MINORS AND MAJORS: OUR MUSICAL JOURNEY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 RMF BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR TRUSTEES David W. Swartz, Esq. Heather Adams Michael D. Anderson VICE-CHAIR OF Martha W. Aynardi, Ph.D. DEVELOPMENT Melissa G. Brewer, Ed.D. Randy Shayler Carl J. Fiorini Tim Haynes VICE-CHAIR OF FINANCE Tahj S. Morales Jayne R. Schaeffer, CPA Randy Shayler Timothy J. Simmons VICE-CHAIR OF PROGRAMS Jamie Thompson Benjamin Delp Watts John Tripolitis Kim Webster TREASURER Lewis D. Freeman, III HONORARY TRUSTEES Bruce P. Bengtson ASSISTANT TREASURER Donald C. Bristol Sandra B. Kern, D.Ed John T. Connelly Bruce L. Dietrich SECRETARY Betty H. Hottenstein Paul G. Oxholm Lee G. Kachel ASSISTANT SECRETARY I. Leon Kaplan David L. Kline Robert R. Kreitz, Esq. Eric Moyer PRESIDENT Leon S. Myers Keri M. Shultz Donald Reber Paul R. Roedel Dr. Thomas B. Souders C. Thomas Work, Esq. Peter N. Zacharias “In addition to my oboe studies, RMF also invested in me as an organist, providing funds for lessons that allowed me to gain confidence and an ability to lead Sarah worship services. Through summer camp scholarships, I have had the opportunity Woronko to play with musicians from all over the world, some who spoke no English, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY proving our universal language is music. It is a blessing to have been able to grow DUAL MAJOR IN NEUROSCIENCE as a musician, and then share those AND MATHEMATICS gifts in return to the community who has supported me.” Dear Music Supporter, Each year, we watch another class of high school graduates begin a new journey. This year, we’re sharing those journeys with you—the donors who make their musical experiences possible and shape them into the young people they are today. Their dedication to music is a major advantage in this ever-evolving economy. Students going into education can base their teaching style off the exposure to multiple instructors in ensembles and camp experiences. Music performance majors have already performed college- level repertoire thanks to elite performance experiences like the Kutztown University Chamber Music Festival, Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Young graduates going into rigorous math and science programs possess the self-discipline and focus from their commitment to practice schedules and ongoing concert performances. And one student plans to use music therapy to help the development of autistic children. Every year, our school and community music programs produce students with this level of success and proficiency. Passionate students do their best when they have advancement opportunities and qualified educators. This is how RMF invests your precious dollars — by furthering the potential of capable young people. We are proud to share this annual report with you, our donors, who generously make our work across Berks County possible. Thank you for recognizing how music education and live music performance make our young people and community as a whole thrive. Keri Shultz Dave Swartz PRESIDENT CHAIR 1 2017-2018: NEW INITIATIVES Emily Frantz, Certified Music Therapist, sings “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” with clients at Prospectus Berco last fall. NURTURING NOTES: GIFT OF MUSIC: RMF’S FIRST MUSIC THERAPY GRANT HARPSICHORD GIFTED TO THE GREATER READING MUSIC Beginning last year, RMF’s Outreach COMMUNITY Committee allocated a special Last summer, the Berks County project grant in the amount of music community celebrated the $2,000 to pilot a music therapy dedication of a Roland C-30 Digital program at Prospectus Berco. This harpsichord, purchased through grant represents the very first award the Karin & Kathleen Reinsel Early focused on music therapy. Prospectus Instrument Fund of the Reading Berco is a nonprofit agency in Berks Musical Foundation. Established by County dedicated to inspiring people the Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Reinsel, with disabilities or other special needs the fund wanted to see more access to lead meaningful lives by providing to Baroque and Renaissance-style innovative services that promote music in Berks County. By allowing dignity and respect. this instrument to be shared Prospectus Berco hoped the across Berks County free of charge, addition of a music therapy program music performing organizations would allow music as an outlet for are encouraged to plan music that expression and contact with others, features the harpsichord into their as many of their clients have limited concert repertoire. The instrument communication skills. The program is permanently shared between has been so successful that the Atonement Lutheran Church in Outreach Committee renewed the Wyomissing and Trinity Lutheran grant for 2018-2019. Church in Reading, but is available on loan to any organization hoping to use it. Bottom Row: Karin Reinsel, Kathleen Reinsel, Amy Reinsel, Rev. Thomas Reinsel; Top Row: 2 Keri Shultz, Karen Eddinger, Tom Yenser 2017-2018: NEW INITIATIVES Thomas & Alberta Siemiatkoski LEAVING A LEGACY: After Mr. Siemiatkoski passed away in PROFESSIONAL LEVEL VIOLIN 2018, his wife donated his personal GIFTED TO RMF’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM