Keeping Tempo May 2010

Keeping Tempo Volume 1, Number 4 May 2010

YOBC’s Expanded Master Class Offerings

Inside this issue: Mr. Loughran’s Flaw

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Conductors’ Notes: Meet Mr. D.

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Student Spotlight: Will Holstrom

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Notes from the Executive Director: Summer Fun

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YOBC Alumnus Jonathan Clark on the Audition Circuit

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YOBC Board of Direc- 4 tors Working on 5-Year Plan

Important Dates: 

Saturday May 22: Concerto Soloist Competition

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Saturday, September 11: New Student Orientation

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Sunday, September 12: Fall rehearsals begin

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Sunday, September 26: International Tour parents meeting, 2:15 PM

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October 30, 2010: YOBC Wine Tasting & Live Auction

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May 21, 2011: 20th Anniversary GALA Celebration, Patriot’s Theater, Trenton War Memorial

During the Spring 2010 season, YOBC greatly expanded the number of master classes offered to our students. This is part of a new initiative to provide advanced opportunities for YOBC students to work with professional musicians who are masters of their craft. Our offerings this semester included master classes on flute, led by David DiGiacobbe of the Harrisburg Symphony; trumpet with TCNJ’s Gary Feinberg, French horn with YOBC alumnus Jonathan Clark (see page 4); saxophone with Larry Werner, and of course our special day-long string day with students from the Curtis Institute.

We invited guests from the community, who are not currently members of

YOBC, to participate in the YOBC master classes.

We worked collaboratively with Bucks County public Curtis Institute students play for YOBC’s Concerschool tino and Prima Strings during special string master class in March. teachers to identify stustylistic playing takes.” dents who would benefit The Curtis string day from the program. In was a great success for March, 21 community YOBC students and the guests signed up to take Curtis musicians alike. part in the trumpet masFor Philharmonia basster class led by Gary ist, Garrett Mitchell, his Feinberg, Chair of the Defavorite part was the secpartment of Music at TCNJ. One of the attendees told us, tional (he got a private “I love being able to sit lesson!). “I liked learning down and ask questions from a more experienced to a person who has spent player.” Symphony vioyears doing something linist Nick Lewis told us, you might “It is a great experience. consider I was impressed with the going into quality of the instrucas a profestors.” Philharmonia viosion, underlinist Kelsey Busch, standing echoing the opinion of their many of the students, thoughts, said, “They are very inand getting spirational. It makes me a perspecwant to play better. To tive of what have one AT LEAST once a year would be great.”

Prima Strings play for the Curtis Institute students. professional

Mr. Loughran’s Flaw This is my third year in YOBC and I have been enjoying it immensely. My first two years were in Concertino, with Molly Jensen as my conductor.

She was a great conductor, we all loved her, and sometimes she would just make us laugh. Like when she would want us to play cleanly and precisely she would say, “All right, crispy chicken everybody. This needs to be crispy chicken.” Or if we were playing terribly she would exclaim, “That was the soggiest chicken I’ve ever heard!”

However, this year I am in Philharmonia with Mr. Loughran. He’s

also a wonderful, fun conductor, but he has one flaw. He loves making bad puns. Every rehearsal he says something like, “Not to be sheepish about it, everyone take out The Lamb.” (The Lamb was one of our pieces for the fall season of YOBC in 2009.) Or “Not to be horsey about it, but take out The Red Pony.” (The Red Pony was one of our pieces for the spring concert.)

So far, Mr. Loughran has made at least two terrible puns every rehearsal. Mr. Loughran, if you're reading this, no offense, but could you please lay off the puns?! Or at

least get some better ones?

My sister, Erin, who is currently in college at Temple University, told me of another. When her group, Symphony, was NOT playing together AT ALL Mr. Loughran cried, “Somebody call the blood bank—we just lost our pulse!”

I hope to stay in YOBC until I go to college and can only hope that Mr. Loughran’s puns will have been “wit”led down. (Haha! Do you get it?

“Wit”led down!? Hahaha.) That one’s for you, Mr. Loughran!

