The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras

String Ensemble Chamber Orchestra
Percussion Ensemble Symphonic Orchestra
May 11, 2024
3:30pm
Schlesinger Performing Arts Center
String Ensemble Chamber Orchestra
Percussion Ensemble Symphonic Orchestra
May 11, 2024
3:30pm
Schlesinger Performing Arts Center
Dear TCSYO Families, Friends, and Supporters:
I am so proud of our students. They’ve worked very hard this season, and have grown as musicians- both individually and in their ensembles. Today we come together to feature all five orchestras and our percussion ensemble- we hope you enjoy getting to see the full range of our program. We will also be honoring our seniors today! Thank you for your hard work, leadership, and dedication.
We are looking forward to hearing your students at auditions, and working with them at summer camp. Thank you for your continued support and attendance today - enjoy the performance!
Sincerely,
Diana ChouJune 7-8, 2024: 2024-2025 Auditions
Symphonic and Chamber Orchestra will audition in-person. String Ensemble, Concert, and Prelude will submit video auditions. Check our website for more infomation! https://www.tcsyo.org/auditions
June 24-28: Summer Camp
Grace Presbyterian Church, Springfield. 8:30am-12:30pm. A week-long, half-day camp where students rehearse with their peers. Concert performance on Friday, June 28 at 11:30am.
September 9: 2024-25 Season Begins!
Add our calendar (www.tcsyo.org/calendar.php) to stay up to date on TCSYO events:
The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras (TCSYO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 2010, TCSYO’s founders Dr. Cheri Collins and her husband, Mr. Michael Czuczor, organized a two-week long strings summer camp which has since grown into our current organization. Our orchestral program includes five orchestras from beginner to advanced levels and offers a place for all young musicians who want to play in an ensemble setting with other young musicians from around the DMV region.
In addition to our orchestras, TCSYO also features a growing chamber music program which focuses on music composed for small ensemble playing (i.e., string quartets). Percussionists in Symphonic Orchestra receive additional training and performance opportunities as members of the Percussion Ensemble. Symphonic Orchestra members are also eligible to participate in our annual Concerto Competition.
Prelude Orchestra (Mrs. Diana Chou, conductor) is TCSYO's entrylevel string orchestra designed for students who have had limited orchestral experience. This ensemble focuses on building solid, fundamental orchestral skills such as listening and also focuses on improving sight-reading and rhythmic abilities. Recommended for students with 1-2 years of private instruction, VBODA Level 2/Suzuki Book 1-2.
Concert Orchestra (Mr. Austin Isaac, conductor) continues expanding on the skills introduced in Prelude Orchestra as the music becomes more challenging. Orchestra members explore all sorts of musical expressions and continue to hone rehearsal skills and ensemble playing techniques. Recommended for students with 2-3 years of private instruction, VBODA Level 3/Suzuki Book 2-3.
String Ensemble (Mrs. Diana Chou, conductor) continues pushing young musicians towards a higher level of stylistic expression as the music becomes more technical and challenging. Listening and ensemble skills as well as attention to musical details become the main focus as students dive into what it means to create the orchestral sound. Recommended for students with 3-4 years of private instruction, VBODA Level 4/Suzuki Book 3-4.
Chamber Orchestra (Mr. Austin Isaac, conductor) introduces young musicians to the masterpieces of the string orchestra repertoire from the Baroque era to current day. Chamber Orchestra focuses heavily on utilizing listening skills across sections to create the blend and balance in the orchestral sound. Students explore various styles of music as they are challenged to a more detailed oriented and mature level of music making. A variety of bowing techniques and historical styles are introduced. Advanced control of rubato, phrasing, and musicality are implemented as musicians focus on preparing for advancement to Symphonic Orchestra. Recommended for students with 4+ years of private instruction, VBODA Level 5-6/Suzuki Book 5+.
Symphonic Orchestra (Mrs. Anne Rupert, conductor), TCSYO’s most advanced orchestra, is composed of some of the best young musicians in the DMV region. Symphonic Orchestra introduces woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections and is dedicated to performing the greatest and most challenging works in the symphonic repertoire. Students are expected to show strong musicality, advanced technical skills on their instruments, and the discipline necessary to perform at an advanced level. Students will have regular sectional rehearsals with professional coaches who are among the finest performers and teachers in the area. Rehearsals are carried out with high expectations and students are expected to carry themselves in a professional manner. Recommended for students with 6+ years of private instruction, VBODA Level 6.
