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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
May 2007
Dear Friends:
As we reflect on the glorious 60th Anniversary Season that has just concluded, I want to thank you, our parents, friends, students and concertgoers for all that YOU have done for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. This has been a year of joyful celebration and special events which ranged from unprecedented opportunities for our students such as: working with highly acclaimed composers, Michael Daugherty and Mark-Anthony Turnage; collaboration with Maestro Paul Freeman and the Chicago Sinfonietta; the grand re-opening the Chicago History Museum; speaking and performing at over 20 CYSO sponsored orchestra concerts including the unforgettable Gala Celebration that raised a record $200,000 for CYSO programs. Whether you were with us on a weekly basis for rehearsals, volunteered for a special event or were only able to catch the occasional concert, your participation has been integral to our success.
For the majority of the students in the Symphony Orchestra and a small group of CYSO family and friends, there is an exciting European Tour on the near horizon. We depart for Warsaw, Poland on June 13th and return via Wroclaw, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic and Leipzig, Germany on Sunday, June 24th. You will find an article in this newsletter from distinguished alum, Ben Peled, who toured with CYSO in 1997 and received his first opportunity to perform at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Ben is now a regular section member in the violin section of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. His article resonates with us deeply as we prepare for this tour because our hope is that membership in CYSO will help students accomplish their dreams. Whether that dream is to play in a professional orchestra, or pursue another path, the goal is to support the development of all of our talented, hard-working young people.
On that note, don't forget to join us for the special send-off concert at Millennium Park on June 4 at 6:30 pm! Happy Summer!
Sincerely,
Holly Hudak
Executive Director
In this issue
European Tour Concert Schedule
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Allen Tinkham, conductor
June 13 - 24, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Concert Hall of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music
Warsaw, Poland
Monday, June 18, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Filharmonia
Wroclaw, Poland
Thursday, June 21. 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Smetena Hall
Prague, Czech Republic
Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
Gewandhaus
Leipzig, Germany
Check out the CYSO Tour Blog!
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Millennium Park Concert
Celebrate the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras' 60th Anniversary Season as it prepares to embark on its highly anticipated European Tour. Enjoy Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis , Barber's Second Essay, as well as works by Beethoven and contemporary composer Michael Daugherty.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Millennium Park
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
FREE CONCERT-No Tickets Required
See the Millennium Park Schedule
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Alumni News
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Ben Peled, violin
Alumni Class of 1999
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
Looking back ten years later, the CYSO European Tour of 1997 was a summer of firsts for me. It was my first time going on tour with an orchestra. The tour stopped in Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, London, Hamburg, and culminated in Amsterdam with a performance at the Concertgebouw. Even at a young high school age, almost all members of our orchestra realized the distinction of the Concertgebouw as one of the most important, historic and famous concert halls in the world. Needless to say, we had all circled the date of our performance in Amsterdam, and were eagerly anticipating our arrival in The Netherlands. The main work on the program, as many of us remember, was Tchaikovsky's Symphony #4. I can still remember the excitement of walking onto the stage and taking in the view of the beautiful and unique sophistication of the hall itself. Little did I know that this would only be the first of countless performances in the Concertgebouw.
Fast forward nine-and-a-half years to January of this year, where I find myself already four months into a position as a regular member in the first violin section of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, a dream come true in its own right. On the program for an early January week was none other than Tchaikovsky's Fourth. Obviously, the memories of CYSO returned, and the irony of the situation became a beautiful thing. I felt as though I had completed some kind of circle returning to the piece I performed in the hall when I was a 15-year old student visiting with a youth orchestra, and now performing it as a member of the world-famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in their regular home. Just to mention, I had no other opportunities to play Tchaikovsky's Fourth in between the CYSO performance and the recent RCO performance.
As I already mentioned, winning a position in this orchestra was a dream come true; for the fact that I have always wanted to land a job in a high-level orchestra. This desire without a doubt contains its roots in the CYSO. Again, looking back, I realize that I learned so much and was able to really develop many skills as a musician from my time playing in the CYSO. Playing together with so many great peers, working with inspiring conductors such as Dan Hege and Rossen Milanov, and getting coached by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra taught me how meaningful playing symphonic music at a high level can be. When I began preparing my part for the RCO performance of the Tchaikovsky Symphony this year, I was astonished to see how much I had retained from the performance with the CYSO ten years before. I genuinely hope that today's members of the CYSO will also find their experiences as meaningful as mine have been. Thank you so much CYSO!!
