBC. It is orchestrated in a way that involves all levels and participants of YOBC in a gala work that is filled with melodic and rhythmic energy. The world premiere performance will be a collaboration of current and former students—a fitting celebration for an invaluable youth orchestra The concert musicians will enjoy a festive dinner prior to the concert. Tickets to the 25th Anniversary Gala concert are available on the YOBC website. VIP tickets are also available and include a champagne reception and meet and greet with Chris Brubeck and Triple Play.

Master Classes with Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians I wanted to volunteer for the David Kim master class because of how amazing Mr. Kim is. My teacher and Mom also encouraged me to volunteer and as it was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, I signed up. I already had a piece I was working on at the time I was chosen, but it wasn't finished yet so the master class was a great incentive to finish it up. Through the whole experience I learned how to practice better with written goals for each of my practice sessions so I can stay on track and get more accomplished in a shorter amount of time. Mr. Kim taught me a few different things, but one new approach to playing that I learned from him was to always put the composer first in your playing. When you begin to play a piece, you should just play the notes on the page for the first few lines, and then slowly add your own interpretations

and musicality throughout the rest of the piece. This not only shows that you are being humble by putting the composer first, but it also builds confidence. The master class was an amazing experience and I would highly encourage anyone who has the chance at a master class with Mr. Kim to volunteer to play.

—Grace Lindsay Violin, Philharmonia “Take advantage of every opportunity…!” (Mother and Father). So I agreed to do the master class to avoid a deafening lecture session. I figured it wouldn’t hurt, and this was with the Philly Orchestra’s very own Hai-Ye Ni. I had watched her Page 2

perform three concerts and had been astonished by the beauty of her performance each time.

The truth is, I did not know what a master class really was when the topic was first brought up. I had imagined it as a master teaching a private class. In this case that master was principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. I was pretty clueless on what I was up for—performing in front of a large crowd—until about two days before the event, so I had less than 48 hours to stress out about it, which was probably better than 48 days after all….

I don’t know how the other four cellists felt, but HaiYe gave off a welcoming atmosphere when she smiled and greeted every performer, and slowed down my heartbeat quite a bit. I was the third to perform, and I played the “Prelude” from the first Bach Cello Suite. It wasn’t my best performance of the piece but I received a very important message from the master. I was told to breathe. It didn’t sound like a bigtime lesson. However, that piece of wisdom carried me far—in order to have a solid performance, one must relax by enjoying, cherishing, and breathing every

note. It was during my practice days after the master class that I gradually realized how well HaiYe’s advice fit into the Bach Cello Suites and improved my performance overall. Looking back, the experience with Hai-Ye was enjoyable, especially because it was my first opportunity to play in front of an amazing musician and a true master. A huge thanks to YOBC for hosting this memorable event.

—Dana Zhang Cello, Symphony Orchestra I was honored and thrilled when I was picked to perform at the master class with David Kim at YOBC. I picked “Gavotte” by Martini as my piece for the master class, and practiced it every day.

The day before the class, at the rehearsal, I felt a little nervous as I found out that I was going to be the first one to play in the master class. But I still felt excited to play before a world-famous violinist. In the master class, Mr. Kim was kind and made me feel at ease. I learned several techniques which I could use in improving my violin skills. Mr. Kim shared four things:

Keeping Tempo

good bow pressure, bow speed, point of contact, and bow proportion which are important for having a good tone. I am very thankful for this opportunity to learn from a famous violinist.

—Felicia P. Vijayarangam Violin, Concertino I wanted to volunteer for the cello master class because I thought it was a great opportu-

nity to learn from someone very experienced and improve my playing by hearing a professional’s perspective. It is very beneficial for one to receive advice about his or her playing from someone that he or she does not usually play for because it can bring attention to problems that others may not catch, and help teach new techniques that others may not be aware of. I

prepared for this master class by practicing and by watching performances of my piece by different artists so I could be prepared for how she would interpret the piece. I learned from Hai-Ye Ni how to vary my vibrato techniques more throughout the piece and how to play the faster parts of the piece more musically.

—Alex Puerto Cello, Symphony Orchestra

Chris Brubeck Brings His Eclectic Sound to YOBC The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County provides classical music experiences to nearly 300 young musicians each week. But on Sunday, March 5, there was a new vibe when innovative performer and composer Chris Brubeck led the rehearsals at Bucks County Community College.

