Karen S. and George D. Levy Educational Outreach ProgramSpring 2010 Newsletter

Since 1985, the Handel and Haydn Society’s Karen S. and George D. Levy Educational Outreach Program has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to innovative music education. The program serves approximately 10,000 children in communities throughout eastern Massachusetts each year with initiatives that give children meaningful opportunities to experience and perform classical music: Vocal Quartet performances, Collaborative Youth Concerts, the Vocal Apprenticeship Program (VAP), Heartstrings program, coaching, and masterclasses.

Recent Program Highlights

Vocal QuartetIn January and February, the Vocal Quartet visited public schools in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Lawrence, Lynn, Medford, Wayland, and Woburn with Voices of History and Voices of the Stage. In April, they will bring an expanded version of Voices of the Stage to Exploritas (formerly Elderhostel), visiting three retirement communities, as well as continuing visits to Boston, Lowell, and Lynn public schools. Heartstrings ProgramThe Handel and Haydn Society welcomed 54 students (grades 7-9) and teachers from Breed Middle School (Lynn), Fletcher-Maynard Academy (Cambridge), and the Newman School (Boston) for a rehearsal at Symphony Hall on January 28. Students heard works by Caldara, Gluck, and Mozart, conducted by Artistic Director Harry Christophers. For many it was the first time listening to a countertenor. Collaborative Youth ConcertsHigh school choirs from Lawrence High School (February 9), Brockton High and Boston Latin School (February 11) sang Mozart’s Missa Brevis, K.194 and Ave Verum Corpus with the Society's Period Instrument Orchestra and Vocal Quartet. The Society is grateful to conductor John Finney and the Quartet soloists, as well as music directors Penny Knight, Nancy McGhee, Paul Pitts, and Ryan Snyder for their dedication and hard work preparing the choirs. On February 27 at Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center, Young Women’s Chorus sang Ronald Perera’s Earthsongs with the Simmons College Chorale and the New England Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Richard Pittman. Mr. Perera met with the choirs during rehearsal and was present at the concert. The work was originally commissioned for Smith College.

Pictured below: Choruses from Boston Latin and Brockton High Schools sang together in a Collaborative Youth Concert this spring.

Published March 2010

Young Men’s Chorus will sing in the Third Annual Young Men’s Choral Festival with Boston Children’s Chorus, Boston Arts Academy, Rindge and Latin High School, and the Harvard Glee Club. The performance will be at 7.30pm on April 10, 2010 at First Church, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge; admission is free. The concert will feature individual choirs as well as combined songs led by Harvard Glee Club Conductor Jameson Marvin. Youth Chorus will perform in the Massachusetts American Choral Director’s Association Big Sing - Boston 2010 Children’s Choir Festival from 6.30-8pm on April 13, at United Parish, 210 Harvard Street, Brookline; admission is $1.00. The annual VAP Spring Choral concert (Singers, Youth Chorus, Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choruses) will be presented on Monday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Boston Latin School auditorium. General seating admission is $5.00.

Singers

Members of the Singers will perform after the pre-concert lecture and during intermission of the April 11 performance of Beethoven Pastoral at Symphony Hall.

Ella Caggiano and Jackson Schwartz will be featured this spring in the Needham Freelance Troupe’s production of The Universe and Other Stuff.

Youth Chorus

Hannah Frith is playing a jungle animal in the Arlington Children’s Theater musical production of Seussical. Jenny Hilder played cello in a string quartet that performed for His Royal Highness Prince Michael when he visited the British School of Boston. She also sang the national anthem with her school choir at TD Bank Garden before a Boston Blazers lacrosse game. Megan Peterson will sing in the chorus of Mount St. Joseph Academy’s production of Seussical.

Young Men’s Chorus/ Young Women’s Chorus/ Soloists

Members of the Young Men’s Chorus will perform after the pre-concert lecture and during intermission of the April 30 performance of Bach Portrait at Symphony Hall.

VAP Family News

Lisa Barone received the Methuen School Committee’s SOAR (Student Overall Achievement Recognition) award in Performing Arts in February. Rachel Berger recently received a scholarship from the Westborough Community Chorus for continued vocal studies. She is performing in Westborough High School’s Once on This Island production in March.