For more alumni news
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Congratulations CYSO Seniors of 2007
Bowdoin College
Aaron Wolf-Undecided
Butler University
Emma Strohbusch-Viola Performance
Carnegie Mellon
Rachel Ordaz-Flute Performance
Carthage College
Jonathan Laxton-Trombone Performance
Cleveland Institute of Music
Nicholas Lash-Viola Performance
Scott Bakshis-Bass Performance
DePaul University
Jennifer Shiplet-Percussion Performance
Catherine Crilly-Violin Performance
Mike Frigo-Cello Performance
Eastman School of Music
Trevor Mowry-Oboe Performance
Jonathan Ulanday-Clarinet Performance
Rachel Greene-Bassoon Performance
Michelle Mammoser-Horn Performance
Harper College
Greg Nielsen-Oboe Performance
Illinois State University
Valerie Melrose-Accounting
Illinois Wesleyan University
Janet Lyu-Violin Performance & Chemistry
Indiana University
Zachary Jakubiak-Horn Performance
Aaron Kibbler-Horn Performance
Amir Gray-Tuba Performance
David Schumm-Bass Performance
Manhattan School of Music
Alex Chin-Horn Performance
Mannes School of Music
Chris Sitton-Cello Performance
Nicholas Jozwiak-Jazz Performance
McGill University
Ian Barillas-McEntee-Oboe Performance
MIT
Andrew Sugaya-Biotech & Pre-Med
New England Conservatory of Music
Ashley Sachay-Violin Performance
New York University
Dan Point-Music Technology
Northern Illinois University
James Woods-Finance/Accounting
Northwestern University
Nelson Fitch-Horn Performance
Yoomin Ahn-Biological Sciences & Economics
Lauren Sirota-English
Ohio University
Aaron Stough-Environmental Health Science
Princeton University
Max Cuneo-Grant-Undecided
Michael Salazar-Undecided
Kelly Rouser-Biology & Physics
Roosevelt University
Christopher Ferrer-Cello Performance
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Ivo Bokulic-Viola Performance
Smith College
Sarah Izen-Viola Performance & Psychology
Stanford University
Kathryn Sullivan-Undecided
University of Illinois
Allison Martell-Music Education
Katrina Kral-Music Education & Trumpet Performance
Andrew Mariano-Biology
Jonathan Kite-Music Education & Bass Performance
University of Michigan
Rachel Blumenthal-Flute Performance
Joanna Hui-Violin Performance & Biology
Debbie Sherman-Undecided
University of Missouri
Gina Eygenhuysen-Journalism
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Amy Brooks-Business
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Amy Kohler-Horn Performance
Valparaiso University
Jeffrey Ragauskis-Education & Math
Wheaton College
Betsy Welander-Viola Performance & Business
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Student Awards
The Jean and Dorothy Mollendorf Award for Musical Excellence
Ashley Sachay
Ashley Sachay has been a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for 8 years. She started in the Concert Orchestra at age 10 and quickly advanced into the Symphony Orchestra. Since that time she has also played in the Chamber Music Program, Encore Chamber Orchestra and the 2005 Central European tour. In fall 2007 she will continue her violin studies as a Music Performance Major at the New England Conservatory of Music.
The Mollendorf Award is a $1,000 prize, given annually to a deserving CYSO graduating senior, to be applied to further musical study. It is given through an endowment fund bestowed to the CYSO by the late Jean Mollendorf, Founder and Past President of the CYSO Board of Directors.
The Music Director's Award
Andrew Sugaya
Andrew Sugaya has been a member of both the Symphony Orchestra and Encore Chamber Orchestra for 4 years. In addition to CYSO, Andrew also is president of his school's science and math teams, captain of the track team, co-captain of the fencing team and a member of the cross-country team. Andrew is also the co-founder of The Magicians Guild, a group that "obviously performs magic, but the underlying purpose is to spark joy into everyday life." With all of these activities, Andrew also excels in academics and will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) next fall.
The Music Director's Award is a $1,000 prize open to anyone who has been a member of the CYSO for at least two consecutive years. The prize recognizes the well-rounded and engaged approach to music, academics, and community. The award is meant to be used to help keep music a creative and joyful part of the recipient's life.
For more student news...
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Get To Know The CYSO Board
James M. Franklin
Chairman, Marketing and Technology Group, Inc. and Adjunct Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
Mr. Franklin is a CYSO alumni, playing the oboe in the Symphony Orchestra for three years (1958-61) -- soloing with the orchestra in the Fall 1960 concert with the Hadyn Oboe Concerto. He was asked to join the board 15 years ago and has seen the orchestras grow in numerous capacities since that time. Jim is also on the Board of the American Symphony Orchestra League, and occasionally still plays oboe and various other woodwinds in community orchestras and local semi-professional theatre productions.
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Upcoming Events
Millennium Park Concert
CYSO at Ravinia
Members of CYSO and My Morning Jacket at Lollapalooza
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