Clef Notes 55th Season v May 2007 c Editor - Joe Morris www.sjys.org & e g h w m f u b q San Jose Youth Symphony to celebrate Eastern European Tour with Bon Voyage Concert This summer, the European audiences ing of friendship between Upbeats San Jose Youth Symphony will hear the Bay Area’s most the United States of Amer- (SJYS) Philharmonic Or- accomplished, talented and ica and the Republic of Philharmonic chestra, under the artistic enthusiastic young musicians Hungary. Concert direction of Yair Samet, will perform in prestigious music Other dignitaries in- June 2nd, 7:00 pm, take its most accomplished halls including the Liszt Acad- clude the U.S. Ambassador at California Theater orchestra members on tour emy of Music in Budapest, the to the Czech Republic, the c to perform in top cultural Dvorak Hall in Prague and the Hon. Richard Graber and Prelude and centers of Europe: Vi- Chopin Conservatory of Music his wife, the Israeli Ambas- Intermezzo enna, Prague, Budapest and in Warsaw. sador to Poland, the Hon. String Ensemble Warsaw. The annual spring SJYS hosts an inter- David Peleg and the U.S. Concert SJYS fundraiser, which national tour every other year Ambassador to Poland, the June 3rd, 2:30 PM benefits the entire organiza- and strives to provide once Hon. Victor Ashe. The en- at Le Petit Trianon & tion, will be held Saturday, in a lifetime opportunities for tire group has been invited Concert Orches- June 16th at the Campbell its young musicians. In addi- for a fireworks display on tra and Avant Heritage Theater and will tion to the concerts presented, the 4th of July at the resi- Flute Choir feature a Bon Voyage Con- members will get a chance to dence of the Hon. Victor Concert June cert. The Philharmonic experience local culture, enjoy Ashe in Warsaw! 10th, 1:30 PM atw Orchestra will perform some fine cuisine and tour major & SJSU Concert Hall of the most popular pieces attractions, including a cruise Bon Voyage Concert and Philharmonic from the symphonic rep- on the River Danube, and Silent Auction Gala Orchestra ertoire: Gershwin’s Strike guided tours of Vienna, Prague, sponsored by Lexus Bon Voyage Gala Up The Band Overture and Wroclaw, and Warsaw. The Stevens Creek! and Concert Junec Rhapsody in Blue; Kenric Philharmonic Orchestra will be Saturday, June 16 16th, 2:30 PM at Tam, piano, Bernstein’s performing for local dignitar- at 2:30 pm Campbell Heritage Three Dance Episodes from ies at several of their concerts Campbell Heritage Theater Theater On The Town and Tchai- including the U.S. Ambassador 1 W. Campbell Ave. kovsky’s Symphony No. 4. to Hungary, the Hon. April Campbell, CA 95008 SJYS Philharmonic& w Local business and commu- Foley who will present the Tickets: $50 reserved and Concert Orches- nity leaders will be present group with the Ambassador’s seating, $25 for 18 years tra Summer Camp at Mt. at this event, including many Award for Cultural Diplomacy. Cross August 4 - 10 San Jose City Councilmem- The Award is designed to bers, Patrick Kane of Lexus honor the most distinguished SJYS Prelude, In- Stevens Creek, and Hon. representatives of American termezzo, and Flute Consul General of Hungary culture whose artistry advances Choir Summer Camp at Eva Voisin. the Embassy’s goals of mutual JFS August 13 - 17 understanding and the deepen- Kay Yang 00’ Ode to Alumni Moreno Valley, California “I was in SJYS for 6 years, from 1994 to 2000, I was the Alishan Merjanian 05’ concertmistress from 1995 until 2000. I graduated Cal-Poly San Jose, California Ponoma for Business Administration, Finance, Real Estate, “I graduated in Spring ‘05, followed im- & Law in 2006 (I took two year off to work). I’m currently liv- mediately by the SJYS Spain tour where ing in Moreno Valley, CA and I plan to move toward Orange I annoyed everybody by talking too much County. I taught voluntarily at a local middle school for a and playing the viola out of tune too loudly while but I don’t have time any more. I still give private violin too late at night, as well as by coming in lessons to 5 students from the age of 5 to 50. My sister who consistently early at important entrances. was also in SJSYO give out private cello & piano lessons and I am currently living at home and attend- we play recitals for our students annually. We really do not ing San Jose State University. I am a Piano play that much, but we still play at weddings and currently Performance/Education major, studing with