Keeping Tempo November 2010

Keeping Tempo

Volume 2, Number 2 November 2010

Fun Fall Events Help Kick Off YOBC’s 20th Year

Inside this issue: From the YOBC Board President: Why YOBC?

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Conductors’ Notes: Happy Anniversary…

To OUR FAMILY!

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Student Spotlight: Gabe Franc

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YOBC Awarded Grant From Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

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YOBC Alumnus Patrick Bailey Will Be Guest Percussionist

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Important Dates: 

Saturday, November 20, 2010: Fall Concerts— Junior/Intermediate Division 2:00 PM; Advanced Division 8:00 PM.

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Sunday, January 9, 2011: First rehearsals of the spring semester

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March 6, 2011: Master Class with Chris Brubeck

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April 9, 2011: Spring Concerts

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April 10, 2011: Move-up auditions

and a pizza picnic and an opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones.

October brought our first-ever fundraising social event. YOBC hosted a wine-tasting and auction at Crossing Vineyards and Winery in New Hope.

The event was a great success, with a full house in attendance and lots of active bidding on a variety of items including: vacation homes, a DJ stint at WWFM, a musical performance by the Rondeau Quartet (made up of YOBC’s Jennie Benson, Sara Liebreich, and Michelle and Charlotte Fedun), artwork, handcrafted accessories, Eagles and 76ers memorabilia, among other offerings.

Above, YOBC supporters enjoy the wine This event tasting while perusing auction items. raised over Below, the Rondeau Quartet performs in $11,500 which front of the wine vats at Crossing Vineyards. will be used to This fall we have had some new, fun events to start off our 20th Anniversary season. Just before the first rehearsal in September, we had an orientation for all our new students. Our advanced division students had a day-long orientation that included rehearsal time, sectionals,

The “witch” conducting Wind Symphony pauses to greet “Mozart”

fund scholarships and programs at YOBC. Finally, this year saw Halloween fall on a Sunday, and students were invited to attend rehearsals in costume. Many interesting “guests” appeared at YOBC to make for a fun day.

“Gustav Mahler” also dropped in to conduct.

From the YOBC Board President: Why YOBC? Twelve years ago, I first learned about YOBC through my son, Erich, who was enrolled in a private middle school with no music program. Colleen Sweetsir’s Wind Symphony gave Erich’s clarinet a strongly desired voice. That voice led to him becoming Principal clarinet in the Wind Ensemble, a featured soloist performance in his senior year, and a music degree in 2008 from Susquehanna University. YOBC provided the environment—a nurturing, challenging place where good students and fine musicians collaborate under the guidance of dedicated teachers to push the boundaries of what those students believe they can accomplish. All without the undue pressure, negative reinforcement, and intimidation that sometimes passes for “passion” and “accomplishment” in the arts. For Eileen and me, that is the true “essence” of YOBC, and it is why we care as deeply as we do

for both its mission and its methods.

My friends know me as a professional scientist with a life-long commitment (instilled at Bishop Egan High School’s Community Service Corps) to volunteer work in social service. When YOBC’s founders, Joe and Judy Gimbel, asked me to assume responsibility for the organization almost five years ago, I did not hesitate. In my 12 years at YOBC, I can’t count the number of exceptional young adults I’ve come to know and admire. We are tremendously proud to know that YOBC played a role, not only in their musical development but also in their academic accomplishments (numerous studies demonstrate the link between serious musical training early in life and enhanced academic performance).

There is another reason why YOBC matters—one far more personal. Music truly is, and has always been, the soundtrack of my life. I can’t write a report without music playing

in the office, drive without music in the car (and motorcycle), exercise, clean the garage (OK, I only do that sporadically), cut the lawn.… I know as an article of faith that music nourishes the soul, and infuses everything we do with more energy, passion, and at its best, deeper insight. I love how great musicians and performances make me feel about life, and experiencing weekly the very real “goose bump” moments that occur when listening to music that matters. Simply put, I am a far better scientist because of the daily influence of music in my life.

I can’t think of a better pursuit than to perform great music. I can’t imagine what would happen to our country’s productivity if music went away. And our children learn to make that music every Sunday.

How very fortunate are we to be a part of that?

—Joseph Hochreiter YOBC Board President

Conductors’ Notes: Happy Anniversary ... to OUR FAMILY !

Whoo hoo—it’s time to celebrate… yes, it's time for all of us to celebrate!

You have joined the ranks of the multitude of individuals who make up the very vibrant core of what YOBC is all about today. And by doing so, you are now a very important part of its heritage as we look toward the future of this huge and wonderful musical family.

You join ... Carol Gimbel—the spirited eighth grader, now a professional violist in Toronto—who, twenty years ago, adamantly bugged her parents to “just start” a youth orchestra in Bucks County. You join ... Joe and Judy Gimbel, who just couldn’t say no to Carol, and who had the courage and tenacity to see their family’s musical vision come to life.

You join ... the hundreds of YOBC alumni who have made music together on our Sunday afternoons and have gone on to such schools of Page 2

higher learning as The Curtis Institute of Music, Harvard University, and everywhere in between.

You join ... Jessica Clough, who performed a memorable interpretation of Bruch’s G Minor Violin Concerto with us and is currently a marketing fellow with the fabulous Philadelphia Orchestra.

You join ... Captain David Paroby, percussionist extraordinaire, who, after serving as the director of the US Army Ceremonial Band and the US Army Herald Trumpets, is currently Company Commander of the US Army School of Music.

You join ... Joe Hochreiter and Eileen Wachtman who, having led YOBC for the last five years with an undeniable passion, are responsible for the vibrancy and success that our organization currently represents.

