-
Sinfonia Orchestra News Summer 2017
Triumphant & Moving: 1812 Caps 20th Year
A nniversaries are moments to take stock of what came before, of
where one is now, and to also dedicate oneself to the future. We
had a phenomenal 20th anniversary year, but once we concluded our
Anniversary Festival Concert in Verizon Hall in the middle of May,
we were onto next year, not only in spirit, but in every tangible
way as well.
Our agenda for 2017–2018 is full of plans and ideas for
organizational sustainability, growth, and improvement. Yet the
heart
of what we do remains educational and artistic. Plans and
highlights for next year’s program, as always, top the agenda!
In Year 21 we will hold steady in terms of program personnel,
teaching quality, structure of our ensembles, rehearsal schedule
and general calendar, with all our usual opportunities for musical
enrichment, student leadership, and community outreach.
In addition, exciting, special features dot the calendar for all
ensembles: in PS we will hold our internal concerto competition in
October (this is a biennial event; our
last was held in 2015). We will execute our first commercial
recording* in November, perform with prominent clarinet soloist and
Yamaha artist, John Russo, in January, and bring Rimsky Korsakov’s
Scheherazade to life with Enchantment Theatre Company in Verizon
Hall in May.
PSP will be joined at its May Festival Concert by Philadelphia
Orchestra violinist, Richard Amoroso, who will perform Mozart’s
Violin Concerto No. 5 with the orchestra. PSP is also scheduled to
rehearse
W ith a lavish, powerful, stunning rendition of Tchaikovsky’s
1812 Overture featuring the combined forces of both our orchestras,
three choirs — 400 performers in all — and the score’s special
effects, Philadelphia Sinfonia closed its 20th anniversary season
on May 14 in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall.
Moving as it was — and even some performers were in tears — 1812
capped, but did not eclipse, the many, many highlights of this
celebratory season.
Those highlights would have to include the entire performance in
Verizon Hall that May afternoon. On the program also
SONATA
Continued on page 3.
Continued on page 6.
Festival Concert Curtain Call: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture
FALL AUDITIONS
For all ensembles will be held on August on 26–27 and September
2, 2017.
See page 3 for more information.
Highlights for Year 21
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
2
SUMMER 2017
From the Podium
I t was a very special moment to be on the stage of Verizon Hall
as the students of PS and PSP and our guests from the Keystone
State Boychoir, Pennsylvania Girlchoir, and Abington Chorale Club
played the final moments of Tchaikovsky’s triumphant 1812 Overture.
As you may have already read in our opening cover story, it was a
moment that brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience and
the musicians as well! In fact, there were so many musicians on
stage and in the choir loft, that it seemed to me that the finale
of our 20th Anniversary Festival Concert symbolically included all
twenty years of Philadelphia Sinfonia students. For it is through
the rich history of our student members that we have been able to
achieve all that we have and that led to this spectacular
climax!
I first became involved with Sinfonia after hearing a live
performance at a local mall I lived near. I just happened to be
there and was struck by something special about the group. To my
surprise and delight, within a year I was named its new
conductor!
I think back on the hundreds of students I have had the pleasure
to work with and get to know. Some are just beginning their college
years, while others have become successful professionals in music
and other careers (some I have even had the pleasure to work with
as professional musicians) - and there are so many others
adventurously finding their way from the years in between. It is
always a great joy for me to read and hear about our former
Philadelphia Sinfonia students and their endeavors. I truly believe
we have both shaped and been shaped by all of those many, many,
remarkable members!
Thanks and congratulations to all our students and their
families, past and present! By the way, those tears at the end of
the Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture that I mentioned earlier also filled
my eyes as 20 years of history seemed to come together to form that
perfect moment.
Happy 20th!
Gary D. White Music Director & Conductor
Gary D. White, Music Director & Conductor
ORCHESTRA NEWSSummer 2017 | Vol.15, No. 2
Published by: Philadelphia Sinfonia
Edited by: Carol Brown
Photos by: Steven Goldblatt, Tom Gralish, and Ke Feng
Design by: Hanna Manninen
©Copyright Philadelphia Sinfonia Association 2017
ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra) Master Class with PSCO
O ur own string chamber orchestra, PSCO, welcomed the stellar
East Coast Chamber Orchestra at St. Stephen’s Church during
rehearsal on Saturday, April 22, 2017. ECCO, the renowned chamber
ensemble, was in town for a concert presented by the Philadelphia
Chamber Music Society and had offered, through the Chamber Music
Society, to lead a master class with the Philadelphia Sinfonia
Chamber Orchestra as well.