Mr. Brubeck’s appearance was just the latest master class for YOBC students, capping the 25th anniversary series that has featured a variety of world-class visiting artists.

Brubeck encouraged the students to focus on the tempo and dynamics as the 80-piece concert band, made up of students in YOBC’s Wind Ensemble and Fanfare Winds, laid down a funky groove. As they worked through the third movement of his original Concerto for Bass Trombone, he reminded the trumpets to each play their part as one voice. “This is a salute to James Brown; you have to play it loud, really confi-

Volume 8, Number 3, April 2017

dent,” he said. He described his piece as “revenge for being in the trombone section and having to listen to the violins get their parts down, counting 300 beats waiting to come in.” With the concerto he gets to play his bass trombone almost the whole time.

In a second rehearsal, YOBC’s Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia were swinging with some classic tunes written and performed by Brubeck’s father – American composer and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, one of the most active and popular musicians in both the jazz and classical worlds.

With Chris Brubeck on piano and bass guitar, the 115member orchestra worked to grasp the odd time signatures and rhythms that are a hallmark of Brubeck Sr.’s compositions.

Between rehearsals, Chris Brubeck said he likes to do these sorts of collaborations. “I remember what it’s like to play in a youth orchestra. It can be life-changing to be around kids who like music as much as you do.” As a teenager Brubeck attended the Interlochen Arts Academy where he was surrounded by some of the best musicians in the country. He was lucky because the benefactor Clement Stone had guaranteed the tuition for the top 50 music students to attend the Academy. He also says he was lucky that he was cut from the basketball team which allowed him to focus more on his music.

Brubeck feels that in a time when arts and music budgets are being threatened or cut it is important to keep up the excitement about these types of music. Chris Brubeck and his group Triple Play will be the featured artists at YOBC’s 25th Anniversary Gala on Sunday May 21 at Patriots Theater in the Trenton War Memorial.

Tickets are available on the YOBC website.

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Alumni Focus: Trish Hartman I played the violin for two years in YOBC, and I think the aspect that stuck with me most was how different YOBC was from anything else I had done.

I enjoyed my high school orchestra, but YOBC exposed me to a different environment, different music, and different people. I really liked the community that YOBC created for the students, especially for those who didn’t know many other people going into it. It gave me a new challenge musically, and I loved making friends outside of my high school.

I remember being very nervous for my audition! The folks from YOBC were so nice, but I was still shaking. I was never all that comfortable playing violin solo, even though I loved it. I heard about YOBC from my private

teacher, Helen Bottel, who had a number of students involved. She encouraged me to audition so I could meet other string students. (And she probably wanted me to practice more!)

After graduating from Bensalem High School, I studied broadcast journalism at the University of Maryland. I was in a concert choir for one year, but my journalism activities quickly took over. Sadly, I didn't touch my violin in college. Now, when I’m at my parents’ house I’ll occasionally pull out my violin and pluck at the strings to see how out of tune it is!

After college, I landed my first job at a TV station in Great Falls, Montana as a reporter/photographer. I went on to work for TV stations in Savannah, Ga., Scranton,

and Allentown before working for 6abc. I also worked for the Bucks County Courier Times.

My husband and I now live in Bucks County with our two young daughters. While I don’t do anything with music formally, I have always loved music and I always will. I sing to my girls (whether they like it or not) and we go to a music class where they can dance and experiment with instruments.

Who knows... maybe they’ll be a part of YOBC someday! Even if they don’t play, I want them to know that music gives life such a richness. I’m so thankful for the skills and experience my years in music taught me—not just reading music, but also different genres and artists, and their place in history. These are lessons that will stay with me for life.

Trish Hartman is a reporter with 6abc Action News in Philadelphia. She was a member of the YOBC Symphony Orchestra from 1998–2000.

Executive Director’s Corner: Remembering Yesterday, Celebrating Today, and Looking to the Future This spring, YOBC honored 28 graduating seniors. It was deeply moving to see those talented students lined up across the concert stage. Many have been a part of YOBC for seven years or more. All will be missed. Each year we ask seniors to write some parting comments for our concert program.

