About Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia
Nearly 300 student musicians from throughout Hampton Roads create six performing ensembles to present concerts in the Tidewater area. Members of the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra have demonstrated a proficiency that will enable them to meet the demands of performing some of the world’s greatest and most challenging instrumental music. This orchestra studies only original scores. Two unique programs performed each year are the Concerto Concert and the Side-by-Side Virginia Symphony program. Concerto soloists are chosen from an audition held in November. Finalists perform with the orchestra in the spring. The Side-by-Side concert is an opportunity to rehearse and perform beside professional musicians, under the direction of the Virginia Symphony’s Resident Conductor.
The Bay Youth Concert Orchestra is composed of students, generally between the fourth and twelfth grades, who have demonstrated an advanced level of playing on their instrument. The group studies and performs masterworks for symphony and chamber orchestra.
The Bay Youth String Orchestra is composed of students who have progressed to the intermediate level of performance on their instrument, having mastered the basic skills level. This group studies string arrangements of the chamber and symphonic literature.
The Bay Youth Junior String Orchestra gives young musicians in grades two through seven who are beginning note readers opportunities to learn good rehearsal discipline, to develop rhythmic and note reading skills, and to gain an understanding of harmony in playing ensemble music.
The BYOV Concert Band, geared toward advanced middle school students through rising 9th graders, explores standard wind ensemble literature with emphasis on improving ensemble skills, tone quality, and technique and musicianship.
Members of the Bay Youth Wind Symphony perform some of the world’s greatest and most challenging wind ensemble repertoire. This ensemble is composed of high school musicians who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment and musicianship.
THE BAY YOUTH ORCHESTRAS OF VIRGINIA
was founded in September of 1991 by the staff of the former Tidewater Youth Orchestras. The Tidewater Youth Orchestras started in 1972 in response to an informal survey that identified Tidewater as the largest metropolitan area in the United States without such a program. The director of the Norfolk Symphony, Russell Stanger; a local businessman, Meier “Easy” Birshtein; and two public school teachers/Symphony members, Gregory Barnes and Linda Althoff, worked together to form the first youth orchestra in this area. They auditioned more than 200 high school musicians at Northside Junior High School. C. Sidney Berg was chosen to be the first conductor. Many fine musicians and educators have worked with BYOV through the years as administrators, board members, conductors, guest artists, coaches, and volunteers. Former conductors include Jorge Aguirre, Beth Argiro, Doug Earlenbaugh, Martin Glasco, J. Aaron Hardwick, Dr. Jean Montès, Christina Morton, Todd Parrish, Leslie Stewart, and Dennis Zeisler. BYOV’s first international tour orchestra performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2006; Ms. Stewart, Mr. Barnes, and Wes Kenney were conductors. Helen Martell and Mr. Parrish conducted the tour orchestra at the Haydn 200-year celebration in Vienna, Austria, in June 2009, where it had the honor of performing at the Konzerthaus of the Vienna Philharmonic. Mrs. Martell conducted BYOV tour orchestras in Germany and the Czech Republic in 2015 and in Ireland in 2018. BYOV celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012 with a commission from renowned composer James Hosay, BYOV alumnus. In 2019, Mr. Parrish was commissioned to write a composition in honor of Christina Morton’s 25th Anniversary with BYOV. BYOV opened its 50th Anniversary Season in August 2022 with an Alumni Concert led by founding conductors Gregory Barnes and Linda Althoff, former conductors Leslie Stewart and Dr. Jean Montès, and Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Helen Martell. For the 50th Anniversary Season Finale the Concert Band Director, Michael Oare, composed a piece for the Concert Band, “Ebullient Energy.”