The combined orchestras jumped right into Benjamin Britten’s
Simple Symphony, the chosen repertoire, all musicians (but cellos)
standing, as ECCO musicians traditionally perform, and the air
resonated with their rich and glorious sound throughout all four of
the symphony’s movements.
Then, the master musicians began to take the piece apart
emphasizing much more intensively the musicality of the piece than
its technical details, offering tips to free the PSCO students from
strict, exclusive attention to technique. The lessons were
challenging, but not lost, and it was fascinating for audience
members to see the greater motion and emotion our students
demonstrated as they continued, later, to play the piece.
Philadelphia Sinfonia is incredibly grateful to the Philadelphia
Chamber Music Society and to ECCO for bringing this master class to
our students and parents. What a wonderful experience it was to
learn from the extraordinary performers of the East Coast Chamber
Orchestra.
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
3
SUMMER 2017
Triumphant & Moving: 1812 Caps 20th YearContinued from page
1.
were soprano Jessica Lennick, gracious and lovely in Mozart’s
Exsultate Jubilate; George Gershwin’s An American in Paris,
evocatively performed; and the strings from both full orchestras
(PS & PSP) in Vaugh Williams’ Concerto Grosso for Three
Orchestras. Superbly prepared by their conductors, our
instrumentalists delivered a milestone 20th Anniversary Festival
Concert with extraordinary confidence, passion, and musicality.
Guest performers Jessica Lennick, Abington Choral Club, Keystone
State Boychoir, Pennsylania Girlchoir, and the extra “hands” on the
cannon and church bell chimes in Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, did
us proud as well. We thank them all.
As for the other special celebratory highlights of the year,
each of our ensembles had a share, captured in photographic images
and commentary on pages 4–5.
2017 FALL AUDITIONSTo fill the remaining seats in both of our
full orchestras, musicians are invited to audition in late
August/early September 2017. Limited openings available; all
instruments are invited to audition.
WE OFFER:• full symphonic orchestra concerts (advanced and
intermediate level)• chamber orchestra concerts• performances with
professional soloists• artistic and community partnership
opportunities• sectionals and master classes with Philadelphia
Orchestra musicians and other top
professionals• internal concerto competition (every other year;
2017–2018 is a competition year)• varied and challenging musical
repertoire• exceptional orchestral training process
Information is available on our website:
www.philadelphiasinfonia.com/auditions
AUDITION DATES:Saturday, August 26, 9 AM–5 PMSunday, August 27,
9 AM–5 PMSaturday, September 2, 9 AM–5 PM
AUDITIONS ARE HELD AT:St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 19 S. Tenth
Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Parking is available directly across the street and SEPTA
regional rail is nearby.
To register for an audition, please visit our website:
www.philadelphiasinfonia.com to download an information packet
about our program, to review our audition requirements, request an
audition, and complete a registration form.
20th Anniversary Season CDs Available
T his season’s CDs are among the most outstanding we have
produced for our two large ensembles, PS and PSP. The repertoire
for 2016–2017 was fabulous, and each of our ensembles and their
recordings were excellent.Both groups’ CDs include the joint PS/PSP
pieces on the Verizon Hall Festival Concert: Tchaikovsky’s 1812
Overture and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso for String
Orchestra; each includes the season’s professional soloists’ pieces
(David Kim, violin, with PS in Bruch’s violin concerto, and John
Thyhsen, trumpet, with PSP in Selections from Rodgers and Hart);
and among other highlights, the PS CD includes Gershwin’s An
American in Paris, soprano Jessica Lennick in Mozart’s Exsultate
Jubilate, and beautiful recordings of this season’s PSCO —
Philadelphia Sinfonia’s own string chamber orchestra.