—Kelsey Busch Philharmonia & Flute Choir

Conductors’ Notes: Meet Mr. D. My love of music was developed by my mother who was a professional piano player. My mother performed on weekends playing weddings and private parties. I started playing the drums in seventh grade. I had a private teacher named Jay Bruno and he was a very tough teacher. He had a large bass drum mallet on the back of his studio door and would occasionally use this mallet to help me regain my focus. Through Mr. Bruno’s guidance I progressed rapidly and by the time I was 16 years old I was playing drums with my family band on the weekends. My mother would play piano, my father would play bass guitar, and my brother played the trumpet. The band changed through the years and my cousin Mark played guitar in the band as well as my Aunt Donna. I really enjoyed playing the drums and the money was a good motivator for me to keep practicing.

Mr. Bruno also prepared me for my college audition for Temple University. I was accepted and earned my Bachelors as well as my Masters degree from Temple University.

About 12 years ago I met Dr. Quincy Hilliard at a summer class I was taking at Villanova. Dr. Hilliard Page 2

is a composition teacher at the University of Lafayette in Louisiana. He also travels throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia working with band programs as well as composing music for concert band. I had two classes with Dr. Hilliard that summer and was very impressed with his knowledge and his educational philosophy with regard to band

Every day I teach or perform music. directing. I signed up for two more classes the following summer and Dr. Hilliard and I started a friendship that I still appreciate to this day.

Dr. Hilliard and I have coauthored a book entitled Percussion Time. Percussion Time is published internationally by C.L. Barnhouse.

Dr. Hilliard and I have also written a piece entitled “Sakura” for concert band. Dr. Hilliard introduced me to Mr. William Owens. Mr. Owens is a middle school band director from Fort Worth, Texas as well as being an amazing composer. Mr. Owens and I have collaborated on two pieces for concert band entitled

“Cha Cha Ching,” and “With Pride and Dignity.” Along with the band music I have written five articles for The Instrumentalist magazine.

In addition to performing and composing music I have been a middle school band director for 20 years at William Penn Middle School and I am also the Percussion Specialist for the Pennsbury School District.

At William Penn I teach concert band as well as Jazz Band, and once a week I travel to Pennsbury High School, Charles Boehm Middle School, and Pennwood Middle School and teach percussion lessons.

I truly enjoy being a band director and percussion instructor.

Every day I teach or perform music. I could be at William Penn teaching band, teaching private lessons, performing on the weekends with A Sharp Productions doing bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, and corporate parties, playing in a big band, or having a percussion ensemble rehearsal for YOBC. Music is an amazing art form that I have made part of my life and I would not change a single measure.

—Joseph P. D’Alicandro, Jr. (ASCAP) Director, YOBC Percussion Ensemble

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tudent

potlight: Will Holstrom

One of 15 seniors graduating from YOBC this year is our principal cellist, Will Holstrom. Will has been a member of YOBC for four years: two in Philharmonia and two in Symphony Orchestra, this year serving as our section leader.

Will is also graduating from the Solebury School in New Hope, where he plays in their instrumental ensembles and participates in chorus.

One of Will’s favorite YOBC moments was the trip last spring to New York City. He liked being able to play in a new venue—St. Paul the Apostle Church in Manhattan (“better than those middle schools”)—followed by an opportunity to see the Broadway production of West Side Story. But overall,

Will appreciates the opportunity YOBC gave him to play with other motivated musicians. “It’s humbling for me, at least, to play with others who are so talented,” Will said. “It puts my playing in perspective.” He has enjoyed having YOBC as part of his regular Sunday afternoon routine and how Mr. Loughran always made it fun.

As the section leader, Will has only praise for the other YOBC cellists. He describes Brian Buhr as an “awesome associate” and says overall they have a fun and easy section.

He never had to face any real challenges because they all worked so well together.

Will plans to attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York where he intends to study

Will Holstrom, YOBC principal cellist

Political Science. He expects to continue playing in a college group of some kind. We wish Will all the best in all his future endeavors.