charge $800/Hour at the minimum. I totally miss Yair and all Dr. Gwendolyn Mok, and I am also aiming the members. I have my notary public license & broker real for a minor in Viola. This year I am singing estate license. I am now the Retail Analyst at Provident Sav- in the SJSU Concert Choir, accompanying ings Bank as of 05/22/07. Before that, I was the broker admin the Women’s Chorus, and playing in a string for Provident Bank Mortgage.” quartet coached by SJSU’s resident profes- -- Kay sional quartet, Cypress String Quartet. Since August I have been the organist and choir Ameena Khawaja 97’ accompanist at Westminster Presbyterian Trossingen, Germany Church of San Jose, where oboist Michelle I’m currently living in Trossingen Germany which is about an Suy-Sam and I have a good time reliving the hour south of Stuttgart (on the edge of the black forest). I’m go- good old days like when I fell into the orches- ing to school at the Hochschule für Musik Trossingen Stadt, a tra pit right before a concert. Apart from that music conservatory here. I finished my requirements for a BM I am a new member of the SJSU chapter of in Cello Performance at Cal-State Northridge and I was ac- Mu Phi Epsilon, a professional music frater- cepted into this conservatory for voice. I am a lyric soprano and nity, along with our friend Jason McChristian, I plan on pursuing a career in opera. I’ll be back in the states for who is also a student with me, so I spend a at least a semester, but I will very possibly return to Germany lot of time practicing the bizzare stuff he and to further my studies in singing. I became a makeup artist and the other composers keep asking me to play. worked in that industry for about 7 years, I was a theater major I am also getting involved with Intervarsity at San Francisco State for a while, and I was an extra in a few Christian Fellowship at SJSU, and I frequent- movies (Austin Powers 3, catch me if you can… haha!). I was ly play my viola with the worship team.” the principal cellist in SJSYO when Yair auditioned for the spot -- Alishan as conductor!! There were 3 finalists, and he was by FAR our favorite! :) We’ve been great friends ever since.” -- Ameena Alex Yang 06’ Los Angeles, California “I am currently going to UCLA and living on campus. I am a member of the UCLA Symphony and I get together with some of my buddies to play together as a chamber ensemble. Also, I participated in the Korean Traditional Culture Music by playing Korean folk pieces and hymns, along with Korean Court music from back in the day. I also took part in researching and conducting a presentation about the different genres of korean music (both tra- ditional and modern). Ever since school started, I have been on the UCLA soccer intermural team competing ev- ery Friday night. I have also been participating and volunteering at the UCLA Medical Center a couple of times, assisting and helping the elderly and people in need. I also took part in the relay for life (running for cancer) 24 hours a day and my roommate and I made our own team and raised about $6000! I also competed at the UCLA All Hill Talent show and won first prize :)! In my spare time, my roomate (Daniel Morozoff) and I have been going to the Walt Disney Hall to watch world-renowned pianists. I have also gone to the LA Opera house a couple of times to watch the operas “The Fall of Mahagony”, “Madame Butterfly”, and “Porgy and Bess” ( I really enjoyed the play “Porgy and Bess” because I played it with Yair and the orchestra my first year in SJYS!!!!!!) I have also been taking tennis lessons from my roomate and I’ve been playing often as a way of relaxing and stress-reliev- ing. I’ve been working out almost everyday and I am in SHAPE!” -- Alex Rachel VanDusen Rachel VanDusen is a current student at Lincoln High School. She plans to attend Cosmetology School starting Member Profiles in the fall, but is torn between The Paul Mitchell School and Elite. She is the vice president for her school’s wind ensemble and has played French Horn in the San Jose Jonathan Magram Youth Symphony’s Philharmonic Orchestra, the SJYS Brass Quintet, the SJYS Woodwind Quintet, the Clarion Jon Magram has been a Brass Choir, and with Silicon Valley Symphony. She member of San Jose Youth has studied French Horn with Wendall Rider. Regarding Symphony for 11 years her experience with SJYS Rachel says, “San Jose youth and he plans to continue symphony has been one