Many of them expressed appreciation for the opportunities they were given at YOBC. I think they would be surprised to learn that YOBC conductors and staff are equally grateful to them. Working with students to develop their talent and mature as young adults is also our opportunity to make a difference in their lives. As they graduate from YOBC, we celebrate their accomplishments. We are Page 4

happy for their bright futures.

They will become part of YOBC’s legacy.

This year, YOBC celebrates 25 years of graduating seniors, great music programs, and happy memories. Twenty-five years ago, young Carol Gimbel asked her father why there couldn’t be a youth orchestra where kids could play great music and meet other young musicians. Her father caught the vision and replied, “Why not?”

Today, YOBC programs are among the best in the nation and include master classes, renowned guest artists, international tours, a concerto soloist competition, student internships, and an exceptional teaching staff. We are passionate about making the study of

music accessible to all students.

We look forward to celebrating our 25th Anniversary at our Gala Concert at Patriots Theater on May 21. Festivities will include fabulous performances by guest artists, Chris Brubeck and Triple Play. Our student musicians will perform an exciting world premiere of music by composer Eric Sessler, commissioned especially for the occasion. The celebration will culminate in a thrilling finale, performed by almost 300 YOBC musicians and alumni. This will be an unforgettable concert for you and your entire family. Join us as we celebrate our first 25 years and look forward to the future!

—Colleen Sweetsir YOBC Executive Director Keeping Tempo

tudent

potlight: Clarence Kwong

Clarence Kwong plays the clarinet and percussion in several YOBC ensembles. Currently a tenthgrader at George School, Clarence joined YOBC in 2013. He started as a clarinet player in Wind Symphony and last year auditioned on percussion. This season Clarence has played clarinet and percussion in Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia, and the Advanced Division Percussion Ensemble.

Clarence’s first musical experience was playing piano beginning at the age of 5. Once he reached fourth grade at age 9 in Quarry Hill Elementary School, he picked up the clarinet. Then, in seventh grade, he learned how to play the various instruments in percussion.

Clarence’s older brother Justin, a 2016 graduate, was also a clarinetist in YOBC. “I was first introduced to the clarinet by my older brother, Justin, when he started to play the instrument in

fourth grade as well,” Clarence explains. “I wanted to learn how to play percussion and particularly the drum set so I could play with other singers, guitarists, and pianists in the church praise team.”

Clarence heard about YOBC from his brother, Justin, just as he heard about the clarinet from him.

“I wanted to join so that I would be able to grow my musical skills.”

Playing both clarinet and percussion gives Clarence a different perspective of the ensemble and the music they are playing. “Especially since I am playing percussion as my second instrument, it is nice to see from the back of the ensemble how we play, and how it sounds from a distance. Overall, it is just unique to listen from a different point of view.”

Outside of YOBC, Clarence plays both clarinet and percussion at George School and at his church in New Jersey.

“Although piano was the first instrument that I learned to play, I eventually dropped it so my skill with playing it has fallen off. Besides going further into the clarinet and percussion, I am currently learning how to play the acoustic guitar as it is an instrument which I find to have an amazing sound.

As of right now, I do not have any major plans for playing music in the future, but I look forward to playing both the acoustic guitar and the drum set at my church praise team.”

YOBC to Embark on International Tour to Andalusia July 2018 The southern Spanish region of Andalusia is a fascinating place, full of geographic contrasts and intermingled cultures that are the essence of Spain. Next summer, YOBC’s international tour ensemble will spend 10 days touring in Andalusia, performing four concerts and visiting the mountains, the cities, and the Costa del Sol. Sevilla is the capital of Andalusia and the heart of flamenco music. The city is home to the Alcazar Royal Palace with lavish gardens and extravagant mosaics throughout; and the Cathedral of Seville, formerly a 12th century mosque and now one of the largest cathedrals in the world, where Christopher Columbus is buried.

Further up the Guadalquivir River, the city of Cordoba—a World Heritage Site—displays its Volume 8, Number 3, April 2017

mixed history as the capital of a Roman province, the capital of an Arab State, and a one-time Caliphate. At the heart of its old city is the Mezquita mosque-turnedcathedral, and nearby are a Roman bridge, a well-preserved 14th century synagogue, and an 8th century palace built over an evenearlier Visigoth fortress.