TCSYO and BYOV present
Bay Youth String Orchestra
Mr. Brad Shedd, Conductor
To Tame the Raging Rapids
Adagio Cantabile (from Pathetique Sonata)
Brian Balmages (b. 1952)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
arr. Gruselle
TCSYO String Ensemble
Mrs. Diana Chou, conductor
Pride of the Highlands
Orange Jam
Katie O’Hara LaBrie (b. 1982)
Jeffrey S. Bishop
Combined Orchestra
Mrs. Diana Chou & Ms. Jennifer Scott, conductors
Tanzun (Dancing)
North Star to Freedom
Johann Ernst Galliard (1687-1749)
arr Fishburn & Luman
Soon Hee Newbold (b 1974)
String Ensemble
VIOLIN I
John Kerr, concertmaster
Adam Benbarka
Olivia Brelsford
Sammy Busen
Ivie Ebeigbe
Ethan Estrada
Jihan Kim
James O’Connor
Muhammad Sadaan
Anais Sulaiman
Jyothi Thotakura
Ava Vasquez
Elise Yang Ravenhill
Samuel Zhang
VIOLIN II
Emma Tran, principal
Aishani Banerjee
Aishik Banerjee
Emma Chen
Tristan Cooksey
Kate Gainer
Hannah Goudarzi
Sahana Gowrishankar
Amanda Hovis
Tyler Mauck
Avery Sellers
Sharon Thornton
Ellie Yoon
VIOLA
Era Inglis-Nela, principal
Maria Andrathy
Christina Bethke
Benicio Parkins
Effy Zhou
CELLO
Kassandra Owens, principal
Alexander Bethke
Kendrick Chow
Taran Heron
Thandi Labor
Eliot Lee
Jasper Majeed-Hall
Katelyn Orellana
Kip Rockmann
Hope Sun
BASS
Emily Yi, principal
Brian Balmages (b. 1952)
Brian Balmages is known worldwide as a composer and conductor who equally spans the worlds of orchestral, band, and chamber music. His music has been performed by groups ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary schools in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, Toronto Centre for the Arts, and many more. He is a recipient of the A. Austin Harding Award from the
American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D Revelli Composition Contest with his work Love and Light, and was awarded the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts. In the same year, he was commissioned by his other alma mater, the University of Miami, to compose music for the inauguration of the institution’s 6th president, Dr Julio Frenk His music was also performed as part of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, which was attended by both President Obama and Vice President Biden.
About To Tame the Raging Rapids: “Mankind has constantly been fascinated, tempted, and humbled by the magnificent forces of nature. This work stems from my personal love of adventure and my recent intrigue with outdoor activities such as rock climbing. One amazing area to climb is located in Great Falls, a location just out side of Washington, D C that forms the border between Maryland and Virginia I was reminded of a friend who accidentally fell into the water and nearly lost his life. Fortunately, he was eventually rescued by a kayaker further down the river. This work portrays the beauty of these rivers, yet, cautions us as we tackle some of nature’s greatest and most ferocious elements. It is a reminder that we must be extremely careful when seeking to tame the untamable ”
-Notes by composer
As one of history’s most famous composers, Beethoven’s body of work encompasses nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, an opera, and a multitude of other genres including a large opus of chamber music. The Adagio cantabile is the second movement of his famous eighth piano sonata, titled Pathétique At the time of its composition and publication, Beethoven began suffering the loss of his hearing and the Pathétique
reflects the introspection and emotional turmoil Beethoven was experiencing during this period. After a tumultuous and tense first movement in C-minor, the Adagio cantabile shifts the tonal center to Ab-major and brings a calm, beautiful lyrical melody supported by ever richer harmonies. Its momentum is carried forward by a repeated triplet rhythm Gruselle’s arrangement for string orchestra masterfully captures the essence of Beethoven’s music through sustained bows and a focus of tone production.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Composer-in-residence
TCSYO is excited and honored to be collaborating with conductor, cellist, clinician, and composer-in-residence, Mrs. Katie LaBrie.
An educator at heart, Mrs. LaBrie spent the first 15 years of her career teaching orchestra in Fairfax County, VA In her capacity as an orchestra director she enjoyed creating a variety of fulfilling experiences for her students, from Fiddle Days to Rock Shows, Summer Camps to Trips around the East Coast, performances at the Virginia State Music Educators Conference and in collaboration with the Detmold Jugendorchester of Detmold, Germany. In 2022, she was honored as one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40,” for her action, courage, creativity, and commitment to growth in the music education field.
Mrs LaBrie holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St Olaf College and a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. Her primary conducting teachers include Anthony Maiello, Steven Amundson & Timothy Mahr, as well as David Carter on cello.