of the most wonderful and illu- his education at San Jose minating experiences in my life. Beyond that, I am sorry State University next year to everyone for having to endure my endless chatting in where he will be majoring the back row for the past three years. You have all made in Animation and Illustra- my experience worth while and I hope to see a few of tion with a minor or double major in philosophy. Jon you on a big stage from the audience’s perspective later enjoys making movies with his friends at UbseyMov- in life.” ies and they have won various awards including Best Picture at the San Jose State regional competition, and Larry Wen the Turner Classic Movies “Classic Movie Award” at Larry Wen is a current senior at Fremont High School the state-wide competition both for the film “Chicken and plans to major in aeronautics next year at UCLA. Strip Jeff.” For more information and for t-shirts and Larry has been a member of the San Jose Youth funny stuff visit www.ubseymovies.com !! Jon has Symphony for five years and is currently the assistant studied with Denise Woodman, Mary Bormann, and concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra. In addi- Dale King and he plans to participate in the SJSU tion, Larry has participated in the SJYS String Quartet chamber music program next year. Jon would like to and has performed with them for music matters as say, “You guys in SJYS were pretty cool! I’ll see you well as many other community events. Larry has been later!” a member of his school orchestra for the past semester and is currently a student of Chin Le. Larry hopes to go on to sing in college. To the orchestra Larry would like to say, “keep up the great work!” Chamber Ensembles A big thank you goes out SJYS currently has three cham- to all SJYS members and parents ber ensembles; two string quartets and a woodwind quintet. These groups are String Quartet I String Quartet II made up of the most advanced Philhar- Richard Sim - Violin I Hannah Lee - Violin I monic members and many are principle Larry Wen - Violin II Aaron Hsu - Violin II players of their section. This season the Kevin Cho - Viola Conor McClure - Viola ensembles have spent many hours rehears- Daniel Paik - Cello Justin Li - Cello ing with music director and conductor Yair Samet and performing in outreach events. Woodwind Quintet Performances have included music Ray Furuta - Flute matters assemblies, private holiday par- Devin Hinzo - Oboe ties, weddings, San Jose City functions Joseph Morris - Clarinet (including our first every performance Michelle Kim - Bassoon in the San Jose Holiday Parade), and the Gavin Betterley - French Horn Okayama dinner in the rotunda of City Hall with Mayor Chuck Reed in atten- dance! In this photo: Patrick Kane, General Manager of Lexus Stevens Creek Graduating Seniors Elaine Sandoval - Flute - 6 Year Member - Soka University of America - Major in Liberal Arts, Davin Chang - Viola - 7 Year Member - UC Berkely Studying Spanish, Chinese, and Music - Undecided Major Richard Sim - Violin - 8 Year Member - De Anza Vincent Chang - Violin - 4 Year Member - UC San College - Major in Business, Undecided Diego - Major in Bio-Engineering or Pre-Med Darren Siu - Violin - 6 Year Member - UC San Ray Furuta - Flute - 6 Year Member - UC Santa Diego - Major in Bioengineering Barbara - Major in Flute Performance Rob Swanson - Violin - 4 Year Member - Kelley Hesterberg - French Horn - 2 Year Member University of Puget Sound - Major in Music - West Valley College - Major in Music Education Business, Undecided Devin Hinzo - Oboe - 1 Year Member - San Rachel VanDusen - French Horn - 3 Year Mem- Francisco Conservatory of Music - Major in Oboe ber - Vocational School -Studying to be a hairstylist Performance Eric Wang - Violin - 4 Year Member - UC Davis Michelle Kim - Bassoon - 4 Year Member - UC Los - Major in Molecular Cell Biology Minor in Music Angeles -Major in Broadcasting and Media Journalism Larry Wen - Violin - 5 Year Member - UC Los Tiffany Lin - Violin - 2 Year Member - Massachu- Angeles - Major in Music or Aeronautics setts Institute of Technology - Major in Engineering Amber Wyman - Bassoon - 4 Year Member - and Physics Valdosta State University - Major in Music Jonathan Magram - Violin - 11 Year Member - San Jamie Yoo - Clarinet - 6 Year Member - UC San Jose State University -Major in Animation/Illustration Diego - Major in Communications Daniel Paik - Cello - 8 Year Member - Massachu- Elise Lee - Flute - 1 Year Member - UC Berkely setts Institute of Technolog or UC Berkely - Undecided - Major in Molecular Cell Biology, Minor in Music Major Sean Yen - Viola - 7 Year Member - Cornell Jacqueline Rousseau - Viola - 4 Year Member University - Major in Arts or Science, undecided - California Institute of Technology - Major in Physics Michelle Yu - Violin - 8 Year Member - UC Los Angeles - Major in Biochemistry