Jacob Harpster, Director of Percussion
Raggedy Ragtime Rags
Sylvia Danner
Joseph Stafford
Leroy Napier arr. Gert Bomhof
Bailey Pavitt-Graff Immanuel Sun
Prelude Orchestra
Mrs. Diana Chou, Conductor
Crossing Pirate’s Cove
Dance of the Harlequins
El Toro
Deborah Baker Monday (b. 1953)
Larry Clark (b. 1963)
Don Brubaker
Concert Orchestra
Mr. Austin Isaac, Conductor
Russian Sailors’ Dance
Appalachian Sunrise
Jazz Rhythmico
Reinhold Glière (1875-1956) arr. Michael Story
Doris Gazda (b. 1935)
Kirt Mosier (b. 1962)
Mrs. Diana Chou, Conductor
Folk Tune Air and Fiddler’s Fury
I. Folk Tune Air
II. Fiddler’s Fury
Alex Safford
Maharaja Doug Spata (b. 1975)
Chamber Orchestra
Mr. Austin Isaac, Conductor
Petite Suite “Beautiful Flowers”
I. Prologue: “Blooming”
Westridge Overture
America’s Cup
Yukiko Nishimura (b. 1967)
Richard Meyer (b. 1957)
Alan Lee Silva
Symphonic Orchestra
Mrs. Anne Rupert, Principal Conductor
Fanfare Prelude to Libusa Overture
William Tell Overture
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
arr. Charles Decker
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Cello Concerto in D minor
I. Prelude: Lento-Allegro Maestoso Édouard Lalo (1823-1892)
Concerto Competition Winner: Christine Hwang, cello
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor, S. 359 Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Daniel Cooper, concertmaster
Grace Cuthbertson
Sebastian Morris-Fernandez
Cleo Perlstein
Lucia Petrides
Emi Rongero
Ashlyn Smith
Andrew Zhang
Ashley Zhou, principal
Gordon Cao
Kiele Canales
Ava Enriquez
Tzipora Grunert
Violet Lanphere
Emma Moussavi
Theodore Romanov
Eva Wang
Cedric Chantemsin, principal
Anna Coen
Penelope Huh
Gaby Nergui
Lillian Park
Tara Avramovic, principal
Maddie Bongard
Allison Choi
Yuna Choi
Penelope Lanphere
Michael Smith
Jacqueline Taylor
Ellis Wensel
BASS
Craig Stein, principal
HARP
Artemisia Hashemi, principal
Oliver Zhang, concertmaster
Karina Bathrick
Emma Blythe
Audrey Bohlin
Ellie Chen
Amelia-Kate Holbert
Brianna Le
Stella Moussavi
Nicholas Wang
Xinliang Wang
Griffin Jones, principal
Jace Choi
John Coen
Caroline Cronin
Eilin Feng
Laily Hatami
Ashlyn Saji
Xinming Wang
Grace Wegner
Ansel Withrow
Calvert Klarevas, principal
Ethan Cassell
Lydia Danielsen
Kenneth Kong
Harrison Smith
Roma Joshi, principal
Isabelle Armijos
Elias Alotaibi
Soren Kihm
Elizabeth Lee
Natanyah Meyer
Elliot Moussavi
Kylie Nash
Luis Dariel Santiago Atilano
Constantine Tang BASS
Sruthi Akiri, principal
Troy Howard
Michael Rossi
Quinn Tran-Reisman
Tristan Cooksey, concertmaster
Adam Benbarka
Olivia Brelsford
Emma Chen
Kate Gainer
Hannah Goudarzi
Sahana Gowrishankar
John Kerr
Tyler Mauck
James O’Connor
Avery Sellers
Emma Tran
Samuel Zhang
Muhammad Sadaan, principal
Aishani Banerjee
Aishik Banerjee
Sammy Busen
Ivie Ebeigbe
Ethan Estrada
Amanda Hovis
Jihan Kim
Jyothi Thotakura
Elise Yang Ravenhill
Anais Sulaiman
Ava Vasquez
Sharon Thornton
Ellie Yoon
Era Inglis-Nela, principal
Maria Andrathy
Christina Bethke
Benicio Parkins
Effy Zhou
Jasper Majeed-Hall, principal
Alexander Bethke
Kendrick Chow
Taran Heron
Thandi Labor
Eliot Lee
Katelyn Orellana
Kassandra Owens
Kip Rockmann
Hope Sun
Emily Yi, principal
Bora Yoon, principal
Sophie Adolphs
Emmett Aiken
Benjamina Bolger
Ruby Jarvis
Grace Kim
Margaret Kisner
Sydney Nickerson
Simone Ng
Gabrielle Nguyen
Sarah Roelke
Santiago Talbot
Emily Zhou
Talia Koubayati, principal
Alexandra Deacu
Eunhye Gray
Alyssa Hovis
Jua Kim
Nathalie Kowalsky
Sagan Krezel
Gautam Murthi
Emily Pan
Aurelia Scogna
Kunwoo Yoon
Maya Smith, principal
Miya Crosby
Sophie Decu
Jack Shield, principal
Jaxon Chan
Jason Cook
Shirlee Halstead
Colin Ko
Sophia Martinez
Alexander Misleh
Emelyn Royster
Andy Ye
Jeremiah Yeh
Kai MacQuarrie, principal
Benjamin Bethke
Ram Chaganti
Ramona Ban, concertmaster
Yewon Ahn
Cameron Chan
Alyssa Chen
Erin Choi
Eli Ethington
Eva Florio
Ashlee Halstead
Ryan Hong
Claire Kim
Leanna Leung
Mira Nair
Christopher Sung
Alanis Tiea
Matthew Webb
Sean Wittmer
Ivy Xu
Kerala Ryan, principal
Coco Ahn
Adriana Bartoe
James Braxton
Miya Grimard
Caelan Heron
Josephine Koh
Seolhee Park
Willie Straker
Beth Williams
James Chung, principal
Piper Anderson
Joanna Douthwaite
Zoya Ghantiwala
DJ Halstead
Mackenzie Hayden
Bill Huang
Emily Kim
Celina Liu
Amelia McCrann
Claire Moon
Madison Moon
Sarah Park
Alara Reza
Isaiah Royal
Owen Shen
Ethan Yoon
Christine Hwang, principal
Isabelle An
William Choi
Andrew Halstead
Emma Howard
Kate Johnson