TO ORDER CDs VISIT: philadelphiasinfonia.com/members and select
“merchandise.” Price: $25 if picked up at a rehearsal at St.
Stephen’s Church; $28 if mailed. CDs will be available early in the
fall.
“The past two years in [Philadelphia] Sinfonia have been
unimaginable and unforgettable. I truly have grown as a musician
and an individual more than you can imagine…. I want to say how
incredibly impressed I was with the administration of Sinfonia
under Ms. Mendelsohn, the colossal and impressive musicianship
exhibited by you, Mr. White, that has transformed me as an
individual and musician, and the great support and musicianship of
Ms. Garret. Sinfonia is truly an amazing youth orchestra and
undoubtedly one of the greatest that exists.”
http://www.philadelphiasinfonia.com/auditions
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
4
SUMMER 2017
Soprano Jessica Lennick in Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate
Masterful in every number: PS in May Festival Concert
20th Anniversary Festival Concert: May 14, 2017“Just wanted to
give you the unsolicited feedback that [your] ad on WRTI sold three
tickets to the performance today.... the listing of the groups
performing and the pieces to be played were so exciting that we
came. It was great.”
— Anonymous email message, May 14, 2017
Pennsylvania Girlchoir singers: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
5
SUMMER 2017
PSP Festival Concert: May 7, 2017
PSP Festival Concert
PSCO master class with ECCO, April 22, 2017; see page 2 for the
story behind this event
Ms. Garrett conducts PSP Festival Concert
Trumpet soloist, John Thyhsen, performing with PSP
David Kim, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, in
concert with PS, January 22, 2017.
“Our daughter… has grown so much musically and gained poise and
confidence from being a member of Sinfonia. In fact, we can
attribute her many college acceptances into music programs directly
to her participation with Sinfonia.”
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
6
SUMMER 2017
ALEX ROSENFELDInstruments in PS: Horn/ViolinCurrent Occupation:
Musician/Brewer; San FranciscoPrevious Positions: Assistant
Principal Horn, Louisiana PhilharmonicAssistant Principal Horn,
Rochester PhilharmonicThird Horn, Sarasota OperaPerformed
frequently as an extra and toured with the San Francisco Symphony
and SF OperaProfessor of Horn, San Jose State University
PS helped prepare me for college (two degrees in French Horn
performance), and set the foundation for an exciting career as an
orchestral musician. Performing with so many talented and eager
young musicians in such a fantastically nurturing environment was a
key part of my early musical education.
LAUREN MARINIInstrument: violaCurrent occupation: Veterinary
Neurologist at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists.
I have played in the Narragansett Bay Symphony (formerly the RI
Philharmonic Community Orchestra) since I moved to RI in 2010.
Being in an orchestra like PS absolutely helped mold me into the
professional I am today. Aside from helping me appear
“well-rounded,” which is always important on professional school
applications, it taught me time management skills as I juggled life
as a high school student with practicing and rehearsals. Although I
knew at the time that I did not want to make music my career, PS
helped me realize how important music was to keep me sane while
dealing with a stressful career.
LAUREN (PINTO) RUDATInstrument in PS: ViolinCurrent Occupation:
String Specialist/Orchestra Director in the Council Rock School
District, Holland, PA
PS was founded when I was a senior in high school, and already
knowing that I wanted to pursue a career in music, PS gave me the
opportunity to perform with other talented young musicians and work
with an amazing conductor. Performing with PS not only increased my
musical aptitude, but also fostered skills needed for team work and
helped build amazing friendships that I still have — to this day,
20 years later.
JENNY WEINARInstrument in PS: Double BassCurrent Occupation:
Clinical Social Worker at the Family Center of Thomas Jefferson
University.
I am going into my fourth year as Philadelphia Sinfonia’s first
alumni board member and was especially thrilled to still be
involved during Sinfonia’s twentieth anniversary year. Although I
no longer play bass, my years in Sinfonia had a profound and
lasting effect, from instilling in me the value of being a part of
a community, building self-confidence, and cultivating a lifelong
love for the arts.
DANIELLE GARRETTInstrument: ViolinCurrent Occupation:
Conductor
As a violinist in Philadelphia Sinfonia during its inaugural
season, the proper foundation was set to pursue a career in music.
