Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon Alumni Celebration

Just a reminder about the YSSO Alumni Concert which will be held tomorrow evening, Tuesday, Dec 18, 7:30 PM at the Craterian Theater in Medford. This is a first-time event for the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. See current YSSO students and distinguished alumni share the stage for around a one-hour show (perfect length for students!). Purchase tickets which include the reception if you would like to hang out with us and eat some great food afterwards.

I will be featured on viola as a soloist along with my best friend from childhood, Joanna Martin on flute. The music is Ernst Bloch's Concertino, a lovely neo-classical work from a 20th Century composer. Bloch lived his later life in Agate Beach, Oregon, and wrote this piece there.

To my students: yes, being featured as a soloist means standing in front of the orchestra in a fancy dress and playing my own part - it is a big deal. Come if you can!

http://www.ysso.org/concerts/december.shtml

Where are the Blog Posts?

Dear Readers,

I apologize that I have not been posting as much as I had hoped. I intend to re-start and post more often now that my schedule has (somewhat) normalized.

A few announcements: this Fall, I became Principal Viola of the Rogue Valley Symphony, and Assistant Principal Viola of the North State Symphony in Redding/Chico. These new titles have kept me busier than usual in the orchestra world, but I'm enjoying the experience very much with both groups.

On that note, make sure that you attend the Rogue Valley Symphony concerts whenever possible. I'm disappointed that the RVSO is no longer offering free student/parent tickets for the Medford concerts. You can still buy tickets for the Medford concerts, or attend the Sunday concerts in Grants Pass with a voucher. You need to get there about an hour early in Grants Pass to secure your seats. These vouchers are available on the symphony wesite at: http://rvsymphony.org/education/connecting.shtml

I would like to say Congratulations to my student, Nathaniel Savage, on becoming Concertmaster of the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon Orchestra. This is Nathaniel's first year in the ensemble. I am so pleased with all of my students who have chosen to participate in the YSSO Orchestra and Symphony. The experience of playing in a large ensemble like this with Cynthia Hutton is so important and enriching for your violin or viola study. Further Congratulations to Lindan Burns, Rowan Houghton, Michael Kaveney, Rowan Lovich and Cora Stonewood on their placement and participation in these ensembles.

Until Soon,

Kimberly

May Student of the Month

This month I would like to recognize Michael Kaveney as student of the month. In January, Michael was a winner of the YSSO Concerto Competition. The last time that a violist won this competition was exactly l0 years ago in 2002 when I won as a high school senior. Michael came to study with me this past August and we worked together on the Stamitz Concerto, which I performed with the Rogue Valley Symphony the following December. It has been a good year for Viola, and Stamitz, and it has been a pleasure to work with Michael this year. Come hear Michael perform the entire concerto with the YSSO this weekend: Visit www.ysso.org for more info.

Youth Symphony principal viola and Southern Oregon University (SOU) music student Michael Kaveney has been a member of the Youth Symphony since 2010. He has also participated in the YSSO Chamber Music Series program. Michael has studied privately with Patricia Berlet, Scott Cole, Patricia Potter and Kimberly Fitch, his current teacher.  A singer as well as an instrumentalist, he studies voice privately with Ellie Murray and Laurie Hunter. In addition, he has participated in master classes led by Chris Cock (voice) and the Fauré Piano Quintet (viola). Michael is a member of the SOU student chapter of the Music Educators National Conference.

Michael shared that he was drawn to the viola because “[the instrument] possesses [a] naturally warm, mellow tone.” He added, “participating in the YSSO organization has had a tremendous effect on me. It has shown me that I have what it takes to become a leader.” His mentors have been Paul French, Cindy Hutton, Ferdna Grimland, Ellie Murray, Laurie Hunter and Kim Fitch. Michael observed, “[these teachers] have opened my eyes to more than I could have imagined in the world of music.”

He wishes to take this opportunity to thank his mother, Regina Muñoz, and his family for their encouragement and support of his goals and dreams.

Michael will continue his music studies and obtain a graduate degree in music. He plans to pursue a professional career as both a violist and in vocal music.

April Student of the Month

I've started a Student of the Month routine along with this blog. This is not so much a competition, but an opportunity for studio members to be featured one at a time and learn a bit more about each other. This month's student is Rowan Lovich. Rowan is one of the first students that I started teaching after I moved back to Ashland two years ago. I chose Rowan this month because she took a big leap by joining the YSSO Orchestra in the middle of the year, and she's doing a great job!

My name is Rowan Lovich and I am 13 years old. I have been playing viola for 4 years and currently I'm a member of the Youth Orchestra of Southern Oregon. I enjoy playing in a musical group because it is a challenge to play with others, but rewarding when done well. Some people ask me why I chose the viola, I had a unique experience years ago when I went to a viola concert and fell in love with the tone of the instrument. In my spare time I enjoy horseback riding, sewing, and I have been playing piano for the past 9 years. My two sisters play cello and violin and we enjoy playing in a group together.

Violia.... am I spelling that right?

It's not a typo - I did mean to use a made-up word, "Violia" in my title for this blog. Since I play and teach both violin and viola, I had the idea to combine the two words into one.

I spent the weekend in Newport, OR, rehearsing for the Newport Symphony Concerts next weekend. It is a fun orchestra and going to the coast for this is a half work, half mini-vacation for me. I get to stay with my wonderful host family, meet musicians from around the state, and as of this weekend I've attended two talks at the Nye Beach Writers' Series.

Mark your calendars! If you're in Southern Oregon, here are a few of my upcoming performances:

Saturday, April 7, 7:30 PM, SOU Recital Hall
Faculty Recital: James Edwards, guitar

I will be joining guitarist James Edwards for a few works on his faculty recital, featuring the music of composers living in Southern Oregon.

Sunday, June 10, 7:15 PM, The Bricks, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Greenshow: The Music of George Crumb

Could it be? Yes, we're performing George Crumb's "Black Angels" for electric string quartet outdoors at the festival on what we hope will be a nice, warm summer evening. Abby Aresty's "Piercing" for flute and electronics will serve as a prelude to our performance of Angels.

 More will be announced very soon, including a Spring Recital date for my students and summer concerts for my chamber series, the East-West Virtuosi.

Music and the Greeks

Welcome! In this blog I hope to create a space for sharing information relating to my teaching studio as well as performing life. I will keep you apprised of upcoming concerts, studio events, as well as direct you toward articles or resources which I find interesting and helpful. I'll also share with you some of my thoughts about music and learning along the way. Happy reading!

First, because I could not have said it better myself, I would like to recommend that you read or revisit Karl Paulnack's Welcome Address to the students at Boston Conservatory in 2004:

Karl Paulnack's Welcome Address