YOBC musicians and families will also visit Granada and the spectacular Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, the coastal (beach!) town of Malaga, and the nearby mountains around Ronda.

The tour is available to YOBC students in the Advanced Division ensembles (Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia, Fanfare Winds, Symphony Orchestra). Families are welcome, too, but priority is given to YOBC student musicians. Cost

of the tour is estimated to be $3,250 for students and $3900 for family members. Final cost will be established in September and depends on possible fluctuations in exchange rates and airline prices.

Applications for the tour are available on the YOBC website and all deposits and payments are refundable until September 25, the final registration deadline.

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YOBC’s Students in Concert Outreach Program Achieves Five-Year Milestone in Bristol Township School District

Students in Concert (SIC) is YOBC’s community outreach program which supports music education in local school districts where funding has been cut and programs are in jeopardy. YOBC recognizes that participants in music education programs reap proven academic and social benefits associated with the serious study of classical music—among them confidence, a sense of community, commitment, and teamwork This year the original SIC program, in Bristol Township School District (BTSD), reached the fiveyear mark, providing music lesson, instruments, guest artists,

and field trips to nearly 200 students in that time. On March 11, the BTSD program culminated with their annual Honors Band concert. Guest clinician Dr. Quincy Hilliard spent two days with the students, rehearsing and inspiring them before presenting the performance.

While the concert is not restricted to SIC students, they make up a majority of the participants. Dr. Hilliard also worked with students for an hour at Mill Creek Elementary School in Bristol Township.

Since it was launched five years ago in BTSD the SIC program has expanded to include a string program in Morrisville and, new this year, a band program in Bristol Borough.

Morrisville string students presented a recital for family and friends on February 13 that was well attended, including some of the students’ teachers. The recital featured solos and small ensem-

YOBC Ripieno students enjoy a pizza party before their rehearsal as winners of the 2016 Practice-A-Thon. The ensemble had the highest practice rate—an average of 674 minutes per student over 15 days. YOBC students raised $8700 in the October event.

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bles. The Morrisville combined ensemble spring concert is May 25.

In Bristol Borough the program will run until April 26.

There will be a spring concert May 11 at Bristol High School Charly Avril created for all the in- Positive Notes to help strumental collect instruments students that and funding for SIC will feature programs. the SIC students.

YOBC’s SIC program has inspired the philanthropic project of Wind Ensemble flutist Charly Avril. This year Charly started Positive Notes, a student-run initiative to collect used instruments and raise funds for YOBC’s SIC programs. With a mission to spread the joy of music throughout the schools of Bucks County and increase access to a quality music education, Positive Notes has to date received 14 instruments and almost $700 to support SIC. To learn more about this initiative and the student board that runs it, visit www.positivenotes.org YOBC’s Students in Concert programs are supported through generous private donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations including the Bucks County Commissioners, Lower Bucks Hospital, Comcast, Peco, 21st Century, Kiwanis International Foundation, The Grundy Foundation, and the Caroline Sanders Trust.

Keeping Tempo

YOBC Students Join Other Young Area Musicians In What Makes It Great All-Star Orchestra Performance WEST WINDSOR, NJ – Select young musicians from three area youth orchestras will come together to form an All-Area AllStar Youth Orchestra to perform Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B minor, “Unfinished,” as part The Classical Network’s next What Makes It Great broadcast featuring conductor, composer, author, and commentator Rob Kapilow on Monday, May 8 at 8 PM at Princeton High School, 151 Moore Street, Princeton.

The concert will feature musicians from the Youth Orchestra of Central New Jersey, Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, and Youth Orchestra of Bucks County. Kapilow will discuss what makes this symphony by Schubert “great,” including demonstrations of passages by the orchestra, and then the orchestra will perform the Symphony in its entirety.

A Q&A session will follow the performance, which will also be broadcast live on WWFM The Classical Network. This concert is the latest in the series of local presentations of Kapilow’s What Makes It

Great, a popular series based at the Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The series is also presented coast-tocoast in Boston, Washington, DC, Toronto, and California.