Fiona Buchanan was awarded a Gold Key for Art Portfolio in the 2010 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards. She will join the cast of Swampscott High School’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in May. Eric Doyle has been selected for Weston High School’s spring 2010 musical Curtains; last fall he was in the WHS production of The Woman from Szeuchuan. His a cappella group, Town Criers was awarded second runner up for New England on February 6. Ciaran Foley played Herb Thompson in Boston Latin School’s production of Fortress during the MA High School Drama Guild One Act Play Festival, selected for the semi-finals in March. Gia Greene premiered “Dido’s Death” (a song composed by Elias Dagher, a student at Milton Academy) for Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ NEC masterclass on January 30, and also the NEC Contemporary Music Festival the following day. Gia had a painting displayed at Urbano Studio, Jamaica Plain, in an exhibit that

Upcoming VAP Concerts

APR

10

APR

13

MAY

17

Congratulations to students who sang in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Senior District Choruses in January: Lisa Barone, Rachel Berger, Lyndsey Charette, Nachelis Cuevas, Ty Cuipylo-Watkins, Melissa Ennulat, Ciaran Foley, Kelsey Giovannacci, Gia Greene, Katie Hopkins, Mark Joseph, Christopher Kelleher, Jenna Lorusso, Reed McConnell, Bryan Mendes, Andrew Milne, Marina Napoletano, Lucy Page, Evan Pappazisis, Campbell Rogers, Rachel Stigers, and Sophie Weisskoff. Orchestra members included violinists Eric Doyle and Alison Fisher, and violists Allyn McCourt and Emory Paine. Bravo to Samuel Feinstein, Katherine Gross, Samantha Martin, Megan Peterson, Ruby Sands, and Sophie Whorf singing in MMEA’s Junior District Choruses in March. Eastern District Jr. Band included flutist Amy Lipman; violists Bailey Lee and Sarah Sylvestre will play in the Northeast Jr. District Orchestra. The MMEA All-State Chorus sang in Symphony Hall on March 20 and included Gia Greene, Jenna Lorusso, Andrew Milne, Evan Pappazisis, and Rachel Stigers. Christopher Martin (Musicianship II) was the Assistant Chairman for the Chorus. Special thanks to Chris Martin, Lisa Graham, and Joe Stillitano for coaching senior and junior district masterclasses this winter.

Congratulations!

Chorus auditions will be held from 9am-3pm on May 22, 2010, at Boston Latin School, 78 Avenue de Louis Pasteur. VAP High School Soloist auditions will be held on June 19, 2010, at the New England Conservatory, starting at 9.30am. For further information, contact Robin Baker at rbaker@handelandhaydn.org, or call 617 262 1815, ext. 126.

SpringAuditions

VAP Family News

started March 6. She is working on material for two bands (Ferrets and Dwell), and a solo CD. Jenna Lorusso is the senior student-elected leader of Acton-Boxborough High School’s 23-voice Madrigal Ensemble (winner of two MICCA Gold Awards). Samantha Martin played a dancing and singing rug in Masconomet High School’s Beauty and the Beast, and performed in the MHS jazz choir concert in February.

Reed McConnell was inducted into the National Honor Society. Bryan Mendes will sing with Bishop Fenwick High School’s Concert Choir at New York City’s Heritage Music Festival during March 26-28. Joshua Paro will be in the cast of Breed Middle School’s production of Once Upon an Island in April. Ruby Sands is in the chorus for Winchester High School’s production of The Pajama Game.

Rachel Stigers played Sister in Beverly High School’s production of The Will Rogers Follies, March 11-14.

VAP Alumni

Ashley Buckhout (YWC ’07) spent three months in Florence, Italy last fall and will be singing in Boston Baroque’s outreach program of Telemann’s St. Luke’s Passion. Evangelyna Etienne (2008 Achtmeyer Award) appeared in two Gordon College productions this spring, as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Third Lady in The Magic Flute. She is also working as an intern in GC’s music department. She will attend the Franco-American Vocal Academy in France next summer. Abha Gallewale (YWC‘09) is a member of Tufts’ oldest all-female a cappella group, the Jackson Jills. The Jills have been nominated for a national CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award) for Best Female Collegiate Album.

