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Listen to the Future!
Hear what CYSO coaches, students, parents and friends have to say about CYSO.
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Newsletter
March 2007
Greetings from the CYSO,
In this month's newsletter, I want to tell you about CYSO program that you may not be familiar with: Music Pathways . Did you know that in addition to its music training and ensembles, CYSO has operated its Music Pathways education program that works with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for almost ten years? As part of the program CYSO reaches CPS students by bringing groups of our musicians, known as “Principal Players” into the classrooms to teach second – fourth grade students about classical instrumental music. This program is headed up by Lizzy Sustar, Operations and Education Coordinator, who deserves so much credit for the program's success. We are extremely proud of this initiative.
Each spring, four concerts by the CYSO's Principal Players chamber groups take place in the Kinzie, Alexander Graham, Pulaski and Lafayette elementary schools, focusing on each of the instrument families: strings, winds, brass and percussion. Our musicians then talk to the students about the experience of playing instruments and being part of a larger ensemble. The program culminates by bringing students from each school to a full orchestra concert performed by our Concert and Debut Orchestras.
Every year we hear about how school music funding is being cut by state and local governments. We feel that it is our job to help deliver quality music education to the students who are now without. This is one way in which CYSO satisfies young students' hunger for music and the performing arts. If you would like to know more, I encourage you to ask us about Music Pathways .
I hope that you are having a great start to your spring! I will see you soon at one of our performances.
Until then, I wish you all the best.
Holly
In this issue
Music Pathways in Chicago Public Schools
Here is one of our favorite "reviews" of the Music Pathways program
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Alumni News
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RHETT DEL CAMPO – PRINCIPAL PERCUSSIONIST,
ORCHESTRA OF THE ROYAL SWEDISH OPERA
CYSO Pianist '93-‘94
CYSO Percussionist '94- ‘95
I was the second of three members of my family to participate in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras program. My older sister, Alexis, was a violinist and my younger sister, Marissa, played the cello. Hearing Alexis' concerts at Symphony Center and seeing her excitement inspired me to get involved. My experience in this program was very unique and filled with many wonderful memories. My first year, I was the pianist and had the opportunity to solo with the orchestra during a summer tour of Italy. By my second year, I had become interested in percussion and spent that year as percussionist in the orchestra. It was during these two years that I realized how inspiring making music with a good orchestra was and how much fun I had doing it. Touring Italy and England on separate occasions gave me a taste of what it was like traveling to foreign places and seeing audiences thrilled by our playing.
Knowing that I wanted to do this for a living, I went on to study at New England Conservatory of Music as a percussion performance major. I continued to learn about ensemble playing and sought out as many performance opportunities as I could. After graduating from NEC, I pursued a graduate degree at DePaul University where I spent two years playing in the percussion section of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, while also substituting with the Chicago Symphony on several occasions. It was around this time that I truly realized how hard you had to work to obtain a position in a professional orchestra. It was going to take a lot of dedication, mind-numbing work and faith that it was all going to work out. That was the most important thing I learned -- faith. For some, success comes very quickly and at a young age, but for most, it takes patience and perseverance. I was fortunate to win a position in the New World Symphony as my second year of graduate work came to a close. This was the first time I really got to feel the exhilaration of my hard work paying off at an audition.
I spent four years in Miami playing with the New World Symphony, working closely with Michael Tilson Thomas, who thoroughly enjoys being an inspiration on the podium. I felt like I was finally in a place where I had to bring my best playing and efforts to the stage everyday instead of once or twice a week. That was a challenge I enjoyed immensely and something I had to get used to for the future. Since the musicians' time in NWS is limited to just three or four years, you really feel like your back is against the wall to win a job before your time there is up. So I was faced with figuring out how to tailor my playing in such a way as to convince a screened jury that I was the right person for the job. Most orchestra auditions will have anywhere from thirty to one hundred talented players show up for one position and it is tough to make yourself stand out. After a lot of traveling, nationally and internationally, to and from twelve auditions and coming close on a number of occasions, things finally worked out in my favor. I am now living in Stockholm, playing in the Orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera, and feeling fortunate that I am able to make a living doing what I love.
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Get to know the CYSO Board
Delano O'Banion
Telecommunications and Multimedia Specialist
Marshall High School
Delano O'Banion is a retired Chicago Public School teacher and has been a board member since 1992. He was employed at Marshall Metro High School for 41 ½ years; his positions included chorale director. Human Relations coordinator, band director, and department chair. He presently serves at Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church (since 1977). He has received numerous awards for excellence in music, education, and community service.
He has served on the board of directors for the Chicago Music Alliance (1989-96), and now serves on the board of the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance, (2004-present), the John Work Chorale Inc. (1993- present) and on the board of trustees at Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church.
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