This concert is free and open to the public. Due to the live broadcast nature of this concert, the audience is requested to be in their seats no later than 7:50 PM. WWFM The Classical Network, operating from Mercer County Community College, began broadcasting in 1982 and grew quickly into a full-time classical music network serving New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and portions of Delaware and Maryland, and in the Philadelphia market via HD radio. The station also streams live around the world through wwfm.org. In the fall of 2008, the station launched JazzOn2, a 24-hour jazz station available on its HD channel 2.

WWFM The Classical Network was the recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for Broadcasting.

More information is available at (609) 587-8989 or info@wwfm.org.

Thank you to Nick Parent, from The College of New Jersey, who has been a percussion intern at YOBC for the last three years. As an intern he has helped coach YOBC’s percussion ensembles, coordinated some of their community performances, and sat in on YOBC ensembles in the percussion section. Nick graduates from TCNJ this spring and plans to continue his studies for a Masters degree. We appreciate the work he has done at YOBC these last three years and wish Nick all the best in his future endeavors.

YOBC Graduate’s Composition Premieres at Kimmel Center Erin Busch, a 2009 graduate of YOBC, is currently an adjunct professor of music theory and composition at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned both a B.M. in music composition and M.M. in music composition and cello performance Next month, her new composition “Grow” will premiere at the Kimmel Center, performed by students from the Philadelphia Performing Arts String Theory Charter School.

“I was excited to work on a new music project that focused on our youth,” Erin says. “Too often in the world of contemporary music children and young Volume 8, Number 3, April 2017

adults are not taken seriously as performers and interpreters of new music, and I was thrilled to be given the chance to work with the talented body of students at the String Theory School.”

The text for “Grow” was provided by the 2016–17 creative writing class at the String Theory Charter School, taught by CJ Sich.

Erin describes it as “an evocative text that set beautifully to music.

The poem follows a tiny plant as it grows, from its inception as a seed buried deep in the ground to its expansion into the world as it is watched over and encouraged by the elements.”

Erin is a core member of the Blue Line Quartet, and performs with regional orchestras such as Symphony in C, the Pennsylvania Philharmonic, and the Johnstown Symphony. She has led several composition workshops for YOBC. Page 7

70 Canoebirch Road Levittown, PA 19057 Email: info.yobc@gmail.com

yobc.org

The YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF BUCKS COUNTY, Pennsylvania (Y OBC) was founded in 1991 with the spo nsorship and support of Bucks County Co mmunity College. Its mission is to create opportunities for young musicians to achiev e artistic excellence through enriching classical musical experiences. In 25 season s the organization has grown from a single , 60-member ensemble to 16 ensembles wi th over 275 young musicians.

YOBC’s 25th Anniversary Season sponsored in part by:

New This Year: YOBC Summer Music Camps Summer is a great time to grow your music muscles! New this year, YOBC will offer summer band and orchestra camps through Bucks County Community College’s (BCCC) Kids on Campus program. The camps are designed for students ages 10–13 who have been playing their instrument for at least one year. Camps are open to all students, not just YOBC members.

All of the camps will be taught by YOBC artistic staff. The orchestra camp will be led by our Junior Division conductor, Colin Oettle, and SIC Morrisville string teacher, Gayle Posey. The band camps will be co-taught by Erica Cherry, YOBC’s Fanfare Woodwind Quintet coach and operations manager, and Erin Sweetsir-Mills, conductor of Wind Symphony.

String camp will be a great

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way to continue your music studies through the summer and can help students prepare for the upcoming school year. Musicians will receive instruction on their primary instrument and explore ensemble music, solo repertory, music theory, music listening, and even how music affects every day life.

Band camp will include crafts

and games designed to hone your instrumental skills and expand your musical knowledge. This hands-on camp will get students moving while they play a variety of music in concert band, enjoy rhythm games, participate in a drum circle, create their own recycled instruments, and dive into the exciting world of music history.

Registration and enrollment for the camp are handled by BCCC. Students must have one year of instrumental instruction, play a traditional concert band instrument (band camp) or orchestral string instrument (string camp), and be able to bring a working instrument to camp each day. Sessions run from 9:00–3:30 Monday– Friday and cost $269 per week.   

String camp: June 19–23 Band camp: June 26–30 Band camp: August 7–11 Keeping Tempo