Lillian Kwon
Olivia Michael
Joon Woo Suk
Jack Whiting
Daniel Foote, principal
Ben Bailey
Reed Clifton
Srimaye Peddinti
Wylie Poist
Diego Tablett, principal
Luke Bradley
Maya Moses, principal
Luke Sun
Andy Zhang, principal
Franco Abud
Gabi Konde
AJ Cotto-Rivera, principal
Alex Childs, principal
Noah Roberts
Juniper Jones
Alexander Romanov, principal
Arda Alpan
Ruku Day
Miriam Jesse
Donovan Chong, principal
Jack Trafton, principal
Bailey Pavitt-Graff, principal
Sylvia Danner
Joseph Stafford
Immanuel Sun
Marlena Lambrecht, principal
Christine, a senior at South County High School, has a passion for performing and music. She started playing the piano at a young age but transitioned to the cello in sixth grade, where she began taking lessons with Mrs. Rupert. Joining TCSYO in eighth grade under the guidance of Dr. Collins, she has since been a member of the Symphonic Orchestra. Christine's musical journey includes successful auditions for Districts, Regionals, and All-State Orchestras, and attending the Virginia Governor's School for the Arts in the summer of 2022. In the South County HS Chamber Orchestra, directed by Ms. Swift, Christine is a principal cellist who has participated in VMEA and performed in smaller chamber ensembles with her peers. Looking ahead, Christine is set to embark on a new chapter at William and Mary, where she will study data science. She plans to continue her musical pursuits by joining the college’s symphony orchestra and chamber ensembles in the coming fall. Christine would like to thank TCSYO’s wonderful staff, Mrs. Rupert, Dr. Eunice Lee, Mr. Marion Baker, Ms. Swift and the South County Orchestra program, and her family for all of their support in her musical education.
Ms. Monday is an active clinician and a leading composer in the repertoire for young string players. Her education includes a B M E Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University and a M.M. in Composition from University of Alabama where she was a bassist with the Meridian Symphony and the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra. Her studies continued at Louisiana State University where she began working on her D M A in Composition while teaching grades 4 through 12. After moving to Utah, Ms. Monday continued to actively perform on bass; once she received her doctorate, she was hired in the Logan City District as a low string specialist where she taught for 25 years During her tenure in Logan City, she composed and arranged over 135 works, many of which are performed regularly at festivals and concerts.
About Crossing Pirate’s Cove: Composed for the first year string player in mind, this piece paints a picture of adventure in the sea. The piece, written in D minor, uses the minor mode and a repeated rhythmic pattern ( ) to create drama and tension between the different sections of the orchestra. The piece is divided into three sections - the first section passes staccato melody passages between the different instruments followed by a short, legato middle interlude that then connects the music back to the ideas from the first section.
re was a very influential Russian composer during Russian Empire’s transition into the Soviet Union. ike his contemporaries Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, re stayed in Russia and achieved a high status in the et musical world largely due to his nationalistic style. 914, he was appointed director of the Kiev Conservaand later in 1920, became a professor at the Moscow servatory where he trained two generations of composers, including Khachaturian, Miaskovsky, and Prokofiev. Glière’s compositional output was prolific; some of his most notable works include the ballet The Bronze Horseman (Medny vsadnik), his Symphony No 3 (Ilya Muromets), and perhaps his best known ballet, The Red Poppy (Krasny mak).
About Russian Sailor’s Dance: Featured at the end of the first act of The Red Poppy, the melody of Russian Sailor’s Dance is an arrangement of the Russian folk song Yablochko (little apple). This arrangement by Michael Story captures the nationalism of Glière’s compositional style. After a rhythmically charged opening passage from the orchestra, the basses and cellos introduce the main theme of the dance As the piece progresses, the theme is passed to different sections of the orchestra; with each iteration of the theme, accelerandos build up the drama and eventually brings the piece to its dynamic end.