collection of instruments to the program, including a Wahlid Stopka The largest Operation Replay gift in violin they purchased at Fegley’s Violin RMF’s history came from Mr. & Mrs. Shop in 1991. With an approximate Thomas Siemiatkoski of Bethlehem value of over $8,000, the instrument in 2016. In total, the couple donated far exceeds the typical Operation 145 instruments they had collected Replay instrument. over their lifetime. Mr. Siemiatkoski, a retired musician and music Mrs. Siemiatkoski generously agreed to teacher, had hopes of spending his allow the instrument to join a few other retirement years repairing and building elite instruments that are awarded instruments for children who could not as part of the scholarship auditions. afford them. An unfortunate diagnosis The instrument will be owned by RMF made that no longer possible, and the indefinitely, and awarded to a violinist couple donated their instruments in grades 7-11 who will be able to to RMF. use the instrument at no cost for two years. Students will be selected by the adjudicators for talent, promise, and limitations due to their current instrument. We are overjoyed to see Mr. Siemiatkoski’s legacy of music and love of sharing music with others continued through RMF. 3 SCHOLARSHIP INVESTMENT RMF’s Scholarship Program made the largest amount of awards ever in 2018! A total of $193,937 was invested in area student musicians, divided between $91,200 for merit awards and $102,737 for need-sensitive awards. While this report shows six of our seniors who graduated in 2018, there were 282 other young musicians who benefitted from the scholarship program. TWO NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS CREATED IN 2018! CONRAD WEISER B.A.N.D. PROGRAM CHUCK LOEB MEMORIAL JAZZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND RMF is thrilled to offer a new RMF’S FIRST ENSEMBLE MERIT AWARD! scholarship program to Conrad The Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest lost Weiser students: the Conrad Weiser a member of its family when the B.A.N.D. Fund (Building a New Dream beloved Chuck Loeb (featured on Fund), which provides funding to help opposite page) passed away last cover the cost of supplies needed for year after a two-year battle with marching band, indoor color guard, cancer. The Berks Arts Council and indoor percussion ensemble. and friends of the Boscov’s Berks The Conrad Weiser Music Association Jazz Fest established an ensemble established this fund last year after merit scholarship program, which realizing numerous students could rewards student ensembles and their not participate in these activities due commitment to musicianship and to the expense of uniforms and other improvisation. Winning ensembles program requirements. will receive a cash award and the opportunity to perform at the Chuck Loeb Memorial Jazz Jam as part of the 2019 Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest! 4 RMF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - 2017-2018 AWARD DISTRIBUTION 2017- 373 SCHOLARSHIPS 2018 TOTAL AWARDS $ 193,937 MERIT 138 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS $ 91,200 NEED-SENSITIVE 73 SCHOLARSHIPS CAMP AWARDS $ 33,725 NEED-SENSITIVE 142 SCHOLARSHIPS PRIVATE STUDY NEED-SENSITIVE 20 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS $ 59,812 INSTRUMENT UPGRADES AWARDS $ 9,200 RMF OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR: Adult Organ Scholarships String & Piano Scholarships for students in Grades 1-12 Band Instrument Scholarships for students in Grades 5-12 Voice Scholarships for students in Grades 7-12, plus college vocal awards! Scholarships for Early Instruments like Harpsichords and Recorders! Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, and Other Folk Instruments for All Ages And many more! 5 David Helmer WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE DUAL MAJOR IN MUSIC EDUCATION AND VOCAL PERFORMANCE “I am so very thankful to the Reading Musical Foundation and their generous supporters. I am very fortunate to have been able to study with incredibly talented and loving teachers in and out of school. I know that the RMF has played a critical role in helping me become the musician and person that I am today!” 6 Our 2018 Scholarship Seniors OPERATION REPLAY: RMF’S INSTRUMENT RECYCLING PROGRAM Just when we thought we may have These instruments came at David Helmer hit our maximum year ever for the perfect time, as Reading Operation Replay, Berks County and WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE High School’s music program DUAL MAJOR IN MUSIC EDUCATION Berks Country Fest proved us wrong. AND VOCAL PERFORMANCE A Berks Country Fest kick-off event exploded with 40 new band at Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery members and 35 new string with WEEU collected 49 instruments musicians. Thankfully, Operation in just three hours, plus 62 more in Replay’s sponsor Zeswitz Music June. Those 111 instruments, plus ensured 24 instruments were the other 115 instruments collected delivered in time for the 2018 in 2017-2018, means a grant total of school year, with another dozen 226 instruments are now available to support our area students who on their way.