Volume 1, Number 1 Spring 2012 www.gbyo.

org

The

GBYOAN

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras Alumni Newsletter

GBYO TURNS 50 WITH STYLE

On March 11, fifty-one years to the day after the first auditions for the former Connecticut Youth Orchestra were held at Bassick High School in Bridgeport, hundreds of alumni, current GBYO families and supporters gathered for a Gala 50 th Anniversary Concert at UBs Mertens Theater. Honored guests included Mrs. Sonya Schopick and Mrs. Wally Yeager, founders of our organization, and many members of the original 1961 Connecticut Youth Orchestra: Carolyn Karp and Stephanie Cook of New York City, daughters of late founder Mrs. Loretta Dranoff; Robert Deutsch, son of first president, the late Mrs. Rose Deutsch; and Karl Jacobson, son of original conductor, the late Dr. George Jacobson. Second Music Director Dr. Harrison Valante of Westport attended with his wife, and son Michaels family; an alumnus himself, Michael played trumpet for GBSYO in the 1970s. Dr. Valantes heartfelt remarks during the introductions brought the house down. Also on hand were Directors Emeritii Robert Genualdi (third Music Director) and his wife Dorothy Straub, pillars of GBYO for over three decades. Bob Genualdi guest conducted Bachs chorale prelude, Wachet auf, Ruft uns die Stimme.

Dr. Valante greets the crowd

Robert Genualdi, Music Director Emeritus

Through the non-stop efforts of several volunteers, an Alumni Orchestra of over 40 members headlined the performance. GBYO alums from ten states and Canada, representing all fifty years of the orchestras existence, came out to play. Retired physicist Joel Siegel, one of the original nine kids to audition at Bassick in 1961 and concertmaster from 1961 to 1965, flew in from California to play violin; he observed that Everyone here is a teenager again, for a little while. The program opened with a stirring rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner, performed by GBYOs Concert Orchestra under direction of Jeff Albright. Citations by the State of Connecticut, the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Fairfield followed. Remarks were presented by current GBYO President Mark R. Halstead and Dr. Valante, after which the Concert Orchestra played three selections, including a new work, Elemental, composed by 15-year-old Robert F. Galvez, clarinetist in the Concert Orchestra. Music Director Christopher Hisey then offered reflections on the occasion (being an alumnus himself, 1985-1992) and introduced GBYOs promotional video They Are GBYO. He then conducted the Alumni Orchestra in Vivaldis Concerto in C-Major for Two Trumpets. Featured

Soloists Ed Reid and Zeb Upton at the reception

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soloists were Edward Reid (GBSYO 1973-75) and Zebediah Upton (GBSYO 1991-99). Ed is Distinguished Professor of Trumpet at the University of Arizona, and Zeb is an orchestral musician (former principal trumpet in the Beijing Symphony Orchestra) and trumpet teacher in the Greater Boston area. After intermission, the Alumni Orchestra took the stage with Finlandia (Sibelius), The Great Gate of Kiev (Mussorgsky), the Russian Sailors Dance from The Red Poppy (Gliere), and the Farandole from LArlesienne Suite No. 2 (Bizet) under the baton of Maestro Hisey, as well as the Bach prelude conducted by Mr. Genualdi. The Alumni Orchestra had met for the first time only the day before, at Roger Ludlowe Middle School in Fairfield, rehearsing all day and into the night. A luncheon gathering introduced alumni to current orchestra students, after which GBYOs Symphony and Principal Orchestras performed for the alumni.

Current members and alumni meet for lunch

Programs, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia (including a note from Robert Moses thanking the orchestra for performing at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair) from GBYOs 50 years were on display in the lobby, and later at the reception in the Bernhard Centers Tower Room. The party didnt end until well after 9 PM. We hope this concert is only the beginning of a renewed friendship with all generations of GBYO musicians. Everyone I spoke with was excited about the reunion, even those who couldnt be there because of distance or other commitments said one phone volunteer. People have such great memories of GBYO through the years; the youth orchestra was a formative experience in their lives.

