L I S T E N T O T H E Future! GRGRAND RAPIDS YOUTH SYMPHONYS PRESENTED BY & CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA “There is nothing like hearing great music performed with the energy and excitement which our young performers bring to our concerts! Listen and share in the excitement!” John Varineau, Conductor John Varineau Farewell Concert Sunday, May 16, 2021 2:00 pm – DeVos Hall John Varineau is retiring after 33 seasons with the Youth Symphony and Classical Orchestra. This concert will be streamed live by WKTV for all to enjoy. Audience is limited. g r y s . o r g 1 FROM YOUR FIRST INSTRUMENT TO THE CONCERT HALL. m e y e r - m u s i c . c o m Grand Rapids Holland Kalamazoo Muskegon 2 GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY Bachelor of Music (B.M.) • Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) • Minor Our undergraduate-focused programs AUDITION DATES offer you a wide variety of opportunities Apply at gvsu.edu/music to perform and learn in small-sized classes, at least one month prior personalized attention, and inspiration that to audition date. will prepare you to answer the call of a Friday, February 5, 2021 rewarding career and life. Saturday, February 20, 2021 Join us at Grand Valley State University, Saturday, March 20, 2021 where the performing arts are supported (last day for scholarship and flourishing. Apply at gvsu.edu/music. consideration) Friday, April 9, 2021 Find GVSU Music, Theatre, and Dance on social media! @gvsumtd 3 FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS, CONTACT GRAND RAPIDS’ OLDEST LAW FIRM: Wheeler Upham AT T O R N E Y S AND C OUNSE L O R S Calder Plaza Building 250 Monroe Avenue N.W., Suite 100 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 P 616.459.7100 www.wuattorneys.com E A • T C 4 John Varineau, Conductor Maggie Coleman Chair Now in his fourth decade on the podium for the Grand Rapids Symphony, John Varineau conducts concerts on nearly all of its series including the Fox Motors Pops, the Gerber Symphonic Boom, the DTE Energy Foundation Family, and the PNC Lollipop as well as the D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops and a wide variety of educational and outreach concerts throughout the area. The 2020-21 season marks his 36th anniversary season as a conductor with the Grand Rapids Symphony and his 33nd as conductor of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and Classical Orchestra. Additionally, he conducts the Grand Rapids Symphony in performances with the Grand Rapids Ballet. Varineau’s guest conducting appearances have included the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and the Traverse City Symphony Orchestra as well as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Oklahoma City Philharmonic. He formerly served as music director of the Holland Symphony Orchestra. A clarinetist, John Varineau presents solo recitals and plays in the contemporary music group, Ensemble Montage, and the woodwind trio, ma non troppo. For 38 years he taught at the college level at Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Community College, Aquinas College, and Grand Valley State University. Most recently he was on the faculty at Calvin University where he conducted the college orchestra, taught academic courses and clarinet and also conducted the Calvin Community Symphony. He is now retired from college teaching. Committed to nurturing the next generation of classical music lovers, Varineau is a frequent visitor to area schools and shares an infectious enthusiasm with students throughout West Michigan. A native of Laramie, Wyoming, Varineau attended Michigan State University and the University of Wyoming for his clarinet training and earned his master’s degree at Yale School of Music. He has made three recordings with the Grand Rapids Symphony and three with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He married his wife, Gwen, in the same year that he joined the Grand Rapids Symphony. They have a daughter, Jade, and son Justin. 5 MISSION STATEMENT To bring the enjoyment and rewards of great music to increasing numbers of qualifying musicians between the ages of 12-21 and to enrich the West Michigan community through regular performances and outreach opportunities. OUR HISTORY In 1959 Robert Zeller, Conductor and Musical Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, recommended that a Youth Orchestra be organized. With the combined efforts of Mrs. Philip Anderson, Grand Rapids Symphony Board member, and her husband, the President of Grand Rapids-South Rotary Club, and the financial support from both organizations, the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony was formed. In the fall of 1959 a Youth Orchestra under the direction of Dan Kovats began its first season. Under Daniel Kovats, the orchestra has played in a number of cities in Michigan. In 1966 they performed in Manistee for the Rotary District conference. In May of 1977 on the invitation of Sen. Robert Griffin a concert was given in the Grand Foyer of the Kennedy Center in Washington. In 1978 they were selected to