Keeping Tempo May 2011

Keeping Tempo

Volume 2, Number 4 May 2011

YOBC Alumna Lilly Roza Travels from California for YOBC Gala

2

Conductors’ Notes: Goodbye from Molly

2

YOBC Percussionist Wins Essay Scholarship

3

Student Spotlight: Heather L. Hills

3

Overcoming Nerves Leads to Successful Counties Audition

4

Important Dates: 

May 21, 2011: Gala Celebration Concert, Patriots Theater, Trenton War Memorial, 8:00 PM



May 22, 2011: New Student Auditions



September 10, 2011: Kickoff Event for YOBC Advanced Division Students; New Student Orientation



September 11, 2011: First Rehearsals at BCCC

would ask them I got involved tions. I will enjoy the shift at the last minheavily with in focus of my YOBC volute to do horrible unteer duties to fundraisYOBC in 2004 jobs like being after my son ing for both YOBC and the parking lot atErich graduFrance/Spain tour, as well tendants at ated and my as board functions and George School in daughter Kriscommunity outreach. I snow and rain. ten started in will still be very much inThese gracious Wind Symvolved in YOBC so please volunteers phony. My continue to answer my showed up bringdear friend calls as you have so generEileen Wachtman ing flash lights Lorrie Eddings ously done in the past. and orange vests talked me into being a liai—Eileen Wachtman, VP so we didn’t get run over by son for Colleen Sweetsir’s YOBC Board of Directors the confused drivers and Wind Symphony. She said, they even came “You really don’t need to do Mike Flynn calms back the next much.” Volunteering has nerves and tunes year to do it been a great way to coninstruments in the again. tribute back to an organi“Green Room” before Volunteering the YOBC concert. zation that has given so has also been a much to my children. I great way to get to know want to thank all my fellow all the wonderful, generous volunteers who kept anparents of YOBC. YOBC is swering my frantic calls for a membership of families help, especially when I not just musicians and having parents volunteer builds that community spirit and makes it a nice place to be, not just another one of those things you have to drive your child to. Now that my daughter has graduated from YOBC, I will Patti Young, AKA “The Cupcake be removing myself Lady,” whips up another batch of John Buhr takes a break from his photreats for the YOBC snack table. from weekly operatography duties to enjoy the rehearsal.

Alan Micklin, Levittown Leader

Volunteers Give Time and Value to YOBC

Inside this issue:

YOBC Alumna Lilly Roza Travels from California for YOBC Gala I was a cellist in YOBC from 1995 to 2005. I was in the Symphony Orchestra and a student-run ensemble called the Sunday Six. We were a group of friends within the orchestra made up of four violins, viola, and cello. We performed chamber music mostly as well as the occasional Broadway tune, and we were hired to do gigs. We performed at a Red Cross benefit in 2003 as well as the YOBC concert in New York and in small school concerts designed to inspire young players.

My favorite memory from YOBC was our first tour to Germany and Austria. We explored Vienna, saw the salt mines in Salzburg, and Mozart’s home. It was my first time out of the country and experiencing Europe with my friends in a musical context was truly remarkable.

After YOBC I studied Neuropsychology at University of Massachusetts and played in the UMass Sym-

phony Orchestra. In 2006 I took time off from UMass and played in the BCCC Orchestra under Russell Hoffmann, the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra with Gary Fagin, and took classes at the Community College. I also performed with the Newtown Recorder Consort and volunteered in the George School Orchestra.

Currently I work in California for South Coast Surety full time as a bond processor and part time at Baskin Robbins as a cake decorator. I accompany my cousins on occasion for their piano concerts and I plan on joining the orchestra at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, California.

After I establish residency I plan on going back to school for Neuropsychology and joining a local orchestra.

My long-term goal is to attend Scripps University and participate in their program called “Music and the

Mind,” where they study the effects of music on the brain and brain development.

YOBC was a huge part of my life for ten years, and even after I graduated in 2005 my family continued to participate in the orchestra. My brother graduLilly Roza ated from the Wind Ensemble in 2010 and my mom still volunteers for the orchestra. I love being a part of YOBC and I wouldn’t want to miss the 20th anniversary, regardless of the distance.