Alumnus Joel Siegel 61-65 offers a toast

INTERESTED?
During the planning of the 50 Anniversary Gala, many suggestions were made for future events. Would you be interested in future alumni events, such as a reunion of the Jazz Ensemble? Such efforts require the interest and dedication of many people, as well as prudent planning for finances and logistics. GBYO wants to continue fostering strong ties between current and former GBYO musicians. Suggestions and volunteers and contributions! are the first step toward future events. Please let us know via our website! We could begin planning now for alumni events as early as next spring.
The Jazz Ensemble at UB about 1971, with conductor Richard Burlant
th

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ALUMNI NOTES
Wed like to keep in touch! Please send us your news for inclusion in future editions of The GBYOAN. The 50th Anniversary prompted the creation of the first-ever GBYO Alumni database; this year, GBYOs graduating class our latest alumni consists of 25 seniors from ten different towns in Connecticut.

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE OR DONATION

Please let us know if you can donate an instrument to GBYO for use by one of our student musicians, or if you have instruments for sale. Please email our Executive Director, Barb Upton, at bupton2@aol.com.

CURRENT NEWS

GBYO HEADS TO GERMANY AND AUSTRIA THIS SUMMER

Members of GBYOs Symphony and Principal Orchestras will depart for a ten -day musical tour through Munich, Salzburg and Vienna on June 25. The GBYO will perform at three venues during their travels: in the picturesque Bavarian market town of Murnau am Staffelsee, in the Pavilion of Saint Gilgen, and at the Kurzentrum in Bad Vslau.

SPRING CONCERT MAY 27 AT THE KLEIN

Its Memorial Day, and the Annual Spring Concert, featuring all five GBYO Ensembles (String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Principal Orchestra) will take place Sunday afternoon, May 27 at 3 PM, at the beautiful Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport. Christopher Hisey, GBYO Music Director, will conduct the Principal Orchestra in Smetanas The Moldau, the third movement of Dvoraks Symphony No. 9 (from the New World), and Sousas rousing Stars and Stripes Forever.. Sarah McDonald, the winner of this seasons annual GBYO student concerto competition, will perform Mendelssohns Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. The Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Carrie Mascaro, will perform the Overture to LItaliana in Alegri by Rossini, the third movement of Anton Bruckners Symphony No. 7, and Selections from Chicago. Jeff Albright will lead the Concert Orchestra in an allpatriotic program including God Bless the U.S.A., Armed Forces Salute, America the Beautiful and National Emblem March. The String Orchestra, conducted by Erica Messina, will present Boots and Saddle by Keith Sharp, Sinfonia in F by Vivaldi and Synergy by Deborah Baker Monday. Aaron Barkon and the Wind Ensemble will present Simpsons, Perthshire Majesty by Samuel Hazo, Take the A Train and Tritsch-Tratsch Polka by Johann Strauss. The traditional graduation ceremony will take place before intermission, as we bid farewell to our high school senior musicians. Alumni are cordially invited to attend. Tickets are $15/$10 for seniors, available in advance by check (see address below) or at the door. Come see the GBYO of today!

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

GBYO depends on the support of its families, past and present. Your contributions can help to fund programs and ease the burden on families strapped by the current recession. Please consider a donation, so that GBYO can continue its positive influence on the lives of young musicians for the next 50 years. Visit our website for details, or contact Mark Halstead, Alumni Coordinator, at mhalstead@snet.net or (203)372-2724. Another opportunity, coming up soon: Barnes & Noble Booksellers is partnering with GBYO on Sunday, June 3 at their Westport and Milford locations to give a portion of all sales, presented with a special coupon (Booksale ID #10721306) to rd GBYO! Come out to Barnes & Noble on the 3 , buy some books and CDs (Fathers Day is just around the corner!), and hear GBYO quartets play as a bonus! For those of you out of the area, you can buy on-line, using the Booksale ID number during the week before June 3rd, and a portion of your purchase will be donated to GBYO. Our Annual GBYO Golf Classic will take place at the beautiful Redding Country Club on Thursday, June 7, beginning at 11:30 AM. Lunch, 18 holes or tennis and a sumptuous dinner -- $175. Sponsorship opportunities also available. For details or to register, go to www.gbyo.org/golf_outing. Please visit http://www.gbyo.org/support.htm. GBYO is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and your donation is taxdeductible.

KEEP IN TOUCH! If you would like to receive further issues of The GBYOAN, or would like to know more about upcoming concerts and
events, please contact us via our website at www. gbyo.org, under the Alumni tag or fill out the information form below and mail to GBYO, P.O. Box 645, Fairfield, CT 06825-0645, attention Alumni Affairs.
Name:_____________________________________________ Years in CYO/GBSYO/GBYO:__________ Telephone:(____)_____-________ Address:____________________________________________ City:____________________________ Email:_________________________________

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, Inc.

PO Box 645 Fairfield, CT 06825-0645