Ms. Gazda taught as a string specialist for many years in the public schools of Montgomery County, MD. She founded and conducted the Frederick County Youth Orchestra and conducted both the Potomac Valley Youth and the Frederick Community Orchestra. She is nationally known for her expertise and leadership in string instruction, and she was a frequent presenter at meetings and conferences such as MENC, ASTA, NSOA, MTNA. Ms. Gazda most recently was a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. Her compositions center on the student musician and she has arranged and composed many pieces for the young string player and string orchestra
About Appalachian Sunrise: During her time living on the East Coast, Ms. Gazda led a hiking group called the BACH (Backpacking And Circuit Hiking) Trail
Ensemble on many excursions in the Appalachian Trail and her love of the great outdoors is clearly evident in this piece. The serene opening introduces the main theme in the violins which is then enriched with a countermelody in the violas and cellos. As the piece continues developing, harmonies become more active as dawn is quickly approaching The finale brings the orchestral sound to its glorious peak as the first rays of sunlight burst through.
Mr. Clark’s compositions are some of the most popular and frequently performed pieces for concert bands and string orchestras With over 400 publications under his belt, he is adept at writing music for musicians of all levels from beginners to high school and college ensembles. In addition to his career as a composer, Mr. Clark is also the founder and president of Excelcia Music Publishing, which includes Wingert-Jones Publications, Kendor Music Publishing, and RBC Publications. Prior to founding Excelcia Music, Mr. Clark served as Vice President, Editor-in-Chief for Carl Fischer Music for 19 years and as Instrumental Music Editor for Warner Bros Publications With his experience as a composer and publisher, Mr. Clark is highly sought after as a clinician and guest conductor.
About Dance of the Harlequins: When he was first composing the piece, Mr. Clark first came up with the main theme and while harmonizing the melody, he found that the harmonic progression followed the famous Canon by Johann Pachelbel. The familiar bass line is on display immediately as the piece opens with a lively, joyful melody in the violins followed by a countermelody in the violas The piece transitions to a lyrical and sweeping middle section displaying the richness of the orchestra sound. After a brief transition where the main theme is augmented and extended, the melody returns and brings the piece to a close in an energetic and dance-like finale. The use of famous chord progression gives this piece a comfortable and familiar feel, making it quite an enjoyable listen
Mr. Brubaker is a frequent guest conductor and clinician throughout Virginia. Through the 1980s and 1990s, he taught orchestra in Prince William County, VA and Manassas City, VA. From 1999 to 2018, Mr. Brubaker taught in the Charlottesville City Schools district; under his direction, the Buford Middle School orchestra consistently received Superior and First Place awards at assessments and competitions. Though retired from public schools, Mr. Brubaker maintains a private studio and continues to perform in the Charlottesville area.
About El Toro: Spanish for “the bull”, El Toro paints the scene of an exciting bullfight, a spectacle most famous in Madrid, Spain. The piece immediately opens with a castanet (hand-held, concave wooden instruments used to make clicking sounds, associated with flamenco dancing) rhythm and the main theme is passed through the different instruments of the orchestra In the middle section, a pause to the bullfight occurs where a solo violin (the matador) and a solo cello (the bull) ‘discuss’ the situation. The main theme gradually returns along with the castanetlike rhythms to bring the bullfight to an end.
Mr. Mosier is a globally renowned composer who has conducted orchestras around the world. His career has brought him to venues such as New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Reykjavik’s Harpa Hall to Sydney’s Opera House. Mr. Mosier has twice won national composition awards - first in 1993 for his work Baltic Dance and again in 2004 for his composition American Reel. In 2023 and 2024, Mr Mosier has served as the Artist in Residence at the Taipei American School in Taipei, Taiwan. He is also the founding teacher of the Digital Media Technology program at Summit Technology Academy in the Lee’s Summit R7 school district of Kansas City, MO
About Jazz Rhythmico: The piece opens with the cellos and bass establishing the main driving force of a rhythmico ostinato, a rhythmic idea that is present throughout the piece ( ). As the rest of the orchestra enters, moving double stops are introduced with accents and staccatos to bring a blunt, chopped sound to the texture of the orchestra sound. Throughout the piece, the different parts of the orchestra layer upon one another and along with the ostinato, drives the piece forward to a grand pause before its exciting conclusion
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Mr. Safford currently lives in Western New York where he is the director of orchestras at Orchard Park High School His compositions include works for chamber ensemble, children’s chorus, concert band, and string orchestra. His composition Jamboree for Strings won the 2002 Texas Orchestra Director’s Association competition and in 2012, his work The Call of the Sea won the ASTA Merle J. Isaac Senior competition. His education includes a Bachelor of Music in music education from Montana State University and a Master of Music in composition from the University of Arizona
About Folk Tune Air and Fiddler’s Fury: This two-movement composition explores the various facets of American folk music. Folk Tune Air presents a gentle, lyrical violin melody that develops in the orchestra before transitioning into a more energetic middle section. The violas and cellos reprise the melody before a solo violin draws the piece to its close. With Fiddler’s Fury, the fast fiddling aspects of folk music is on display as the piece showcases shuffle bowing and finger slides. From the introduction to the final measure, the pace is nonstop and accents drive the piece in an exciting and thrilling manner.