In addition to her love of teaching Mrs LaBrie is a published composer and arranger, and is the editor for the Orchestra Division of Randall Standridge Music Publications. As a composer, Mrs. LaBrie enjoys creating new music with the goal of being educationally sound, pleasing to audiences, and above all, fun for the players. She finds inspiration from many sources, including family and nature, but primarily draws from her students and her own experiences as a music educator Her compositions have received many accolades, including frequent selection as J.W. Pepper Editor’s Choice, as well as performances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic and at the American String Teachers Association National Conference.
Mrs. LaBrie is a member of NAFME, ASTA, and ASCAP. She is an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. She has presented clinics on: New Music (VMEA 2015, VA DoE 2019), "Practicing with Purpose: What's the Big IDEA?" (FCPS 2017, VMEA 2017, ASTA 2021, NCMEA 2022 Midwest 2022), and “How to Win Rehearsals & Influence Students” (ASTA 2022, MMEA 2022, NCMEA 2022, VBODA 2022).
Mrs LaBrie is the founding conductor of the Fairfax Chamber Players and the cocreator of "the Big I.D.E.A." practice method (www.PracticeWithPurpose.net). She lives in Fairfax with her husband Joe who is a middle school band director, and their eight year-old budding musician, Liam.
More information can be found on Mrs LaBrie’s website: https://www.katieoharalabrie.com/
Katie O’Hara LaBrie (b. 1982)
“Dr. Jeffrey S. Bishop isamusic educator,composer, and conductorfrom Kansas City,Kansas Jeffrey’s compositionsforstringorchestra, full orchestra,concert band,and choir havebeencommissioned and performed intheUnited States, Mexico, and throughoutEurope.”
“Jeffrey hasappearedasaconductor/clinician for regional and stateorchestrasin Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Oregon,andSouthCarolina.His conducting style is markedbyattentiontodetail, a strong sense ofhumor,and the realization thatevery ensemblehas differentchallenges andstrengths.Hebelieves thatevery ensemble is capableofreaching their ultimate potentialthroughhardwork, dedication, and practice!“
-Neil A Kjos Music Company Jeffrey Bishop. https://kjos.com/person/view?id=709
About Orange Jam: Witha tempo marking of “Groove thang”, Bishop’s Orange Jam isenergeticandfunto play asitimitates a rockband - the piece opens with a glissandoeffectreminiscentofa guitar slide.The piece is rhythmically punchy and setin Gminor, givingitadramatic,grungy feelas the different sections of the orchestraimitateguitar riffs.Rockon!
Jeffrey S. Bishop
Hee Newbold was born in Korea, and spent ldhood in Maryland. She began studying at age five and violin at age seven. She has many prestigious competitions and has med throughout the world in venues such as gie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Aspen, and Tanglewood. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University, where she studied film scoring, orchestration, and audio production. Upon graduation, Newbold began working as a professional musician, contractor, and stage manager. She has written and arranged works for albums, recording projects, and various performing ensembles. Soon Hee Newbold currently works in Southern California with her husband. She is involved in many film, television, and commercial projects as a producer, actress, and composer. Her compositions can be heard around the world in film, orchestras, and other performing groups.”
--Lucks Music Publishing. Soon Hee Newbold. https://www.lucksmusic.com/Content.aspx?c=66
About North Star to Freedom: The piece is based on the journey through the Underground Railroad and the way African Americans used the night sky to guide them to freedom. Slaves in the South followed the North Star to various safe houses and stops to reach the North for their freedom. Many would journey as far as Canada, where they were safe from being forced back to the South. Traditional songs like Follow the Drinking Gourd and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot were codes and instructions for fleeing slaves. The journeys were treacherous paths between stops, inadequate clothing and food, and spies and bounty hunters who returned slaves to the South.
Opening with a solemn chorale, themes in the cello and bass soon take on the character of traditional spirituals. As the piece moves into a lively allegro section, the music becomes much more dramatic, depicting the excitement, nervousness, and extreme courage displayed by those who were able to escape to freedom. Enjoy this inspirational selection!
