Congrats to Betty Perry!

for winning the MYO chili cook off this past Sunday

In celebration of the end of an extraordinary season we held a picnic at Garfield Park on Sunday, June 3, which included a highly competitive chili cookoff among MYO teachers, parents and donors. No one was surprised by the winning chili, made by our own MYO Artistic Director Betty Perry. The competition was very stiff though and many people were talking about the cinnamon in the Bottom's Family chili and the roasted peppers in Dr. Kathryn Vanderwater-Piercy's chili. Still Betty pulled ahead to win her second chili cook off this year. About 125 people showed up to eat and grill out in the perfect weather. 

 

 The talks for next year's cook out have already begun at we are thinking RIB COOK OFF!

 

Thank you for another successful year of MYO!

(MYO members at the Highland Country Club for the Making Music, Changing Lives Fundraiser)

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra has had quite a busy and successful year with over 10 chamber performances, hundreds of lessons, 3 full MYO concerts, a dozens of recitals. 

This past weekend we hosted a potluck and final concert of the season at the Broadway United Methodist Church. BUMC has been a great partner throughout the year to MYO as we have hosted many concerts and special events there. Thanks to Lorain Laswell for the below pictures that she took that afternoon.

What are your summer plans?

All MYO students are encouraged to continue practicing their instruments over the summer. Here are a few camps that many of our students attend. Check them out!

• Strings and Jazzy Things: www.philharmonicindy.org  
• Butler University summer camps: http://www.butler.edu/community-arts-school/events-calendar/ 

                     For Strings:  http://www.butler.edu/community-arts-school/summer-programs/strings-scholars-camp  
                      Special MYO enrollment applications will be made available as soon as possible. 

• Music for All Summer Symposium: http://www.musicforall.org/what-we-do/summer-camp 
• IU Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy for Violinists, Violists, and Cellists: http://music.indiana.edu/precollege/summer/string/index.shtml 
• University of Indianapolis Chamber Music Institute: http://music.uindy.edu/cmc/cmi.php

MYO Visits From the Top

Last week Betty visited From the Top as they recorded at the Palladium.

Broadcast on over 200 stations nationwide to an audience of more than 700,000 listeners each week, From the Top is one of the most popular classical music programs on radio.

To see more photos and get more information on From the Top visit these sites:

http://www.fromthetop.org/listen

http://greenroom.fromthetop.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FromtheTopFans


Photo: Betty Perry and 13 yr old Evelyn Mo, pianist, and Myles Robinson from MYO Orchestra A

ISO Staff Experience the Program

Much of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra staff doesn't get to experience the magic that is MYO on a regular basis. Often busy writing grant proposals, planning the next season or developing programs, there's practically no time. Thanks to Ruth and Betty many ISO staff were able to travel back in time and remember what it was to be 10. Last Wednesday, Ruth and Betty held an interactive session for ISO staff and it was a blast!

Check out this video of ISO staff playing with MYO teachers!

MYO Mariachi 2011

Welcome to the first of a series of Summer 2011 blogs highlighting some of the wonderful opportunities MYO students have had around our community, around our state and beyond.

MYO Teachers Danielle Yeti and Jose Valencia facilitated our very first Mariachi Workshop and our dear friends at Broadway United Methodist Church were kind enough to host and provide some extra decor!

We had a great time, with 11 participants and a brilliantly bright and hot afternoon - like so many we've had recently. We've provided a few pictures from the performance. I'm working on posting the video as well. Stay tuned! Remember that all of the music was rehearsed in one afternoon and the session was designed to learn more than the music, but to understand more about the history and background of mariachi music.

We capped off the day with a visit from West Coast Tacos - thanks to our new friends there who joined us for the performance.

MYO families - send me your summer story!

Ruth

Orchestra A Rehearsal Cancelled

MYO Orchestra A,

Please note that there will be NO Orchestra A rehearsal on Thursday, February 3 due to the winter weather. Everyone stay safe and warm- we'll see you next week!

Vote for Ms. Perry!!!

