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Contact: Katie English, 267-974-1250
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Announces Students in New West Phila School Orchestra
Tune Up Philly announces more than 80 students in new classical music, after-school program at St. Francis de Sales from PYOPhiladelphia, PA – November 8, 2010 (Download PDF). The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) announced today the names of more than 80 elementary school students involved in its new, after-school musical education program at St. Francis de Sales in West Philadelphia. Tune Up Philly was launched September 20, 2010 and its mission is to nurture urban children living in challenging social and economic conditions by keeping them engaged in success through weekday out-of-school hour’s musical instruction.
"In the first couple of months of Tune Up Philly we have listened to musical talent blossom and witnessed social, emotional and cognitive development in the students. Programs like Tune Up Philly have a proven track record of elevating underserved youth through musical education and social development," said Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of PYO. "We have been delighted by the community’s support in Tune Up Philly and offer special thanks to PYO Board of Trustees member, Carole Haas Gravagno, who has offered a special, matching grant for the program. The donated funds, instruments and services assist in providing an important opportunity for children from challenging backgrounds." The after-school program for first through seventh grade students, instructed by a dozen local, professional musicians, will run for 39 weeks, through July 29, 2011, five days a week, with concentrations in woodwind (flutes, clarinets), brass (horns, trumpets, trombones), strings (violins, violas and cellos), percussion, choral and general music education. There will be four performances. More than 200 families originally expressed interest for the program; the 80 students were selected to participate based on applications and by lottery, and more than 100 students are on a wait list.
"Most of these children have never had the opportunity to play a musical instrument and to watch them turn their curiosity into a highly focused skill has allowed our program to begin achieving our ambitious social and musical goals," said Tune Up Philly Director, Stanford Thompson.
"The students have been working very hard, showing significant improvement in preparation for their first formal concert in December for their community," said Tune Up Philly’s Assistant Director Elysa DiMauro.
The students in Tune Up Philly are as follows:
Violin, Grade 1 taught by Rebecca Harris: Anthony Auld, Jada Gillard, Tahir Hennie, Alyssa Lipscomb, Uri Mack, Jasmine Murillo, Isaiah Richardson, Covonn Walker, Layia Watkins.
Violin, Grade 2 taught by Kathleen Krull: Nwai Alfa, Naim Cogdell, Joseph Gibbs, Leniah Hodges, Kendra Johnson, Brandon King, Matthew Tarekegn, Natena Tedla.
Violin, Grade 3 taught by Jose Sanchez: Jordan Jefferies, Tamia King, Micah Kurtz, Sa’mya Moore, Phonnica Narom, Amir Nasr, Craig Smith.
Violin taught by Jose Sanchez: Trevor Ennett (4th), Charles McNeil (8th), Serawet Yohanes (4th), Kayla Gard-Smack (5th), Ja’Shoun Lipscomb (4th), Kashay Fogle (4th), Akili Farrow (5th).
Violin taught by Rebecca Harris: Aliyah Jefferies (5th), Justin Smith (4th), Raven Bruckhalter (5th), Khi’esha Harris (5th), Ashley Graham (4th), Morgan Riley (5th), Bemnet Girma (6th), Saleema Witherspoon (7th).
Viola taught by Kathleen Krull: Makhi Richburg (6th), Rachel Bentil (6th), Ronnell Hodges (7th), Neary Narom (6th), Zebediah Coombs (7th), Abigail Okokuro (6th),
Cello taught by Andrea Webser: Assad Nasr (4th), Ceara McGill (6th), Heavnenly Daye (6th), Sasha Widman (7th), Simone Rodgers (7th), Taylor Jones (5th), Anjelica Rooks (7th).
Clarinet taught by Delia Raab-Snyder: Daja Hosendorf (4th), Isaiah Reid (5th), Kareema York (4th), Destiny Curby (5th), Jessica Camara (5th), Yaamir Dillard (4th), Jonathan Robinson (4th).
Flute taught by Nicolas Real: Jaela Jones (5th), Bethlehem Berhe (5th), Corey Burton (6th), Azhane Christian (5th), Clinton Suggs-Mills (4th), Caitlin Walker (5th).
Horn taught by Katy Ambrose: Ramon Jaquez (6th), Ikirah Sanders (4th), Sebleh Alfa (4th), Deverris Stuckey (7th).
Trumpet taught by Joseph Hart: Quran Cogdell (5th), Andre Rollins (5th), Maerone Alfa (5th), Khari Bradley (6th), Nadir Nelson (6th), Alec Branch (6th).
Trombone taught by Joshua Popejoy: Morgan Thomas (5th), Daritzon Cabrera (4th), Khiyan Hayes (4th), Abeil Tedla (6th), Christina Rooks (4th).
All students sing in a choir led by Bernie Kunkel, percussion classes led by Gabe Globus-Hoenich and general music study led by Paul Butler.
About the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra: Founded in 1939, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest classical music training and orchestra performance programs for gifted and talented students from the Tri-State region. Lead by Maestro Louis Scaglione, PYO’s companion ensembles include the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), formed in 1996; Bravo Brass, added to the program in 2003; Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) created in 2007; and the Musicopia String Orchestra partnership, which began in 2008. Young musicians from ages six through 21 are selected by competition audition and have represented the United States on five continents. The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) offers classical musical performances to the Greater Philadelphia region each year and supports musical education to children from Philadelphia’s more challenging neighborhoods through its newest after-school program launched in 2010, Tune Up Philly.
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