represent youth symphonies at the National Convention of the American Symphony Orchestra League in Chicago. GRYSO was also involved in an international exchange with the Youth Symphony from London, Ontario, and, has hosted other orchestras, including the Youth Orchestra of Hamburg, Germany in 1979. David C. McCoy became the Youth Symphony Director and Conductor in 1980. Highlights during the 80’s included the formation of chamber music groups within the GRYSO, and a combined concert with Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Choir, and Youth Symphony under the direction of Catherine Comet. In 1987-88 John Varineau was appointed to the position of Youth Symphony Conductor. Under his direction, the Youth Symphony has performed a three concert series with highlights including a trip to Chicago in 1989 performing at a Midwest Competition Festival, a concert combining area choirs and the Youth Symphony in DeVos Hall, and performances in the Family Series with the Grand Rapids Symphony. In the fall of 2000, the Classical Orchestra conducted by John Varineau was formed. This group was started to focus on music literature from the Classical music period. This orchestra is an exciting addition. In the summer of 2016 the Youth Symphony Orchestra embarked on the first ever European tour. A group of 50 students performed concerts in St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, along with venues in Salzburg, and Prague. Performing works of revered composers in the cities in which they lived and wrote only served to deepen the students’ appreciation of the music of the masters. Administrative Staff Cathy Maxfield, Concerts Barbara Hammond, General Manager Mary Ellen Logan, Cathy Maxfield, Competitions Anna Sackrison, Assistant Ted Lausman, Amy Gootjes, WKTV Parent Association Officers John & Rose Mills, Home/Garden Show Mary Ellen Logan, President Mike Evans, Media Cathy Maxfield, Vice President Mickey Bechill, 200 Practice Project Sara Zielinski, Retreat Stage and Rehearsal Managers TBA, Social Coordinator Mary Ellen Logan Eve Clayton, Website content Parent Association Committees Pete Clayton, David Miller, Website Mary Ellen Logan, Auditions 6 7 GRS Youth Symphony May Ad.indd 1 5/11/21 10:39 AM Youth Symphony First Violin Cello Clarinet *Milo DeVries Co-Concert +Kay J. Shannon Co-Principal Benno Alderink, Homeschool+ Master Chair Cello Chair Devin Jobson, Cedar Springs HS Lola Bryce, Grandville Chr MS Aiden Armstrong, Byron Center HS+ Jacob McLeod, Big Rapids HS Grace Erne, North Muskegon HS Alina Balance, Northpointe Chr. HS Jackson Erne, North Muskegon HS Paul Brown, Libertas Classical Chr. HS Bassoon Jonathan Lachajewski, Homeschool Alex Bruce, East GR HS Luke Balcer, West Ottawa HS+ Jasmine Lenz, Homeschool Savoie Bryce, Calvin Chr. HS Eliana Cook, Homeschool Martha Maxfield, Homeschool Larson Bukowski, Rockford HS Cora Evele, Grandville HS Helen Maxfield, Homeschool Aaron Chen, City High School Tara Maycroft, Reeths Puffer HS Robin Meyer, City High School* Matthew Chen, GR Christian HS David Mom, Homeschool Peter Falb, City High School+ Horn Kate Witvliet, Grandville Chr MS Collin Gootjes, Caledonia HS Caden Dennie, Lowell HS Cara Wunder, GR Christian HS* Allison Groenenboom, GR Christian HS Paige Hahn, Forest Hills N. HS Sophie Yang, City High School Grace Jenkins, Grandville HS Lauren Jackson, Rockford HS Alex Logan, Homeschool+ Elijah Pletcher, Homeschool Second Violin Grace Miller, Homeschool Landon Smelker, Homeschool+ +Diane Burgess Co-Principal Noelle Schwarz, Lowell HS 2nd Violin Chair Trumpet Gabriella Bennetts, Jenison HS String Bass Tate Szilagyi, GVSU+ Emma Boersma, Homeschool Hannah Bechill, Lowell HS Jonathan Thompson, Northview HS Lilliana Broberg, City High School+ Henry Case, Northpointe Chr. HS Alexander Hudson, Lowell HS+ Joshua Fabis, Lowell HS Trombone Vishnu Mano, Forest Hills E. HS Anne Falk, Homeschool+ +In honor of Keith Goodman Chair Sarah Mechan, Forest Hills E. HS Evan Fitzjohn, Forest Hills N. HS Eli Tinholt, East GR HS+ Madelyn Mill, Rockford HS Ellie Gardner, Rockford HS Marcus Myers, City High School Maile Prater, Rockford HS+ Tuba Emma Peng, Forest Hills N. HS Gabriela Sanchez, East GR HS Trey Kliewer, Rockford HS+ Brennan Phebus, Forest Hills E. HS+ Hannah Schlett, Caledonia HS Jinxiang Shi, City High School Percusson Ceavon Smith, Wayland Union HS Flute +Firlik Family Chair Kate Boutell, Jenison HS Emalee Anderson, Forest Hills N. HS Viola Aleia Lenz, Homeschool Trenton Brink, Forest Hills E. HS+ +Wiersma Family Co-Principal Lorelei Moxon, City High School Hania Timek, East GR HS Viola Chair Megan Vaandrager, City High Rohit Agarwal, City High School School+ Harp Ian Berrington, Lowell HS Olivia Peter, Homeschool+ Sam Bryant, Rockford HS Piccolo Elena Casemier, Unity Chr. HS Lorelei Moxon, City High School Luke Fermin, Forest Hills E. HS *Co-Concertmaster Karl Kepler, Grandville HS Oboe +Principal or Co-principal Morgan Lake, Rockford HS +Nancy Summers Meeusen Principal Sophia Meyer, Homeschool Oboe Chair Elizabeth Parker, GR Christian HS+ Grace Evans, Unity Chr HS Ellie Silva, Forest Hills N.