Born in St Louis, MO, Mr Spata also a short span of his childhood in Kandy, Sri Lanka. His experience in Sri Lanka left a lasting impression and interest in the world’s diverse cultures that influence his compositions His compositions include an opera, ballet scores, symphonies, and orchestral and chamber works for ensembles of all sizes. Mr. Spata is a clarinetist by training, however, his experience as an orchestra teacher has led him to compose primarily for strings.
About Maharaja: With influences from Bollywood and Indian music, Maharaja is fun piece full of flair and dance-like rhythms With the use of finger snaps and slurred pizzicato, the orchestra imitates the sound of tabla drums (a pair of hand drums, used in Hindustani classical music). Triplet flourishes are heard throughout the piece and highlight the inspiration from Southeast Asian music
Ms. Nishimura is a Japanese pianist and composer who has received numerous commissions. She has composed for piano, marimba, percussion, chamber music, band, and orchestra. Among her commissions are the music for the silent films Edison’s 1910 Frankenstein (performed by string quartet) and Kenji Mizoguchi’s The Water Magician. Her compositions Bright Moon and Sparkleberry received special mention, respectively, at the 15th and 26th International Competitions for Original Compositions for Band, held in Corciano, Italy.
About Petite Suite “Beautiful Flowers”: Commissioned by the American School in Japan (ASIJ), Ms. Nishimura composed the suite as a dedication to the students at ASIJ and used the title “Beautiful Flowers” to describe the students themselves The work contains four movements, each with their own title (Prologue: “Blooming”; “Shiny Day”; “Sunset Waltz”; and “Toward the Blue Sky”), and reflects on the daily life of the student The first movement, Prologue: “Blooming”, acts as the prelude to the suite and paints an image of peaceful morning scene as the students start their day with feelings of hope and happiness.
"Richard Meyer is a highly sought after music educator and maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician. For 35 years he taught string students at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in the public schools For 22 of those years, he directed the orchestras at Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, growing the program from 29 string students to 200 and was in charge of the city’s elementary string program. In 2009, Mr. Meyer implemented the “Giving Bach” program at his school which has garnered national attention for its innovative ways of using interactive concerts to bring music into the lives of special needs and inner-city school students throughout Southern California." -Alfred Music "Richard Meyer " https://www.alfred.com/authors/richard-meyer/
About Westridge Overture: This festive piece was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Westridge School in Pasadena, CA Their school’s anthem, Surgere Tentamus (Latin for “We strive to rise”), provides the melodic basis heard in various forms throughout the overture. After a bright and bursting introduction, the main theme is first played in the violins. Shortly after, the time signature switches from duple to triple where the violas and cellos have the theme but inverted and transformed Following another fast paced section, Surgere Tentamus is heard in its unaltered form in the slow, chorale-like middle section. After a reprisal of the main theme, the overture’s coda brings together the multiple elements and moods of the piece as the it concludes in an energetic and grand fashion
Mr. Silva is a popular composer, arranger, and orchestrator with many pieces composed for string orchestra and band. His music is marked by appealing melodies and an uplifting Americana sound that incorporates a modern style to orchestration His credits also include works for Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo Disney Sea, Shanghai Disney, Sesame Street Live Universal Studios Beijing. As an arranger and orchestrator, Mr. Silva has worked on Disney’s Cinderella: A Twist In Time and Cinderella: Twice Charmed, the PBS Documentary Mel Brooks: Make A Noise, television’s 7th Heaven as well as the Warner Bros. musical Secondhand Lions and the Ford’s Theatre musical Liberty Smith.
About America’s Cup: Composed as an homage to the famous race, America’s Cup captures the intensity of the sailboat race with the same namesake. Written in the compound time signature of ( ) and in the key of A minor, the opening of the piece uses triplets and accents to the evoke images of ships slicing through the sea in intense forward momentum. The melodic theme is passed through all sections of the orchestra before the music breaks out into the lush middle section, providing a moment of calm and sweeping beauty before returning to the intensity of the race. In the final section, the piece modulates to B minor, raising the tonal center and energizing the piece further as it charges to its exciting conclusion.
Smetana was a naturally gifted composer, first studying music under his father and performing publicly for the first time at the age of six. As a composer, Smetana is known for his operas and symphonic poems Although his contemporary Antonín Dvořák was more famous internationally, Smetana influence in the development of the Czech nationalistic style led to him being regarded as the father of Czech music. He is best known for his opera The Bartered Bride and for his set of six symphonic poems, Má vlast (My Fatherland).
About Fanfare Prelude to Libusa Overture: In this arrangement by Charles Decker, the opening fanfare to Smetana’s fourth opera, Libuše, is a an arrangement for brass choir. The opera was composed in 1871-72 for the coronation of Franz Josef as King of Bohemia, however the coronation never happened; instead, Libuše was first performed for in 1881 for the opening of the National Theatre in Prague. The fanfare is majestic and powerful, a call to attention to the tale of the mythical and wise Queen Libuše, the legendary character who would prophesize the founding of the city of Prague.