Notes from the Executive Director: Summer Fun It’s almost here. Summer is about ready to sail up on my shore and take me to places I’ve dreamed about all year. Cold, crunchy snow and slick, sleety slush will finally melt away into the lush golden veil of summer and I will bask in the gentle warmth of it. Away with heavy clothes! Away with heavy, gray skies! Away with heavy obligations! My daily schedule, packed tighter than a bulging suitcase, will relax as I remove bulky commitments. The sweet relief of summer is for something else.

Don’t get me wrong. I love everything that I do. But when summer finally arrives and winter-time activities go on break…I am happy. I am glad that summer rescues me from the urgent business of the year and gives me a chance to live differently. Lazy days at the beach, picnics with family and friends, trips to faraway places, books to escape with, projects to catch up on, neglected hobbies—these are the things of Volume 1, Number 4

summer! But the part of summer that I treasure most is the opportunity to challenge myself in ways that are just not possible during the busy winter months. One year I decided that I wanted to climb the

I am glad that summer rescues me from the urgent business of the year and gives me a chance to live differently. mighty Mount Chocurha in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After months of rigorous training, I set out for the mountain.

The climb was rugged and exhausting and incredibly beautiful at the summit. It was a thrilling moment which taught me something about setting goals and reaching beyond what might seem possible.

Most of my summer challenges, though, are all about my life’s pas-

sion—growing as a musician. I like to take special courses to learn new skills. Sometimes I use the summer to study with a different teacher to get a fresh perspective on playing the French horn or conducting. I set aside extra time for practicing—a special summer luxury—and I set specific goals for my practice. I buy new music and arrange to play in chamber groups with my friends—just for fun.

Somehow the combination of summer fun and summer challenges becomes a flashpoint of opportunity for me. It is a time of intense growth. At summer’s end, I am a better musician and a better me. I’m eager to jump into another year, hitting the ground like a kid on a skateboard with fresh ideas and energy abounding! So let there be swimming and surfing and hiking! Let there be summer fun and summer challenges! Let the summer begin!

—Colleen Sweetsir YOBC Executive Director Page 3

Save the D

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252 Hollow Branch Lane Yardley, PA 19067 Email: info.yobc@gmail.com auditions@yobc.org

yobc.org More than music; more than musicians!

YOBC Alumnus Jonathan Clark on the Audition Circuit Through my experiences with the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, I decided to become a professional musician. I graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors degree in Horn Performance in 2008 and started to audition for professional orchestras. I found

the “real world” full of challenges that college did not prepare me for. My first audition was very different from any PMEA, college, or summer festival audition. The audition process is grueling and forced me to listen to myself in ways I had never done.

During my practice, I needed to

YOBC Board of Directors Working on Five-Year Plan Our Board consists of 12 community volunteers (consisting of educators, financial and business professionals, and parents) who meet on a quarterly basis to review the operation of the organization, develop and oversee the operations budget, and generally ensure that YOBC is meeting its objectives as a nonprofit institution for student development in the field of classical music. The Board decided last year to hire a full-time Executive Director in order to bring continuity and professional management to the Page 4

running of YOBC. Currently, a committee of the Board is working on YOBC’s first Strategic Plan, which will identify what YOBC should look like during the next five years.

This process has already led the Board to approve more master classes; a commitment to the annual performance of our Advanced Division ensembles in a professional concert hall; and increased opportunities for study/performance with professional musicians. A list of our current board members is available on our website.

learn how to critically listen to my playing rather than relying upon my teacher for feedback.

I noticed a big difference in my playing when my practice time became more consistent. As a hornist, warming up is a crucial part of playing the instrument. On top of an hour warm-up, I do at least two hours of private practice. This does not include rehearsals or concerts that I currently play in. These hours of practice have enabled me to play at the professional level. But each audition is different and I have taken something different away from each audition. Having success in auditions has strengthened my resolve to continue being a professional musician.

In the end, becoming a musician is a personal decision and one must have the drive to deal with the rigors of the audition circuit.

—Jonathan D. Clark