~Jennifer Scott, conductor
Soon Hee Newbold (b. 1974)
Conductor
Mr. Brad Shedd
Brad Shedd is the String Orchestra and Junior String Orchestra Conductor. He served as the Assistant Conductor for both orchestras from 2011-2023. He is the Executive Pastor at Harvest Assembly Church and an adjunct professor at Regent University. In addition, he maintains a studio of private students, teaching violin, viola, guitar, and piano.
He has a huge heart for young musicians, beginning with his own experience playing in the Springfield (MO) Youth Symphony, serving as concertmaster and a concerto competition winner. In addition, he maintains a studio of private students, teaching violin, viola, guitar, and piano. He has a huge heart for young musicians, beginning with his own experience playing in the Springfield (MO) Youth Symphony, serving as concertmaster and a concerto competition winner. He received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and Music Education at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, graduating summa cum laude. While there, he traveled with CCM’s Symphony Orchestra to London and Paris.
Mr. Shedd completed his Master of Divinity from Regent University’s School of Divinity, graduating with highest honors. Mr. Shedd taught strings for six years in the public schools two years in Cincinnati, and four years in Chesapeake, including two years as director of the Great Bridge High School Orchestra program.
Mr. Shedd has many private students participating in BYOV, and all eight of his children have participated in Bay Youth.
Mrs. Diana Chou
Diana Chou is a talented and engaging music educator, conductor, and cellist. She is currently the Artistic Director of The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras, as well Conductor for the Chamber Orchestra and
String Ensemble. Mrs. Chou began her tenure with TCSYO in 2017 as the Prelude Orchestra Conductor; under her leadership, the program grew rapidly and String Ensemble was formed in the fall of 2019.
Mrs. Chou has been a devoted music educator since 2008, and has taught for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) since 2013. She currently teaches orchestra at Sangster and White Oaks Elementary Schools and has organized many student performance events for her pyramid including Strings Extravaganza, Solo Spotlight, and Area Orchestra. She has been a mentor to many first year orchestra teachers and has hosted several student teachers from JMU and GMU. Mrs. Chou has also helped to develop FCPS and Virginia Department of Education Curriculum projects. She is an active freelance cellist in the Washington D.C. area and is a founding member of the Maestra Ensemble. She has performed concerti with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Chamber Players, and Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Chou was the associate conductor of the Fairfax Chamber Players from 2017-2019, coordinating concerts and the annual Concerto Competition.
Before moving to Virginia, she taught middle and elementary school orchestra for the Ithaca City School District. She served as Vice President of the Seneca Tompkins Music Educators Association from 2009-2013, and was the Chairperson for Area All State and All County festivals. Mrs. Chou was the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ithaca Community Orchestra from 2011 to 2013. In 2013 she was named a Music Educator Grammy Award Quarter Finalist. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, and Master of Music in Conducting from Houghton University.
Music Director & Conductor
Artistic
Conductor
Ms. Jennifer Scott
Jennifer Scott, String and Junior String Orchestra Assistant Conductor, joins BYOV this season. She is a native of Richmond, Virginia, where she began her violin studies at an early age. Ms. Scott holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Old Dominion University.
She has taught successful strings programs in several Norfolk Public Schools and currently teaches strings to 4th-8th grade students at the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood. Additionally, conducted AllCity Orchestras in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Newport News, and served as a guest conductor and adjudicator in the district and District VIII Orchestra Assessments. Ms. Scott is one of the main harp directors for the Norfolk Public School and Academy of Music’s “Harps on Fire” program. Through the years, she’s won several awards for her teaching, including being named the 2011 Music Teacher of the Year from Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia and Teacher of the Year at Blair Middle School in 2014.