toga High School is a student first movement of theTo - of Hans Boepple and will be masi Trumpet Concerto next And The Winners Are! performing Rachmaninoff’s season. Elaine Higashi is a On Sunday, April competition are also featured as Rhapsody on a Theme by Pa- junior at Presentation High 1st, San Jose Youth Sym- soloists with the Philharmonic ganini with the Philharmonic School and studies violin phony held our annual Orchestra in the upcoming Orchestra next season. Zenus with Pat Burnham and Kevin Concerto and Young Artist season. Hsu currently studies violin Cho is a junior at Bellarm- Competitions at West Valley The competition was with Wei He and is a junior at ine College Preparatory and College. Over 25 musicians judged by three highly regarded Lynbrook High School. He will studies viola with Elizabeth took part in the competi- professionals. Yair Samet, mu- be performing Tchaikovsky’s Park. Elaine Higashi and tions and it was highly sic director and conductor of Violin Concerto next season. Kevin Cho are performing competitive. the San Jose Youth Symphony, Joseph Morris is a junior a Bel- the last movement of Mo- The SJYS Young clarinetist Bruce Foster a facul- larmine College Preparatory zart’s Sinfonia Concertante Artist Competition is open ty member at the San Francisco and currently studies clarinet for Violin and Viola. to any musicians ages 16 University High School and for with Mark Brandenburg. He Congratulations to all – 21 from across the Bay the San Francisco Conservatory will be performing the Weber the winners from this year’s Area and selects three Preparatory program, and vio- Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in the competitions. We look for- winners to be featured as linst Zaven Melikian a nation- upcoming season. ward to hearing these great soloists with the SJYS ally recognized artist, teacher The winners of the 2007 solos. Philharmonic Orchestra and a leading expert in string Philharmonic Concerto Compe- in their upcoming season. pedagogy. tition are: Aaron Kahn, Elaine The Philharmonic Concerto The three Young Art- Higashi, and Kevin Cho. Competition is open exclu- ist Competition winners are: Aaron Kahn, a trumpet student sively to the SJYS Philhar- Angela Hwang, Zenus Hsu, of James Dooley is currently a monic Orchestra members and Joseph Morris. Angela junior at Lynbrook High School and the two winners of this Hwang, a sophomore at Sara- and will be performing the Natural Harmonies Diane Wyant and the new Jeff Wilson and the SJYS SJYS Wind Ensembles! Percussion Ensemble! The San Jose Youth Symphony is very happy to an- nounce two new ensembles to it’s program, the Symphonic After many years of percussion perfomance and edu- Wind Ensemble and Concert Wind Ensemble. These groups cation in the greater Bay Area, I am pleased to join are designed for intermediate musicians who play woodwind, with the San Jose Youth Symphony and direct the brass, or percussion instruments and who desire additional percussion ensemble. The kids in the ensemble will wind band experience outside of their current school music perform on all percussion instruments in a variety of program. styles that cover all aspects of percussion and cham- The wind ensemble program will be led by Ms. Diane ber music. I am also excited about joining forces with Machado-Wyant, the current director of music at Bellarmine Valley Christian Schools and their Conservatory of College Preparatory. Ms. Machado-Wyant is native to the Music. Their beautiful facilities will provide a great San Jose area and has also held directorships at Valley Chris- venue for our students and a basis for a collaborative tian Middle School, Sierramont Middle School, Leigh High relationship between the SJYS and VCS Conserva- School, and Cupertino High School. She has a great deal of tory. new ideas that will come along with the new program. In ad- -Jeff dition to featuring local guest conductors with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Ms. Machado-Wyant