Meredith Lustig (2009 Maze Award, 2005 Achtmeyer Award) sang works by Beach and Blitzstein in Killer B’s: American Song from Amy Beach to the Beach Boys, a collaboration between the Juilliard School and the New York Festival of Song, on January 13. Meredith is in her first year of a master’s degree program at Juilliard. Michael Maloney (Soloists ‘08) was the opening act for Nashville’s Carter Twins at Medford High School on February 12 for a performing arts fundraiser. He got the audience rocking to “Sweet Caroline” and “Piano Man,” and closed with his “The Long and Winding Road to Medford,” a Beatles parody (first prize winner in WROR’s “Townie Tunes” contest in 2007). Roxanne Michaud (YWC ‘09) works at the Urbano Studio in Jamaica Plain, which empowers urban teens and professional artists to effect social change through visionary works of art and performance. Melissa Piantedosi (YWC ’07), a senior at Boston Conservatory, will be the Third Maiden in Gotovac’s Ero s onoga svijeta, as Ino in a student directed scene of Handel’s Semele, and will sing in ensembles for scenes of L’Elisir D’Amore and I Capuletti. She is a member of the Boston Conservatory Troubadors who perform in nursing homes during the school year. Deborah Pierre (2008 Achtmeyer Award) performed in Curtain Up: Original Musical Theater Songs (written and arranged by Berklee students) on March 2. Patrick Wicker (Soloists ‘09) a member of Harvard’s Krokodiloes, will perform March 27 following a trip to Bermuda.

He will also play Jack in Harvard’s production of Into the Woods in late April. Patrick will sing at Carnegie Hall on May 5 with the Kroks and also in June for a six continent tour. Suzanne Wyman (Soloists ‘09) has been singing in Boston and New York with Boston University’s Chordially Yours. They will record a new CD with Suzie’s solo performance of “Halo.” Lisa Yanofsky (YWC ‘08) is a sophomore at Oberlin College majoring in art history and vocal performance. She is organizing a concert fundraiser for Haitian relief at Concord-Carlisle High School on April 1 at 8pm.

Faculty News

Congratulations to Michelle Shoemaker (Musicianship I), husband Ryan and daughter Eveline, who added Elliott Francis (born December 14) to the family. Welcome back Michelle! Lisa Graham’s Wellesley College Choir performed February 13 at the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Philadelphia. Dr. Graham also conducted The Brookline Chorus in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem on March 7 at All Saints Parish, Brookline. Quartet soprano Teresa Wakim was a soloist in Handel’s Israel in Egypt with Back Bay Chorale at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, March 13, 8pm; and will be a soloist in Night of French Cantatas with Les Bostonades at Lindsay Chapel, Emmanuel Church in Boston, April 10, 8pm, and in When Britten Met Haydn with The Boston Cecilia at All Saints Parish in Brookline, April 16, 8pm.

Pictured above: 2008 Achtmeyer Award winners Evangelyna Etienne and Deborah Pierre pose for a photo after a concert.

Supported in part by:

Thank you for joining with us in building a strong foundation for our audiences, musicians, and the children in our education programs.

Two Ways to Support the Education Programs

Institutions

Abbot & Dorothy Stevens FoundationBarrington FoundationBessie Pappas Charitable FoundationBoston ConvervatoryBoston Cultural CouncilBrockton Cultural CouncilCambridge Arts CouncilCharles and Sara Goldberg

Charitable TrustCharles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Clipper Ship FoundationDavid Greenewalt Charitable TrustDeborah Munroe Noonan

Memorial FundDeutsche Bank National Trust Co.Esther B. Kahn Charitable FoundationFidelity Investments FoundationKingsbury Road Charitable FoundationLawrence Cultural CouncilLinde Family FoundationThe Ludcke FoundationLynn Cultural CouncilMarlon L. Decrow FoundationMassachusetts Cultural CouncilMedford Arts CouncilNational Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the Arts