At her studio, Sound Waves of Hampton Roads Fine Arts Academy, she currently teaches private lessons in violin, viola, beginning cello, bass, and piano and is the Executive Coordinator for the Norfolk Summer Strings Fever Camp.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 2023-24
Ad Fontes Academy ♪ Battlefield High School ♪ Bonnie Brae Elementary School ♪ Bull Run Elementary School ♪ Canterbury Woods Elementary School ♪ Cardinal Forest Elementary School ♪ Centreville Elementary School
♪ Centreville High School ♪ Chantilly High School ♪ Cherry Run
Elementary School ♪ Churchill Road Elementary School ♪ Clearview Elementary School ♪ Colgan High School ♪ Colin L. Powell Elementary School ♪ Cooper Middle School ♪ Cornerstone Christian Academy ♪
Courthouse Road Elementary School ♪ Courtland High School ♪ Daniels Run Elementary School ♪ Discovery Elementary School ♪ Dorothy Ham Middle School ♪ Edison High School ♪ Fairfax High School ♪ Fairview Elementary School ♪ Falls Church High School ♪ Flint Hill Elementary School ♪ Franklin Middle School ♪ Freedom High School ♪ Frost Middle School ♪ Gainesville High School ♪ Greenbriar West Elementary School ♪
H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program ♪ Hayfield Secondary School ♪ Herndon High School ♪ Hunters Woods Elementary School ♪ Irving Middle School ♪
James Madison High School ♪ John Champe High School ♪ Katherine Johnson Middle School ♪ Keene Mill Elementary School ♪ Kilmer Middle School ♪ Kings Glen Elementary School ♪ Lake Braddock Secondary School
♪ Lake Ridge Middle School ♪ Langley High School ♪ Laurel Ridge Elementary School ♪ Lees Corner Elementary School ♪ Liberty Middle School ♪ Longfellow Middle School ♪ Luther Jackson Middle School ♪ Madison High School ♪ Mantua Elementary School ♪ Marshall High School ♪ Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School ♪ McLean High School ♪
Meadowland Elementary School ♪ Mercer Middle School ♪ Meridian High School ♪ Mosaic Elementary School ♪ Navy Elementary School ♪ Nysmith School ♪ Oak Hill Elementary School ♪ Oak View Elementary School ♪ Oakcrest School ♪ Oakton Elementary School ♪ Oakton High School ♪ Orange Hunt Elementary School ♪ Osbourn Park High School ♪ Poplar Tree Elementary School ♪ Potomac Falls High School ♪ Rachel Carson Middle School ♪ Robinson Secondary School ♪ Rockville High School ♪ Rocky Run Middle School ♪ Rolling Valley Elementary School ♪ Saint John Paul the Great High School ♪ Sangster Elementary School ♪ South County High School ♪ South Lakes High School ♪ Spring Hill Elementary School ♪ St Anthony of Padua ♪ St. Leo the Great Catholic School ♪ St. Louis Catholic School ♪ St. Mark Catholic School ♪ Stone Hill Middle School ♪ Sunrise Valley Elementary School ♪ Swanson Middle School ♪ Terra Centre Elementary School ♪ The Heights School ♪ The Potomac School ♪ Thomas Jefferson Middle School ♪ Thoreau Middle School ♪ TJHSST ♪ W. T. Woodson High School ♪ Wakefield High School ♪ Waples Mill Elementary School ♪ West Springfield High School ♪ Westbriar Elementary School ♪
Westfield High School ♪ White Oaks Elementary School ♪ Wittenberg Academy ♪ Wolftrap Elementary School
A special thank you to our:
Lee Anne Bache
Board of Directors
Cheri Collins
Sarah Geiger
Claire Allen
Lara Buchko
Hillary Ford
Gerald Fowkes
Michael Czucor
Jonathan Lund
Operational Staff
Barbara Dobberstein
Beverly Gowins
Catharina Meyers
SectionalCoaches
Danita Grundvig
Austin Johnson
Laura Kobayashi
Joshua Kowalsky
Harold Levin
Stephen Matthie
Brian Morton
Larry Oates
Thankyoutoouradsupporters
Eastman School of Music
Foxes Music
Hannah Price
Dereck Scott
Anna Sengstack
Holly Taylor
George Mason University Dewberry School of Music
Houghton University Greatbatch School of Music
Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
James Madison University School of Music
Manassas Symphony Orchestra
NOVEC
Shenandoah Conservatory
Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music
Donors
John Morris Alford
Jennifer Goeglein
David & Hanh Michael
John & Robbin Miranda
Lawrence & Courtnay Waite
ThankyoutothefollowingKJMSteachers:
Charlie Burts
Kelly Harbison
Anna Sengstack
Gregory Stowers
P O Box 10897 P O Box 10897 Norfolk, VA 23513 Norfolk, VA 23513 ((757) 618-1800 757) 618-1800 bayyouth.org bayyouth org