has the vision of a city Wilson wide Band Festival that would feature the most outstanding bands from within the schools of the Santa Clara Valley along with outstanding adult community bands as well. Ms. Mach- ado-Wyant is thrilled to be on the artistic staff with SJYS and is looking forward to developing a world class program. -Diane Summer Camp News Wyant The SJYS Philharmonic and Con- cert Orchestra camp will be held at Mt. Cross this year. Mt. Cross is located in the tenure. In 1977 he was appointed beautiful Santa Cruz mountains on 105 Concertmaster of the San Francisco acres. We will have exclusive rights to the Opera Orchestra and retired from facility the entire week. Amenities include the Opera in 1994. In addition, Mr. two indoor rehearsal spaces, craft cottage, Melikian will present a master class swimming pool, beach volleyball, full size to all the string players during camp. baseball field, camp store, and good food! We are also pleased to welcome back Additionally, we are pleased to Mr. Max Zorin, a renown violin- announce that in this year’s summer camp ist, currently on the faculty at Penn Mr. Zaven Melikian will run violin sec- State University in Philadelphia, and tionals for our Philharmonic and Concert a graduate of Indiana, Juilliard and orchestras. As professor of violin at the Yale Schools of Music. Mr. Zorin will San Francisco Conservatory of Music work privately during camp with the since 1969, and now Professor Emeritus, Philharmonic violin players and will Zevan Melikian has trained an extraor- present a master class to all string dinary group of violinists. Mr. Melikian players of both Concert and Philhar- was a member of the San Francisco Sym- monic orchestras. phony for 23 years, serving as Assistant Concertmaster for the last 15 years of his The SJYS Artistic Commitee SJYS is enjoying tremen- of the Philadelphia orchestra; Mr. Za- dous success in the artistic quality ven Melikian, former concertmaster of our orchestras and ensembles. of the San Francisco Opera and Pro- We are very pleased with the addi- fessor Emeritus of violin with the San tion of three new ensembles - two Francisco Conservatory of Music; and wind ensembles and a percussion Mr. Sandy Walsh-Wilson, cellist with ensemble. Our mission is to pro- the Alexander String Quartet as well Clockwise from top: vide our members with the highest as faculty member at the San Francis- David Kim, Sandy quality music education and per- co State University. These individuals Walsh-Wilson, and formance opportunities. In order to bring to SJYS a wealth of experience Zaven Melikian. further enhance the artistic qual- as performers and educators, and will ity of our organization, we have help to enhance our reputation and recently formed an artistic commit- our artistic quality. In addition, they tee that will assist the SJYS artistic will explore ways to increase the staff in achieving our goals. We are number of master classes offered to extremely proud to have several of SJYS musicians. We welcome them the leading artists in the USA join- warmly into the SJYS family. ing our artistic committee as well as our advisory Board. Among them are Mr. David Kim, concertmaster

Chairman’s Podium A heartfelt THANK YOU to all Board of Directors the hardworking SJYS families, volun- teers and board members who’ve con- Lorne Morris - Chairman Parent Advisory Leo Higashi - Vice Chair tributed so much to our success this Tom Chang - Treasurer Board season. Please join us for each of the Gaylis Ghaderi - Secretary Philharmonic Orchestra remaining ensemble concerts, and we Nancy Naroff Jeremy Gorman look forward to greeting you all at our Sam Yang Grace Li Bon Voyage concert and gala event Vicki Neil which supports all SJYS ensembles. Jeremy Gorman Concert Orchestra We will also bid our Philharmonic Al Chien Sandy Norman Orchestra farewell as they embark on Lisa Fraboni their eastern european tour. Elizabeth Park Avant Flute Choir Dave Mills Viji Rengarajan We are blessed to have so Advisory Board many talented and committed vol- Cyril Isnard Intermezzo String Ensemble unteers supporting SJYS. I want to Dave Dumont Andy Lim especially thank Lisa Fraboni, Nancy Ligia Marcu Naroff and Brenda Morris for their Henry Schiro Prelude String Ensemble countless hours of work on our Tour Jonathan Hicks Irene Breck and Bon Voyage event. They are sim- David Kim ply amazing! Zevan Melikian - Lorne Morris Sandy Walsh-Wilson