Metropolitan Youth Symphony Newsletter
REEDS AND ROSIN
April 2008
Inside this Issue:
MYS Alumni Spotlight
The Veteran's Concert
Carlos Kalmar's Visit
Auction News
MYS Bulletin Board
VIVA LA MYS! Trip to Mexico Planned for '09 
It’s official! Metropolitan Youth Symphony is going to Mexico in 2009. After weighing several options that included Guatamala, Spain and even Portugal, MYS Board and staff decided on The Yucatan Peninsula, which includes the city of Merida.
"Taking into consideration the current position of the dollar and other cost factors, this trip affords us the professional concert venues and access to historical and cultural sights that will both engage and enrich our student travelers at a more affordable price than Europe," said Matthew Jones, MYS' Executive Director.
The tour is planned for July of '09, and will include destinations that are rich in both Mayan and Latin American history and culture. Potential concert venues range from grand old Spanish colonial buildings to state of the art modern concert halls.
The groups eligible for this tour are Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band. Students in Concert Orchestra or Concert Band may also be eligible after auditions in June. For tour information, please contact the MYS office (503) 239-4566.
MYS Welcomes 50 New Members: January Auditions Yield New Crop of Musicians
They came, they played, they accepted the challenge. Nearly 50 young musicians auditioned at Marylhurst University, and several more at Beaumont Middle School in early January. As a result, MYS now has new musicians in almost every group. "We were impressed with the talent and enthusiasm, including young Felix Tse, who managed to wake up for his audition. He’s now a member of Interlude Orchestra," reported Carol Neff. Auditions for the 2008/2009 season will be held at Beaumont Middle School on Saturday, May 31st and June 7th. Auditions will also be held throughout the week of June 13th-20th, at Marylhurst University.
Concerto Competition Winners!
MYS is pleased to announce the winners of our 2008 Concerto Competition:
Andrew Westling - Violin Concerto Op. 14, Samuel Barber
Esther Shim - Violin Concerto mvt. 1, Saint-Saens
Sachiye Lettler and Jessica Whalen - Krommer Concerto for two clarinets
Andrew Westling, Achiye Lettler and Jessica Whalen will be performing at our
June 8th concert, From Hungary With Love at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
MYS would like to acknowledge all the musicians who participated in the competition:
Nicole Bernath, Eli Bixby,
Viet Block, Victoria Dinu, Daniel Eby, Ellie Hakanson,
Geoff Hill, Emma Newman, Elizabeth Orwoll-Harris, Andrew Poole Tood,
Robert Woodward and Matt Young.
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Silent Auction: Makes a Lot of Noise
Yes! that was barking you heard at our Silent Auction on March 15th. Sydney, the Goldendoodle puppy was helping with promotion and it worked. MYS sold 108 items (including a Goldendoodle puppy!) and raised over $6,000 at the event, thanks to the hard work of the Procurement Committee "It’s not always easy to volunteer your time. I am so impressed with every Procurement Committee member giving this project priority when they already had a full plate of responsibilities," Development Manager Susan Norton reported.
There was something for everyone. "The items donated were great," Susan went on to say, "There was such a variety in the generosity of our MYS families." If you’re looking for more opportunities to support MYS events, there are two more chances this season! The Viennese Ball on Saturday, April 12th (see below) and the upcoming Majors & Minors MYS Golf Tournament, Thursday, June 12th, at Langdon Farms Golf Club. To register, go online at Golf or call Susan Norton, (503) 517-0686.
Guest Conductor is Electrifying
You would have thought he was a rock star, such was his command from the podium and the enthusiasm of the young musicians who followed every beat of his baton. Last October Oregon Symphony Orchestra conductor Carlos Kalmar came to Beaumont to meet the young musicians of MYS.
Promptly donning an MYS t-shirt, Carlos met with Music director Lajos Balogh and then was off to see the groups in rehearsal, starting with Overture Strings.
"This takes me back. It's delightful to see these young players working so hard at their age," Carlos said.
Carlos' enthusiasm for teaching young musicians was matched by their excitement, and as the Symphony Orchestra musicians worked with Carlos on "Nutcracker Suite," the conductor emphatically put his foot right through Lajos' podium.
"I'm always excited to work with these talented young people," Carlos said, "after all, they are our future Symphony musicians."
Not long after his visit to Beaumont, Carlos showed up at an Oregon Symphony Orchestra rehearsal wearing his hot-pink MYS t-shirt. "I want to make sure we [the Oregon Symphony Orchestra] are doing all we can to support the work of all of our wonderful youth organizations here in Oregon." We’re with you, Carlos.
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Do You Like to Eat?
Do You Drive?
Then we have the perfect student fundraiser for You! Get major discounts at your favorite restaurants and receive cash back for your gas receipts! Sound good?
This is a really easy way to put cash into your MYS student account by filling your tank at participating gas stations (like Chevron and Shell), and eating in all the restaurants you like!
Alumni Profile: Laurel Seim
Our Alumni Coordinator Susan Rickett caught up with MYS alumni Laurel Seim at the The Russians are Coming concert in March.
Laurel played the French horn and the baritone with MYS from 1993 to 1998, and graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana in 2002. She is currently in a master’s program at PSU, studying public administration and labor relations, but music is still a big part of her life.
"I've been playing horn with a local community band in Rose City. I am asked a few times a year to play with orchestras at local church and community events. My favorite musical activity right now is playing in the St. Matthew Lutheran Church Exaltation Hand Bell Choir, and every so often I play in a horn ensemble with friends...it's good fun!" When asked about supporting MYS, Laurel was quick to say, "I support MYS today because it is a fantastic organization. MYS educates students musically and provides a positive atmosphere for young people to develop character and begin a life of active involvement in the community at large. I support MYS because with the decrease in public school music programs, students today need all the affordable, formal musical support and education out there." Thank you, Laurel!
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Musical Salute: The Veteran’s Concert
It all came together on the morning of November 11, Veterans Day 2007. But it started with Louis Block, a dedicated MYS parent, getting the idea to put together a Veteran’s Day concert with MYS’ Concert Band, conducted by Bob Callison. Since Lou and Bob are both U.S. military vets, it was a match made in veteran heaven.
"Thanks to a good musical foundation, " Bob explained, "I was accepted into the US Army Band program, and played trumpet in the 28th US Army Band. Ah, the memories…"
Louis Block, a Vietnam veteran whose daughter Viet plays in MYSfits and Symphony Orchestra, organized the concert through his contacts at a veterans group (Veterans of Oregon and Members of the Community). VOAMC invited MYS to play, and Louis approached Bob.
"I had no idea of his background, but Bob knew exactly which music to play, and how it’s supposed to be done," Lou said. The MYS concert Band played a 30-minute concert of "Musical Americana" for veterans and their families at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Vancouver, Washington.
Bob spoke proudly of the musicians who turned out for the Sunday morning performance, "They were all excellent representatives of MYS, and they were appreciated very much by the older vets and their families. I also salute the Concert Band families."
Metropolitan Youth Symphony Bulletin Board
Lost and Found Items at Beaumont:May 3rd will be the last day to check for lost items in our Lost & Found box at Beaumont. All remaining items will be given to charity after that.
Concert Wear Exchange: If you’d like to purchase, sell or donate gently used concert wear, please contact MYS, 503-239-4566.
Concert Attire: All students must return their rented concert attire to MYS on the date of their last concert, or before June 8th, 2008.
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