Log onto Facebook and help Ms. Perry become the “face” of Maxine’s Chicken and Waffles!

Here’s what to do:

1. Log onto Facebook and become a fan of Maxine’s: www.facebook.com/MaxinesChickenAndWaffles

2. Look for the photo of Ms. Perry and click “Like” underneath her photo.

The photo with the most “likes” on Monday, January 31, will become the official “face” of Maxine’s Chicken and Waffles and will receive a prize package- including a ride in the Chicken Limo!

Vote for Ms. Perry today and perhaps we’ll have a celebration party at Maxine’s very soon!!

Orchestra A Rehearsal Change!

Please note that there will be NO MYO rehearsal tonight due to the weather. However, we WILL hold rehearsal tomorrow night (Friday, January 21) as a make-up for tonight. We're very close to the Invest in MYO performance and need to have as much rehearsal time as possible before Sunday. Tomorrow's rehearsal will take place from 6:30-8:30 PM at Christel House Academy.

Please remember that we also have rehearsal from 1:00-3:00 PM on Saturday, downtown at Hilbert Circle Theater. Please use the entrance at 32 E. Washington Street and plan to arrive by 12:45 PM so we can start rehearsal promptly at 1:00.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Betty Perry or me. Thanks for your flexibility this week! Be safe in the snow!

Meg Williams
ISO Director of Community Partnerships
317-229-7079 Phone

319-262-1049 x1049 MYO Attendance Hotline

Congrats to Orchestra C and D students!

A very belated congratulations to all students in Orchestras C and D who participated in recitals before the holidays! We were so proud of your performances!!

An extra special thank you to family and friends who battled the snowy weather to be there on such an important day!

Keep up the great work, everyone!!

MYO Families are a gift!!

MYO Families are a gift! Thank you for the fond memories and great times together. I see a BRIGHT future ahead for MYO and wish you all the best and MORE!!

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and love. I will miss my MYO family, but know that I am not far away. You are in my heart!

Love, Carol Baker

Cathy Morris and MYO Together Again!

On November 5 several of our MYO students performed with Cathy Morris at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for the Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser. It was a lovely evening and we were honored to perform with our big supporter. Cathy Morris told me that MYO started playing the Pachebel Canon with her MANY years ago and now it's become an MYO tradition!

Thank you Cathy for inviting us to perform!!

You can find pictures from this event HERE.

The Playathon Results Are In!!

We are still waiting on some matching funds, but the Playathon final numbers are IN!!!! After much anticipation, we are proud to announce that YOUR hard work has brought in $3,059.85!! WOW!

This record is one YOU helped to make.

We have special recognition that we would like to make to Loraine and Markeisha Laswell who really took this task and ran with it - bringing in OVER $1,000!! When I asked Ms. Laswell her secret, she told me she "had no problem asking people to help kids!!" WAY TO GO!!

Also, "Way to Go" to all of you for sharing your talents, time and treasure in support of MYO!

The Cat in the Hat with the GREAT, Great, Great... Ms. Perry

It's a blurry picture, but you can still tell. It's our very own Ms. Perry with The Cat in the Hat! Ms. Perry and I were visiting Flanner House Elementary and ran across our feline friend who was promoting November Read and Rhyme Aloud month at the Flanner House Library Branch. In fact, all of our Indianapolis Public Libraries are celebrating and you can get in on the fun.

This yearly program seeks to strengthen reading habits of families and those in daycares by challenging participants to read aloud at least four together hours during the month. Visit any of the Indianapolis Public libraries this month and sign up! Free program materials are provided.

Click HERE for more information.

MYO Families, Get Out and Read Aloud!

ISO Announces New ISO Music Director!!

Conductor Krzysztof Urbanski becomes the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s seventh Music Director effective Sept. 1, 2011, and at age 28, is the youngest music director among major orchestras in the United States. Urbanski will return to Indianapolis to conduct in concerts on May 20 and 21 and will lead the ISO in its Opening Night Gala in September 2011.

