Young People’s Philharmonic 2010-201 Highlights

This has been a season of change for the JSP and YPP. The founder of the JSP handed the baton to a new conductor. The YPP started a Brass Choir and Wind Ensemble. Our Holiday Concert was held at Symphony Hall, and, after many years of cordial but arms length relations, we are working together with the Allentown Symphony on an exciting project.

Last summer Nancy Bidlack informed us that the 2010 JSP Spring concert would be her last as conductor. After over thirty years of guiding young string players and building the JSP and YPP into the area’s premiere youth orchestra, it has been strange not to see Nancy on the podium. Nancy continues to guide the organization as our Artistic Director so her influence on the JSP will continue.

In the fall we welcomed Kenny Bean as the JSP Interim Conductor. Kenny worked wonders with the JSP, culminating with a great Holiday Concert. Kenny is continuing with the YPP as Assistant Conductor and started a brass choir and wind ensemble that debuted during the YPP Spring Concert.

These changes left a huge void that needed to be filled so the Search Committee was hard at work advertising the conductor opening, reviewing resumes, reaching out to get information about the candidates, interviewing candidates and evaluating auditions. Lisa Ruebeck, Coleen Sawyer, Caroline Dawson, Nancy Bidlack, Jerry Bidlack, and Jim Minneman spent many hours working to attract top candidates and evaluate over twenty well qualified applicants. In November the committee selected Dr. Stephen Framil to conduct the JSP.

Welcome Dr. Framil! Steve jumped right in and started work with the JSP in January and completed a very successful Spring Concert. He and Nancy worked together to select the repertoire for the Spring Concert and to pass on lessons learned over the last thirty years. We’re confident Steve will carry on the tradition of excellence.

While we were in the midst of change, there were also changes at Symphony Hall that created an opportunity for the YPP Holiday Concert to return to the Hall. Working together on the Holiday Concert inspired Diane Wittry, the Conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO) to propose that our organizations jointly apply for a grant from the Midori Foundation. The Midori application was submitted in late February. Unfortunately our application was not selected; however, the YPP and ASO are planning to work together on a joint project with an accomplished soloist in 2012.

Even though many things are changing, one thing that has not changed is our firm commitment to accomplish our core mission of “providing the youth of the greater Lehigh Valley with their own musical organization whereby they may study and perform original symphony orchestra literature, as it was written by the composers, increasing the awareness and appreciation of symphonic music throughout the area, and developing high quality musicianship.”

Our 2011-2012 season is set begin with our first rehearsal and Parent Information Night on Tuesday September 20th. The December Holiday Concert is scheduled for Sunday December 18th at Symphony Hall.

General Information

Organizational History of the Young People’s Philharmonic

The Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley was founded in 1976 by Jerry T. and Nancy Bidlack, and is composed of two orchestras. One, a full symphonic orchestra made up of 85 talented high school students and the other, a string orchestra made up of 45 middle school students. These young musicians come from all over the Lehigh Valley (Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Bucks, and Berks counties) and Western New Jersey to audition for a seat in the orchestra. Auditions are held in May for the following school year. They rehearse for two and one-half hours weekly at the Charter School for the Performing Arts in Bethlehem.

Mission Statement

The Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley is organized for the purposes of providing the youth of the greater Lehigh Valley with their own musical organization whereby they may study and perform original symphony orchestra literature, as it was written by the composers, increasing the awareness and appreciation of symphonic music throughout the area, serving the Middle and Senior high school youth of the community, and cooperating with the schools in nourishing and developing high quality musicianship. Members of the Philharmonic will be encouraged to participate in their own school programs.

Organization

The Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes provided under section 501 c3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit incidental or otherwise. The YPP is an approved Educational Improvement Organization in Pennsylvania. A working Board of Directors composed of the orchestras’ conductors, staff, parents, and local music teachers are responsible for the organization’s governance.

Board meetings are held on the first non-holiday Monday of each month September through June. Executive committee meetings are held as needed. The annual meeting is held in May and all meetings are open to interested parties.

Public Service and Outreach

In addition to developing and educating its members, the orchestras reach out into the community to educate and inspire an interest in music.

The orchestras perform three formal concerts per year. Combined these concerts draw approximately 1500 attendees.

In addition to the formal concerts, the orchestras have a special relationship with area schools as a result of the school concerts they perform each year. School tours to different local districts each year enable the young players to share their music with their young contemporaries. Peers bringing music to peers is our critical difference!

The orchestras also perform concerts at an area nursing home each year. In all, the YPP and JSP provide an in-depth exposure of symphonic music for about 125 young musicians and an enjoyable and educational experience for over 4,000 people in the community each year.

Musical Education

The Young People’s Philharmonic Senior Orchestra performs entirely from original symphonic scores and is under the direction of Jerry T. Bidlack, who has been a professor in the Music Department at Lehigh University since 1973 and Professor Emeritus since 1995. Students must master their own parts and, by playing and listening in rehearsal, learn how their parts contribute to the composition as a whole. This provides a deeper understanding of the underlying structure of the music and the background material required for college or conservatory music study. Our students rehearse once weekly for 2 ½ hours and have several sectional rehearsals per year with professional coaches appropriate for their instrument. This year we provided over 7,500 hours of musical instruction.

The Young People’s Philharmonic also sponsors a College Night for orchestra members and others students from the community. Typically representatives from over twenty colleges are available to answer questions about their music programs and more general inquiries. Every year several graduating seniors go on to professional music study, and nearly all remain actively involved in music performance.