—Lilly Roza, Alumna YOBC Symphony Orchestra

Conductors’ Notes: Goodbye from Molly YOBC is my favorite place to come to work. I truly enjoy the music making and challenge of pulling young musicians out of their comfort zone into a more mature and refined sense of musicianship. I love to be a part of the tremendous technical and musical growth that occurs each year between the fall and spring performances, and to hear the continued progress of the students as they move through the ensembles. However, the music alone is not the only aspect that makes YOBC so special to me.

Witnessing developing and growing friendships is such an important part of the experience. It is rewarding to see the progression of these relationships as the students move through YOBC. In the first rehearsal almost every student stares at me like a “deer in headlights” because they don’t yet know anyone else, or what to expect of the rehearsal and my conducting style. Later in the Page 2

year I sometimes need to search out a group of kids at the end of break because they are engrossed in conversation and have lost track of the time.

How fun to walk through the building as Symphony is finishing their rehearsal and see all of the well-established friendships that began in Concertino! It reminds me of all the similar wonderful experiences I had growing up in the Kansas City area and how important they are to the person I am now.

In addition to the students, I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate working with and watching the parents in the YOBC community. I understand that a parent knows their child and their abilities better than anyone else, and I have made a sincere effort to notice how each parent motivates and supports their musician through this difficult and demanding course of study. Every interaction gives me better insight on how to

work with each musician. As I embark on my own parenting adventure, I truly thank you for all of the wonderful examples you have given me, and hope that I am able to remember your fantastic strategies when I feel I have no idea how to deal with my own child.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every person involved in the YOBC community (students, parents, conductors, board members, etc.) for the fantastic experiences you have given me over the last eight years. I will miss you all, and will always hold a special place in my heart for the YOBC family.

—Molly Jensen, Conductor YOBC Concertino & Prima Strings Molly has accepted a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of ColoradoBoulder where she will begin a Masters of Music Education degree this fall. She is expecting her baby in September.

YOBC Percussionist Wins Essay Scholarship Widchard Faustin has just won the three years, he has played an inSchool Band and Orchestra (SBO) strumental role in helping me to essay contest. Each year become a skillful musician School Band and Orchesand has encouraged me to tra Magazine sponsors an maintain a high level of essay contest in which the discipline. I joined the winners are awarded band as a percussionist in $1,000 and their school the 5th grade. From the music programs receive a start, Mr. B took me under comparable award. Widhis wing and has nurtured chard was chosen as one my musical aspirations. of SBO’s 10 winners for He always takes time to 2011 for his essay on answer my questions and “How my music teacher helps me with my music has influenced me and my no matter how busy he is.

Widchard Faustin goals in school.…” Here is His encouragements have Widchard’s winning esmotivated me to practice say: more and make progress everyday “My band teacher, Mr. Darrell in music, as well as in all my acaBenjamin, has influenced me and demic subjects. My hard work paid my goals in school by always giving off when I was able to move up to me upbeat support. For the past advanced band in my second year. I

tudent

potlight: Heather L. Hills

Back in December, I received an email from the conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey (YOCJ). The conductor, Mr. Enz, needed a harpist to perform the harp part of the Glazunov violin concerto in A minor and was hoping I could fill the bill. At first, I was skeptical about whether I had the time to devote to both YOBC and YOCJ, but when I discovered that the concerto soloist was David Kim, the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, I put my reservations aside and jumped at the opportunity to perform with him.

As a “ringer” for the YOCJ, I was at only four rehearsals before the night of the concert, and Mr. Kim was at only one of these. He took a keen (and, I may say, flattering) interest in the sound and placement of the harp, requesting that I sit as close to him as possible and instructing me to ignore all the piano and pianissimo markings with which my part was filled and to play out so that I could be heard, treating the piece like a Volume 2, Number 4

concerto for harp and violin instead of just violin. The single rehearsal we had with him the Tuesday before our Sunday concert was so exhilarating that I spent the whole week looking forward to the concert.

On the night of the concert, Mr. Kim insisted that I be placed near him even though it meant putting me between the first and second violins, a most unusual place for the harp. I thought it rather funny that when some of the violinists complained the harp blocked their view of Mr. Enz, Mr. Kim told them they would have to move so that they could see but instructed me to stay where I was.