It was an honor to work with a talented group of musicians. Over
the past twenty years, I have developed many skills as an
orchestral player, performed in numerous countries, served as
concertmaster, served as a Philadelphia Sinfonia intern during
college, progressed to its orchestra manager, and now serve as
Conductor of its talented intermediate orchestra, “Philadelphia
Sinfonia Players.” PS has groomed me into the well-rounded musician
that I am today, and it is an honor to be a part of this amazing
organization.
Alumni Notes from the Inaugural Year (1997–1998) of Philadelphia
Sinfonia A look twenty years on at the careers and interests of
some of the musicians who participated in Philadelphia Sinfonia’s
inaugural year. Lauren (Pinto) Rudat suggested this 20th
anniversary feature, collected three of the updates, and we happily
added stories from two others from that group who, remarkably,
continue to be involved with Philadelphia Sinfonia.
side-by-side with PS in March (a fabulous annual event), and
will appear as guest artists on the PS Festival Concert in Verizon
Hall in May.
Among the year’s repertoire highlights for PSP are: Beethoven’s
Egmont Overture, the “Waltz” from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite,
Op. 20, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major “London.”
Bedsides Scheherazade, listed above, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
in C minor, Op. 35 will be among the big repertoire highlights for
PS.
*For those curious about it, PS will be making its first
professionally released CD in partnership with Contemporary Record
Society, Inc. (CRS) in the fall. Working with its president, John
Russo, we will record the works of several living composers
including:
William Popp: Orchestral Fanfare for a Scholarly Celebration
Doug Davis: Dust Swirls, then Speaks (Journey to Hope)
Gregory Hall: Six Sketches from “Niagara” (Ongiara)
John Russo: Three Studies for Clarinet and Orchestra (“New York,
York”)
As part of our recording agreement, Mr. Russo, a prominent
clarinet soloist and Yamaha artist, will also record and later
perform the Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 74
with the musicians of PS. The live performance will take place in
the first PS concert of the season, on January 21, 2018 at the
Temple Performing Arts Center. Concert time: 3 PM.
Exciting adventures await us next season! We look forward to
moving into our third decade in September along with all our new
and returning musicians and with a calendar full of engaging,
challenging opportunities, new collaborations, and glorious music.
Here’s to our 21st Year!
Highlights for Year 21Continued from page 1.
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS
7
SUMMER 2017
“Don’t pursue music for anybody else except yourself.”
T hose words of advice come from trumpet player Matthew Salazar,
a member of Sinfonia during 2013–14, and recent graduate of
University of the Arts. Matt’s deep love of many varieties and
aspects of music really came to life because of his Sinfonia
experience.
“It’s very easy to pursue music because you’re good at it, or
because your teacher told you that you could. However, sometimes
that’s not enough of a reason to stay motivated. Find the nucleus
of why you do it, and if that nucleus is a pure love for the art,
then you will never lack motivation.”
Matt has been more than motivated in his pursuit of his love of
music. Although he was with Sinfonia for just a year, Matt found
inspiration there and has maintained close ties. Looking back, he
treasures his experience during the festival concert at Verizon
Hall: “[P]laying on the same stage as world renowned musicians and
personal heroes of mine was incredible and drew my aspirations to a
sharp focus.” Matt also loved the opportunity that he had to attend
a Sinfonia master class with John
Harbison that turned him on to composing. Sinfonia also taught
Matt patience – the patience to learn how to master the pieces he
performed over the many weeks of the Sinfonia season.
Matt went on to major in Jazz Trumpet Performance at UArts, with
a minor in Music Education. There, he primarily played lead trumpet
and performed solo in big band settings. He also played classical
repertoire with the UArts Brass Ensemble, and recently performed
the Anthony Plog Double Concerto for Trumpet and Trombone. In
addition, Matt was part of the UArts Z Big Band, which tied for
first place in the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey,
California just this past April. The Band took home three out of
five soloist awards, and will be returning to perform at the
renowned Monterey Jazz Festival this fall.