“There are any numbers of great composers who have been able to produce overtures that entertain, lift the spirits, and bring musical “sizzle” to a symphony concert. But almost none excel those of Gioachino Rossini in sparkle, wit, and vivacity Their droll wit, sly contrasts of mood, and careening drive to the end are simply inimitable. From their conception for Italian opera audiences primarily in the first decade of the nineteenth century, to their familiar use as springboards for movie and television high jinks today, they simply endure.”
“Rossini was the most important composer of nineteenth-century Italian opera before Giuseppe Verdi And while he is historically significant for his innovations in serious Italian opera, clearly his opere buffe, or comic operas, are his lasting contributions for opera fans everywhere. These are works of his early maturity, roughly before 1820, before he began to focus upon a more serious style. American audiences are most familiar with The Italian Girl in Algiers (1813) and The Barber of Seville (1816), but there are other masterpieces, as well After wide European success in the 1820s, Rossini wangled a lifetime annuity from the French government about the time of the composition of his crowning achievement, William Tell (1829) a French grand opera and promptly retired at the age of thirty-seven For the next forty-odd years he enjoyed the largess of the French government, and composed very little, certainly no major operas. It’s not that he was lazy, although a famous anecdote relates that while composing in bed (which he usually did) he dropped an unfinished aria on the floor, and rather than go to the trouble of getting up to retrieve it, he simply composed another one! In his defense, we should recognize how much work that he had accomplished early: 34 operas by the time that he was 31.”
“William Tell is, of course, the story of the legendary archer who shot the apple from off his son’s head But, that is incidental Rather, his legend is all about honest Swiss yeomanry throwing off the yoke of tyranny, striking a blow for freedom, and ending oppressive foreign domination arrogant Austrians, in this case. It’s a perfect yarn for the demands of French grand opera, and the impressive staging resources of the Paris Opera. There are virtuoso horn fanfares for the gathering of the Cantons; a precarious lake crossing during a storm; choruses of defiant soldiers; and, of course, the dramatic apple shot. Rossini’s score for all of this is a masterpiece. Berlioz no mean conjurer of ripping musical theatrics lavished praise on Rossini’s masterpiece. Rossini’s orchestration is ground breaking, his sense of drama, sure, and his skill at building to a tremendous climax, peerless. The overture is simply a reflection of a fantastic opera; if you like the former, try the latter, too.” --Wm. E. Runyan © 2015 William E. Runyan
Born to a military family of Spanish descent, Lalo’s musical studies were encouraged in his youth. However, when faced with his father’s opposition at his attempt in a career as a professional musician, Lalo, 16 at the time, left home and headed to Paris. He studied violin at the Paris Conservatoire and made a living as a violinist and teacher. Lalo is credited with reviving interest in chamber music in France - he was a founding member of the Armingaud Quartet in which he played viola and second violin. Lalo’s compositional style is noted for its strong melodies and colorful orchestration. The Symphony Espagnole for violin and orchestra is his most celebrated piece; other well known works include his opera Le roi d'Ys and the Cello Concerto in D minor.
About Cello Concerto in D minor: The Cello Concerto was composed in 1876 in collaboration with Belgian cellist Adolphe Fischer and was premièred the following year with Fischer as the soloist. At the time of its première, there were few concertos for the cello of this caliber - Schumann’s cello concerto and the first of Saint-Saëns’ two cello concertos were the most notable works of this genre. Lalo’s concerto is beautiful and enchanting, with the cello in a commanding role throughout the work
Christine Hwang, winner of the 2023-24 Concerto Competition, will be performing this work tonight - congratulations!
Liszt is known to be one of the most prodigious pianists ever; many of his piano works are incredibly demanding and are used as a measure of a pianist’s abilities. Liszt was Hungarian by lineage, however he never spoke the language with his family having been assimilated Germans. Nevertheless, he was greatly influenced by the music of his homeland Among his most popular works is his set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies for piano; the rhapsodies in general follow the structure of a verbunkos, a with lassan (slow) and friska (fast) sections The most famou rhapsodies is the second rhapsody of the set.
About Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2: The orchestrations of six of the rhapsodies were done by flautist Franz Doppler; Liszt later revised these works but insisted on crediting Doppler for their success. In contemporary times, Rhapsody No 2 has been used extensively in pop culture, notably in animations like Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, The Simpsons, The Animaniacs and in movies such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the Marx Brothers’ A Night in Casablanca The piece opens with a moody lassan with occasional moments of playfulness; the music moves about freely in a melancholic and almost improvisational manner. After a quiet and sparkling transition imitating a cimbalom (a string instrument akin to a dulcimer), the friska quickly ramps up and it’s off to the races. Momentum, excitement, and tempo builds, and after a brief callback to the lassan theme, the rhapsody charges into the finale in spectacular fashion.