I had to wait quite a while before it was finally time to perform the Glazunov. At last I was on stage, waiting for my cues. I found myself grinning every time I knew another harp passage was approaching. It was so wonderful interacting with such an excellent musician, so thrilling to think that I was complementing him and that he was returning the compliment.

was proud of myself when I was awarded with an Outstanding Musician Award at the end of the school year. I was able to accomplish these milestones because my band teacher supported me every step of the way.

Mr. B has reinforced what my parents have always told me to do, which is to put education first, do my very best to hit high notes in my academic studies. I will continue to work hard to achieve all my educational goals. With the help of teachers like Mr. B, I am marching on to cross the finish line.”

—Widchard Faustin, Percussionist

YOBC Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble

Widchard Faustin is a 7th grader at Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia.

After the concert, my parents and I went into the lobby to buy one of David Kim's CDs and get it autographed. He again told me how beautifully I had David Kim and Heather Hills played, inquired if I were going into music, and said that he was not in the least surprised when I answered yes. Playing with such a distinguished and kind violinist was wonderful, and being given such great encouragement right before I headed into college auditions has really helped my confidence. Now I can only wonder, what strange and wonderful thing will happen to me next?

—Heather L. Hills, Harpist YOBC Symphony Orchestra Heather graduated from YOBC this year and will be attending Indiana University to major in Harp Performance.

Page 3

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

yobc.org

YOBC 20th Anniv ersary Gala Concer t Trenton War Mem orial May 21, 2011 Reception 6:00 –

7:30 pm

Concert 8:00 pm Featuring Chris B rubeck & Triple P lay and over 250 YOB C student and alum ni Join Our Celebratio

n!

Overcoming Nerves Leads to Successful Counties Audition nerves out, and make sure what I take a deep breath, stay I did wrong in the mock audifocused, and remember tion, I didn’t do in the real one. everything I learned. After Two things I had to remember months of hard practicing, were to use as much vibrato as it all came down to getting possible and use dynamics. Fiinto Bucks County Music nally, on the night before the big Educators’ Association day, I got nervous thinking orchestra or not. Of course “What if I don't get in?” I wanted this was not a life-or-death to practice more to make sure I got situation, but achieving in, but it was too late for that. something that had been Katie Shih The next morning, I went to on my mind for months the school where auditions were held. was a big deal to me. As a seventh Once I saw all the other students grader, this was my first time audifrom other schools, I got so nervous I tioning for BCMEA. I wanted to get was almost shaking. Everyone was the feeling of what being in an orsupposed to wait in the cafeteria, so I chestra with high schoolers was like, quickly warmed up as much as I so from September, my goal was to could. Finally the auditions were make the Bucks County orchestra. starting, so people were calling sevPreparing the piece was chaleral students to follow them to the lenging, but getting every pitch and audition rooms. I followed because I detail was worth the time. Every wanted to get through the audition time I thought about how I was going without getting too nervous. My first to do at the audition, I wondered how room was the scales room. Then I much better other students were or if waited in line for the sight reading. I the judges would like my playing, so saved the solo piece for last since that was my motivation to practice. most of my nerves were gone after At my last lesson before the audition, the first two rooms. All auditions are my teacher gave me a mock audition. held so that the judges can’t see who That helped me get some of my

Page 4

is playing, just their card with a code.

If the judges didn’t like my scales or sight reading, I could at least show the last judges my best performance for the solo. As I started to get into the song, I imagined myself playing at home. That always helps me feel less pressure. After my audition was done, all I could do was wait. That was probably the most exciting part of this whole experience. Thinking back on how I played, I couldn’t remember how my performance went or if I messed up anywhere. Only time could tell. A week later the results were in. My orchestra teacher received the list of students who did and didn't make the cut. In the end, I didn’t just get into BCMEA, I made eighth place out of nearly 120 violinists. Never would I have guessed that I would make eighth chair in the Bucks County orchestra as a seventh grader. Up next, the concert!

—Katie Shih, Violinist YOBC Philharmonia Katie Shih has been a member of YOBC’s Philharmonia and after another successful audition will join our Symphony in the fall.