Aside from Matt’s immediate goals — to perform as much as
possible — Matt plans to seek a master’s degree in classical
trumpet performance, and perhaps study composition at the graduate
level — and teach as well. He advises: “[D]on’t pigeonhole
yourself. Don’t say “no” to a gig because you don’t feel ready, or
it’s not what you usually do. Take the gig, learn
the music and how it should be played, and make it happen. It
will provide you with opportunities [that] … you didn’t know
existed, and [introduce you] to wonderful people you never thought
you’d meet.” With the ultimate goals of teaching at a university
and performing professionally, Matt aims to be a “very busy trumpet
player.” He aspires to perform with musical theater ensembles, at
jazz gigs and pops orchestra concerts, in addition to composing and
playing original music.
Happily, performance has not kept Matt from staying involved
with Sinfonia. He has returned to work with musicians and has been
part of a group that plans Sinfonia alumni events to keep alumni
connected. He reminds Sinfonia members to appreciate their
experience: “Not often are there ensembles with such good people,
helpful and knowledgeable instructors, and an educational attitude
that is so welcoming.”
Why does Matt do this?
His answer is simple: “I think that if you are proud of your
institution, you should do what you can to give back. I’m thankful
that I got to study in Philadelphia during my time with Sinfonia
and stay [connected] during the subsequent years. It keeps me close
to an organization that I’m very proud and thankful to have been a
part of. This feeling of pride keeps me in contact with many people
in the Sinfonia community, and my love of playing music makes
returning to play, when asked to, a joy.”
Go for it, Matt!
Matt can be contacted at [email protected] Penneys
Edelman
Alum Profile: Matthew Salazar
Matthew Salazar
Super-Strong 2017 Food Drive Supports Philabundance
M arch is typically “food drive” month for our orchestras. Each
year a self-selected committee of volunteers from PS runs the
drive: promoting, collecting, storing, and counting cans of food
from the first weekend in March to the last. Among the volunteer
committee’s favorite tasks is deciding effective strategies for
raising the number of cans collected so we can deliver the most
food possible to Philabundance.
This year’s strategies included a typical competition between
sections of the orchestra, but it also included a unique challenge:
if the total collection at the end of March topped 1,000 lbs of
food, Maestro Gary White agreed to conduct a PS rehearsal “in
costume” — although no-one specified what costume that would
be….
Long story short, this year’s drive was the strongest ever,
garnering 1,293 lbs of food delivered to Philabundance; Maestro
Gary White came to rehearsal a few weeks later as Spiderman!
Bravo Gary, and Bravo to the Food Drive Committee: Cindy Chea,
Andrew Chen, Gillian Diebold, Ethan Frankel, Anjali Gupta, Consuelo
Le, Emma Parker, Courtney Sabanas, Vinayak Shankar, Linsy Wang,
William Wang, Hannah Yoon.
mailto:[email protected]
-
SONATA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA NEWS SUMMER 2017
Gary D. White Music Director and ConductorJudith Mendelsohn
Executive Director Danielle Garrett PSP Conductor and Orchestra
ManagerHannah Albrecht Administrative Coordinator
Board of Directors:Carol Brown, PresidentNaomi Atkins, Vice
PresidentJean Lowery, SecretaryJerome Pontillo, TreasurerDawn Evans
Matthew Gurin Matthew Kremer Lorna Lynn ZeeAnn Mason Carol
Steinberg Jenny WeinarPhiladelphia Sinfonia PO Box 996
Philadelphia, PA 19105-0996 Tel: 215-351-0363 Website:
www.philadelphiasinfonia.com E-mail:
[email protected]
Mission Statement Philadelphia Sinfonia supports the artistic
growth of young musicians in the Delaware Valley by providing
high-level ensemble experience in a supportive educational
environment.
We believe that the pursuit of excellence requires performers
with integrity, working together toward a common goal. Thus our
mission is three-fold: to provide ensemble opportunities for young
musicians, to achieve the highest level of artistic advancement,
and to educate young people broadly to be strong citizens and
leaders as well as responsible musicians.
We recruit from a demographically diverse student population to
provide an opportunity to anyone who musically qualifies and to
enrich the experience of all members of the organization.
PO Box 996 Philadelphia, PA 19105-0996
Photo recap of 2016–17 and Preview of 2017 –18