Recovery ActThe New England Conservatory

Extension DivisionThe Parthenon GroupRamsey McCluskey Family Foundation

Sacerdote & Co., Inc.Schrafft Charitable TrustSeth Sprague Educational &

Charitable FoundationStearns Charitable TrustSun Life Assurance Company

of Canada (U.S.)One Anonymous Donor

Individuals

Janet Adachi & James GadoMark & Maura AmrichSarah F. Anderson & Myriam C. Anderson

in honor of Robin Baker & Lisa Graham

Rafael & Ana ArdonJoseph Basile & Sheelah Sweeny

in memory of Barbara MazeAnn & Michael BaroneArthur Carter

in memory of Barbara MazeCynthia & Daniel CaulfieldAnnette & Majid CharmchiLisa Cherbuliez & John Terry

in honor of Robin Baker, Heather Tryon, & Dr. Martin

Anne & David ChiribogaBonnie Ciambotti & Eric ZieringValerie Edith CowartDonna Cuipylo & Tim WatkinsNancie & Paul DeJoieEugene & Julie DespresMary & Joseph Doyle

Susan & Charles DrebingDan & Joanne DudkaMargaret & Sean DyerLucinda EllertDorothy FabianCarol & Daniel FisherBeth Fuller & Bob PainePaul Gallo & Diana Collazo-GalloThe Gattozzi FamilyRichard GeyerThe Glass FamilyRoger & Val GovaertBeth GrahamDon Haber & Connie HouckAdele Hoffman

in memory of Barbara MazeAngela Irving

in memory of Barbara MazeCynthia KanikJames & Mary KaramourtopoulosKevin Kelly & Patricia BeldenRima & Samuil KlevskyShelly KrollLinda LawDavid LeeKaren S. & George D. LevyWinifred I. Li & William P. Oliver

in memory of Barbara MazeAnn Marie Lindquist & Robert WeisskoffAlex & Julia LipmanJay & Julie LustigCarol & James LydonPeter G. Manson & Peter A. Durfee

in memory of Barbara Maze

Jeff McConnell & Janet ChumleyEric MeshBeth P. Milham

in memory of Barbara MazeMary & Sherif Nada

in memory of Barbara MazeMargaret & Carl NagelGreg Netland & Kim HollidayNancy NizelMaureen & Douglas OlsenJohn W. Osgood

in memory of Barbara MazeElizabeth & David PageWinifred & Leroy ParkerGail & Frank PataniaAndrew & Patricia PetersonLoumona PetroffFrancesca & Michael PfrommerAlan D. Rothstein

in memory of Barbara MazeRolly Rouse & Carole CollinsSusan & Andrew SpenceClaire SpinnerRichard & Margaret Vidale

in memory of Barbara MazeKathleen & Walter Weld

in memory of Barbara MazeFour Anonymous DonorsOne Anonymous Donor

in memory of Barbara Maze

Supporters

Buy a Luxury Raffle ticket

You could win one of five exciting prizes including exotic trips to Hawaii and Tortola, beautiful diamond

jewelry, memorable sports experiences with the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and an unforgettable performance opportunity with the Society! 100% of your raffle ticket purchase supports the education and artistic initiatives of Handel and Haydn and only 1,000 tickets will be sold.

Tickets are $100 and are available at VAP rehearsals, Handel and Haydn concerts, and through the Box Office at 300 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. Drawing date is May 2, 2010 so buy your ticket soon before they are gone! For more details visit www.handelandhaydn.org/raffle.

Make a gift to the 2010 Board Challenge

As the Handel and Haydn Society’s Bicentennial quickly approaches and as we celebrate Artistic

Director Harry Christophers’ first season, leaders from Handel and Haydn’s Board have launched a matching challenge grant: Strengthening the Society for the Bicentennial.

Any gift made between now and June 30, 2010 will be matched one for one by these Board members, up to $75,000. Please help us meet this goal with a tax-deductible contribution to the Society today. You may make a gift online at www.handelandhaydn.org/give or call 617 262 1815.

Strengthening the Society for the Bicentennial