You join ... our musicians through the years who have “touched” their

audiences both here in Bucks County and also throughout Europe and Scandinavia. Our students have toured Mozart’s apartment in Salzburg, performed in the extraordinary St. Nicholas Church in Prague’s Old Town Square, performed a concert in the courtyard of Stockholm’s City Hall, and were invited back for four encores on a very special, balmy evening in Bardolino, Italy.

As we head toward our Gala Concert with Chris Brubeck this May and an international tour to Northern Spain and Southern France in 2012 ... let me take the time to thank YOU for being an important part of our YOBC family’s past success and part of the “creative energy” that will be sure to bring excitement to our organization as we look ahead toward the future.

Happy Anniversary .... TO US !

—Robert Loughran YOBC Music Director

tudent

potlight: Gabe Franc

My goal this past summer was to attend a summer music camp program that would allow me the opportunity to grow as a musician.

My tutor, Carol Jantsch, recommended several camps to me. After looking at all of the camps on the web, I quickly became interested in the Tanglewood Institute because I thought it would be a great experience to work with Mike Roylance, Principal Tuba with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tanglewood was the only program that was “tuba intensive.” I liked the idea that it was a two-week program as

opposed to the full summer, allowing me time to participate in my high schoolʼs marching band camp.

The experience all started with the application process which included asking for recommendations.

I decided to do a live audition and went into New York City for my audition. Carrying my tuba through the snowy and cold streets is something I will not forgot. I felt my audition went well, but it was several months before I received my acceptance letter.

The program started on Fatherʼs Day with a barbeque. The barbeque was a great way for all of us to meet one another.

Then the next day and for two weeks straight the day was filled with rehearsals, sectionals, and solo time with a pianist followed by master classes with Mike Roylance and other invited guests. Most evenings, we attended concerts given by the faculty. Many of them were also members of the Boston Gabe (center) with some of the other tuba and Symphony Orchestra.

I enjoyed being with euphonium players after the final concert

other dedicated musicians who share a love of music as I do. I found out that over 800 students auditioned for various spots in the twoGabe Franc with Mike week proRoylance of the Boston gram and Symphony Orchestra only 100 students were accepted. It was cool to know that I was part of a select group.

The program culminated with a concert. Each participant had a solo. I played “Air and Bourée.” For the last piece, we performed a quintet. I enjoyed learning challenging pieces throughout the two weeks.

Tanglewood was a great experience!

—Gabe Franc, Principal Tubist YOBC Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

YOBC Awarded Grant from Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance YOBC has been recognized by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA) with a grant for nearly $2500 to support our Master Class series which will get under way in the next semester. Master classes will include one by our Gala guest artist, Chris Brubeck, on March 6, 2011; and the Curtis Institute will send a group for another “string day” event.

GPCA assists in providing seed money to artists and arts organi-

Volume 2, Number 2

zations offering innovative, community-based arts projects in southeastern Pennsylvania.

YOBC’s award comes from the Project Stream program, which makes grants of up to $3,000 to eligible organizations and individuals conducting arts projects in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The Project Stream grants program is made possible through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency. They are funded by the citizens of Pennsylvania through an annual legislative appropriation, and administered locally by the GPCA. Please thank your state legislators for continuing to fund the

arts in difficult economic times.

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional support for this program is provided by PECO. Page 3

Save the Date!

For These Upcomin

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

yobc.org

g YOBC Events

YOBC 20th Anniv ersary Gala Concer t Trenton War Mem orial May 21, 2011 YOBC 2012 Intern ational Concert To ur Southern France & Northern Spain Summer 2012 Parents’ Meeting October 3

YOBC Alumnus Patrick Bailey Will Be Guest Percussionist YOBC is pleased to collaborate with one of our alumni, Patrick Bailey, who will be returning to YOBC to help out the percussion section in our Advanced Division concert on November 20. In addition to playing with Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, Patrick will be composing some “theme music” for an upcoming YOBC video project.

Patrick is currently a thirdyear student at Temple University in Music Education. He was a member of YOBC for several years when he was in middle school, and for a year of high school where he played in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony. One of his favorite memories of his time at YOBC was the international tour to Germany and the Czech Republic: “Touring through Europe and seeing the historic areas tied to so much of the Western classical tradition we are engrossed in was a really interesting experience,” he says.

In addition to his studies at Temple, Patrick is in his fifth season with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra where he serves as the Page 4

percussion section leader with the ensemble. He has had the opportunity to play in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center on numerous occasions performing works including Maher’s 5th symphony, Brahms’ 1st symphony, Shostakovich’s 5th symphony, and Beethoven’s 9th symphony. “The close collaboration with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra that comes with being in that ensemble is a very informative peek into the world of professional orchestral musicians.”

Upon graduation from Temple, Patrick hopes to find work teaching music in a school setting. He says, “The opportunities afforded to me while at Temple have been awesome for helping in my own personal musical development. While at Temple I’ve had the chance to write music for ensembles and have it performed, study with some great teachers, interact in Philadelphia’s rich music community, and have hands-on experience teaching. Both the faculty and student body at Temple are full of tremendous musicians and teachers, and having immediate contact with such profes-

sionals has helped so much in furthering my development as a performer and educator.”

In addition to teaching, Patrick hopes to continue to have opportunities to perform in the classical and jazz idioms. He would also like to continue his education in the near future.

We happily note that Patrick will be joining us again, along with 20 years’ worth of alumni, in our 20th Anniversary Gala concert in May 2011.