Although cellist Kenneth Law enjoys a diverse career as performer, teacher and author, he considers himself first and foremost a chamber musician. He is a member of the Main Street Chamber Players and Trio Peridot, and cellist with the Ritz Chamber Players, Colour of Music Festival and Gateways Music Festival. Abroad, Mr. Law has performed chamber music concerts at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, as well as concerts in England, France, Scotland, Panama and Puerto Rico. In the US, he has performed at the Washington Performing Arts Club, the Italian and German Embassies in Washington, D.C., the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jazz at Lincoln Center Concert Series, Library of Congress in Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City. He has collaborated with such artists as Earl Carlyss (Juilliard String Quartet), Michael Tree (Guarneri Quartet), Ying String Quartet, Norman Carroll (concertmaster emeritus, Philadelphia Orchestra) and violinist Diane Monroe, and has recorded orchestral and chamber music for Albany Records, and the New Albion and Telarc labels. In March of 2006, Mr. Law was featured on the nationally televised NAACP Image Awards as a member of the Ritz Chamber Players. In his home state of South Carolina, Mr. Law has performed at the Piccolo Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston, SC, as a member of the Converse Trio, and subsequently as a member of Ensemble Argos and the Polaris Piano Trio.
Along with co-author Dr. Christina Placilla, the publication, We Are The Music Makers: Volume I: A Graded Guide to Chamber MusicString Quartets was published in 2013, and is the first in a multivolume set that will cover the myriad combinations of chamber music. The guide serves as a resource for chamber music coaches when needing to assign repertoire to an ensemble whose individual members are of varying levels of proficiency.
Most recently, Mr. Law was invited to join the faculty of the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine for the 2022 summer season.
Mr. Jacob Harpster
Jake Harpster currently holds the position of Percussionist/Assistant Principal Timpanist for The United States Army Concert Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C.
As a performer, Harpster is known for his diverse background. In the Broadway idiom, Harpster has presented concerts across the globe. He was the featured marimba soloist and percussionist of the Tony and Emmy award-winning production “BLAST.” With this show, he toured the United States, South Korea, and all forty seven prefectures in Japan. As a soloist and chamber musician, Harpster has won many awards and international competitions, and has presented concerts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. An enthusiast of contemporary music, he is actively commissioning and premiering many new works each year. Prior to his post in The United States Army Band, he served as a Percussionist in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and held the AACA Timpani Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival.
As an educator, Harpster has taught many notable ensembles and schools across the country. Prior to his position in Washington DC with TCSYO, Harpster taught the percussionists of the DCI World Champion, and Fred Sanford Percussion Award-winning Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also instructed at the University of North Texas, Coppell High School (Coppell, TX), Center Grove High School (Indianapolis, IN), and Marian Catholic High School (Chicago, IL), among many others.
Harpster received his Master of Music in Percussion Performance with related-field work in Contemporary Music Performance from the University of North Texas. He served as a Teaching Fellow throughout his graduate studies. He received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Upon graduating from IU, Harpster was awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate.
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.
Mr. Austin Isaac
Mr. Austin Isaac is the high school orchestra director at Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) and is also the lead of the orchestra Collaborative team at LBSS. He has taught orchestra at the elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools in Virginia. He received his B.M. from James Madison University with a concentration in instrumental education and his Master’s Degree in Education from George Mason University. He has been commissioned and has written works for string orchestra, full orchestra, and choir. In addition to being a published composer with Wingert-Jones Publications, Austin has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor orchestras and state assessment performances in various regions of Virginia.
As a double bassist, Austin has been an active performer in a variety of orchestras in the Northern Virginia area. He has co-presented on improvisation in the instrumental classroom at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) in-service conference and has served on the VBODA Orchestra State Grading Committee. He has served as the regional orchestra representative for the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), the manager for the All Virginia Orchestra, and he also serves on the Council for Music Education for VMEA in addition to being the chairman of the orchestra sight reading committee for VBODA. Under his direction, the Lake Braddock Middle School Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2016 annual VMEA In-Service Conference and the Lake Braddock Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2020 Music For All National Orchestra Festival.
Anne Rupert is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where she earned degrees in Cello Performance and Instrumental Music Education. Mrs. Rupert has enjoyed a very long and successful public-school teaching career in Fairfax
County Public Schools where she has taught at Oakton High School, Franklin Middle School, Rachel Carson Middle School and now Robinson Secondary School where she has been teaching the high school and advanced middle school orchestra classes since 2006. Additionally, from 1999-2011 and 2014 – 2017 she was the Music Director and Youth Symphony Orchestra director of the Youth Orchestras of Prince William (YOPW).
Mrs. Rupert's orchestras have consistently received Superior Ratings and Best Overall Orchestra Awards at District and National competitions in the United States and Canada. In June 2006, Mrs. Rupert made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut with YOPW’s Youth Symphony Orchestra, earning a Gold Rating at the New York Youth Orchestra Festival.
Since 1989 Mrs. Rupert has been a member of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra cello section, where she also served as Music Librarian from 2003-2007. She performs frequently as a freelance cellist in the Washington D.C. Metro Area and maintains a small private cello studio in her home. Mrs. Rupert is the 1994 and 2010 recipient of the American String Teachers Association Virginia Chapter (VASTA) Outstanding Orchestra Director Award, the 2006 Kathleen Seefeldt Award for Musical Excellence in Prince William County, the 2007 Award for Outstanding Service to the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, and the 2008and 2012-People’s Choice Awards at Robinson Secondary School.