Undoubtedly one of the most interesting conducting talents to emerge in recent years, Urbanski has been attracting a considerable amount of attention throughout Europe where he is respected by orchestras, critics and audiences alike. He took the position of Chief Conductor of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra for the 2010-2011 season and was appointed to that role the week after his highly successful debut. In April of 2010, Urbanski made his U.S. debut with the Indianapolis Symphony and returned for a second visit during Marsh Symphony on the Prairie in June. In September, the ISO’s search committee unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Urbanski to the post, and the ISO musicians overwhelmingly supported the recommendation.

To get a free download of Krzysztof Urbanski conducting Dvorak's New World Symphony with the ISO, go to InstantEncore.com/IndianapolisSymphony and enter code: "Urbanski2010" in the redeem box in the upper right corner.

Read more about Urbanski.

Here is a video of yesterday's announcement.

Introducing More People to MYO - Thank you for your support!!

On Thursday, 10/7 the great, Great, GREAT... Ms. Perry took a group of MYO students, parents and teachers to an MYO fundraiser event hosted by Aga Morgan & Jennifer Lukemeyer and Brian and Mary Ann Sullivan at the Courtyard of The Watermark. Many people were introduced to the MYO program and were quite generous with their support that evening.

We would like to thank all of the students, parents and teachers who participated. Below is a video provided by Loraine Laswell of the group warming up before the big event. Click HERE to see photos from the event.

Playathon was a HIT!!

MYO's Annual Playathon at the Broad Ripple McDonald's this Saturday was a HIT! Thank you to all who supported this event either by performing, donating or cheering in the audience! We're sorting through our donations this week and we'll announce the total amount raised next week.

If you would like to review pictures from the event, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/myoindy/photos/sets to see pictures from the event. If you have pictures, videos, etc. to share, forward them to me at cbaker@IndianapolisSymphony.org and I'll post them on the MYO blog.

BTW, one of the parents sent me this video from the event. This is Alex McGrath and his father is accompanying him on the last piece. Thanks for sending this in!!

ICC is celebrating 25 years!

Nathan Kassab, Orchestra A cellist, was recently featured in an Indianapolis Children's Choir advertisement found in the Indy's Child magazine (pictured on left side) and someone tells me that Hannah is also featured in one of these ads.

Did you know that the Kassab family are very involved in ICC in addition to playing cello in MYO? Hannah and Nathan are in Orchestra A and Gabe, Veronica and Elizabeth are in Orchestra C.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ICC:

• Over 2,500 children from 19 counties participate in ICC.
• ICC groups have toured many countries, including: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Switzerland.

MYO wishes ICC an awesome silver anniverary!! Congratulations!

MYO Violist and The Annual Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Festival

Here are picures of me from my church's festival - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox festival.

There's delicious food (it is AMAZING), pastries, souveniers, and informational church tours. A little info about the ethnic Greek dancing is that I dance in the high school dance group. Almost every kid at my church is in the dance groups, from pre-k to early college, and we host our festival the weekend after Labor Day each year. I have been dancing for about ten years, now that I think about it!

My mom had this idea of me playing the violin part when she heard one of the songs which happens to be from an island in Greece where all of my dad's side is from, so it had more meaning this way also. It took tons of new skills of listening and copying exactly what is being played and how it is played, but it payed off in the end. It was a great success.

~ George Gemelas is a violist in MYO's Orchestra A

MYO Out in the Community

Mapleton-Fall Creek "State of the Neighborhood" Celebration was held on Saturday, 9/11 at the Raphael Medical Center and MYO was present and accounted for!!

Two of our MYO students, Markeisha Laswell and Justice Vaughn, performed beautiful solo selections before and after city officials touted the importance of neighborhood celebrations like this one! We heard from Mayor Ballard, Sentor Carson, Jackie Nytes and Federal Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. (Ms. Perry is pictured with Senator Carson and Council Rep Jackie Nytes.)

It was an exciting afternoon. Markeisha opened with an inspiring "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and Justice (pictured above) demonstrated her playing virtuosity with a Bach solo and the theme song to The Flintstones. Great fun! Thank you ladies for representing MYO so beautifully!