Since 1994, Mrs. Rupert has served as guest conductor to many of the All County, Junior Regional Orchestra and Junior/Senior District orchestras in Virginia, North Carolina, and Connecticut, and the Junior All State Orchestra in Maryland. She has been on the conducting staff at various summer and special festivals including the Greater Washington Suzuki Summer Institute, the UNCG Summer Music Camp and JMU Spring
String Thing. She frequently adjudicates at State Orchestra Assessments and Solo and Ensemble Festivals across VA and in MD. Mrs. Rupert holds active memberships with NAfME, VBODA and ASTA.
Mrs. Rupert lives in Clifton, VA with her husband Greg and their family of five sons and furry friend, Rascal. She thanks you for the opportunity to serve you in this capacity and appreciates your support of these students’ musical endeavors. She is grateful to share her love of music with such talented and dedicated students and families.
Mr. Eric Hoang is a native of Falls Church, VA and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from George Mason University where he studied with Roger Behrend, Anthony Maiello and John Casagrande. He also holds a Master of Music degree in tuba performance from Ithaca College studying with Dr. Aaron Tindall.
Mr. Hoang started his teaching career as the assistant band director at Alexandria City High School in Alexandria, VA. He then served as Director of Bands at Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, VA for four years and as associate band director at Robinson Secondary School. Mr. Hoang just completed his eighth year as Director of Bands at West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA. During his tenure at WSHS, the Wind Symphony performed as a featured ensemble at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference and the Mid-Atlantic Concert Band Festival. He was also the recipient of the 2016 West Springfield HS PTSA Teacher of the Year award.
Mr. Hoang has been involved in music education at all levels from elementary to collegiate during his career. He was also on the staff of the Youth Orchestras of Prince William serving as director of the Wind Symphony. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Virginia Music Educators Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Mr. Hoang currently resides in Centreville, VA with his wife Kailey and their beloved daughter Genevieve.
Mr. Kenneth Lee
Kenneth Lee, clarinetist, is an independent studio teacher in Vienna, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Economics from Cornell University, and has held a Graduate Research Fellowship with the Smithsonian Institution. He is a clarinet student of Leon Russianoff of the Juilliard School, and was a member of The United States Army Band, Solo Clarinetist of the Baroque Arts Chamber Orchestra, Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra, Arlington Symphony, and, as a member of the Anechoic Wind Quintet, presented Concerts in the Schools under the auspices of the Washington Performing Arts Society. He teaches over forty clarinet students privately and many of his students have been recognized at the national level. Graduating high school seniors have been awarded major scholarships in clarinet performance at prestigious institutions such as Juilliard, the Cleveland Institute, Eastman, Michigan, Oberlin, New England Conservatory, Rice University, and many other institutions. His students have been featured as Concerto Soloists with the National Symphony Orchestra and the United States Air Force Band. For 30 years he was Clarinet and Woodwind Specialist with James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. He has been awarded Permanent Professional Certification by the Virginia Music Teachers Association.
Mr. Lee has served twice as President of the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association and the Virginia Music Teachers Association. In October 2000, he was designated by the Virginia Music Teachers Association as its nominee for the first national “Music Teacher of the Year” selection of the Music Teachers National Association. From 2001 to 2003, he served as National Chair of the Independent Music Teachers Forum of the MTNA, with bi-monthly columns appearing in The American Music Teacher. He is a frequent speaker at MTNA National Conventions. His article on “Developing the Independent Studio” appears in Woodwind Players Cookbook: Recipes for a Successful Performance, published by Meredith Press. He is the author of Clarinet Express, A Method for Clarinet, edited by Ben Ryer.
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Operational Staff
Barbara Dobberstein
Beverly Gowins
Catharina Meyers
Sectionalcoaches
Claire Allen
Lara Buchko
Hillary Ford
Gerald Fowkes
Danita Grundvig
Austin Johnson
Laura Kobayashi
Joshua Kowalsky
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Katherine Johnson Middle School
Eastman School of Music
Foxes Music
Harold Levin
Stephen Matthie
Brian Morton
Larry Oates
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
John Morris Alford
Jennifer Goeglein
John & Robbin Miranda
Lawrence & Courtnay Waite
SpecialthankstothefollowingKJMSteachers:
Charlie Burts
Kelly Harbison
Anna Sengstack
Gregory Stowers
Thank you, seniors!
Alexander Childs
Alexander Romanov
Amelia McCrann
Andrew Cotto-Rivera
Andy Zhang
Ashlee Halstead
Christine Hwang
Coco Ahn
Diego Tablett
Donovan Chong
Eli Ethington
Erin Choi
Joanna Douthwaite
Juniper Jones
Matthew Webb
Piper Anderson
Srimaye Peddinti