The Junior String Philharmonic also plays original compositions. It provides intensive training in string performance under the guidance of Nancy Bidlack, Kenny Bean, Stephen Framil and Connie Trach and is a preparatory experience for advancement into the senior orchestra.

Senior Concerto Competition

From the very beginning of the orchestra over 30 years ago, we thought including concertos in our repertoire would be a valuable addition to the program. The problem is always, who will play them? We decided to open a competition to students in our orchestra that are high school seniors to eliminate the problem of having the same person winning the competition more than once. Auditions are in January. Paid professional musicians judge the competition to ensure it is fair and that the quality of the program is superior. The students play one movement of their concerto from memory. The winner is selected from the auditions. The attraction of a concerto has been a very successful addition to our Spring Concert program.


Income 2009-10 2010-11*

Tuition $33,000 $40,900

Contributions 17,700 17,500

Concerts 10,300 3,400

Sales 5,800 2,300

Interest & Dividends 0 100

Total Income $66,800 $64,200*

Expenses 2009-10 2010-11*

Honoraria $39,500 $37,600

Concert 7,200 11,700

Supplies 4,900 3,700

Services 2,800 3,200

Space Rental 2,300 2,400

Fund Raising 1,400 1,400

Cost of Sales 1,500 1,200

Miscellaneous 1,300 1,100

Equipment 300 1,100

Insurance 600 500

Total Expenses $71,700 $64,900*

Gain (Loss) $ 8,700 ($700)*

*=estimate as of May 2, 2011



Support from our Community 2011

(through April 28, 2011)

The Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley is grateful to the following corporations and organizations for their support during the 2010-2011 Concert Season

PPL Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation

Keystone Nazareth Charitable Foundation Crayola

Pa Council on the Arts/LV Arts Council Red Robin Restaurants

Allentown Symphony Association Barnes and Noble

Phoebe Floral/R&R Floral Dan Schantz Farm and Greenhouses, LLC

Armen Elliott Photography Giant Foods

Wegmans’

Matching Gift Support has been received from

Air Products

PPL

The YPP is grateful for support received during the past year from:

Benefactors ($250 & over)

Anonymous Nanci, Emma & Greg Funfgeld

Jerry & Nancy Bidlack James Lampe

Robert & Susan Boehret, Chang & Honjie Li

In memory of Ruth Boehret Pamela Mery

Dana Burke James & Margaret Minneman

Gary, Candy & Julie Costacurta Colleen Sawyer

Patrons ($100-$249)

Randy & Ramona Bruch Barbara R. Pearson

John Campion & Andrea Waxman Mr. & Mrs. Harry Reichelderfer

Wyn & Barbara Davies Johanna & Steve Reisteter

Caroline & Dave Dawson Dr. Eric Schenkel & Susan Baum

Youngmin Ko & Jiyeon Kim Mr. & Mrs. Shun-Lin Su

Michael & Linda Krentz David & Robin Weidman

Denise & Norman Lawrence Orville & Eileen Williamson

Drs. Mark Choi & Sarah Lee Jun Zhao & Yalin Yang

Hanna & Jennifer Lee Suzanne Zhou

Phil & Mardi Metzger

Support From Our Community

The YPP is grateful for support received during the past year from:

Friends ($50-$99)

June Bell Robert & Sylvia Hinton

Richard Benert & Carol Leferovich Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Howell

Fridolin & Claire Bosch Anjali Ghate Joshi

Bobb & Joan Carson Marcella Langman

Marion & George Chapman The Leferovich Family

Rachel Choi Belle & John Marks

Thomas T. Church Vee & Charles McClain

Seth P. Clarke Don, Lucille & Andrew McNellis

In Memory of Michael D’Auria Virginia & William Melin

David & Beverly Dries Vernell & Gerald Moore

Will Fetterman Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Scharf

Debora Witial Goebel Nadine Sine

David & Maryann Guro The Spiegel Family

Ruth Hailperin Ann R. Strong

Ben & Michelle Heller Yidhen Lai & Xiao-an Wang

Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Henry Xiaoyi, Yadong & Joy Wang

Supporters ($5-$49)

Anonymous J. Vincent & Mary Ann Kelly

Annette Benert LeRoy & Grace MacMurtrie

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Bonenberger Gary & Janet Matulis

Tanya Chaply Marian Meilinger

Clark & Ardis Chapman Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Moore

Will & Martha Christine Dr. & Mrs. Alan Morrison

Amy Cruzan-Flannery Paul Nyffenegger

Armen & Charles Elliott Chennon Grubb Radford

Mr. & Mrs. John W. Fisher Dr. & Mrs. Walter P. Risley, Jr.

Andrea Gimbar Lynne & Tony Rossi

Ralston & Mildred Glatz Lisa & Chris Ruebeck

Dennit & Donna Golden Philip M. Seib

Dorrie & Terry Graul John & Terry Thomas

Alan Greenberger Christiane Torchia

Bill & Jan Hansen Robert C. Williamson

Alison Heydt Allen & Ilse Stoll Zinnes

Franklin & Barbara Hohe

Alison B. Hudak

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Young People's Philharmonic Board Members 2010-2011

as of 5/2/11

Ari Budihardjo, 10-12 610-366-3716

4413 Stoney Brook Court

Allentown, PA 18104

Candy Costacurta, 09-11 610-868-9403

3081 Artemis Circle

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Bruce Denmead, 10-12 c 610-730-3427

527 W Mauch Chunk St.

Nazareth, PA 18064

Greg Eicher, 10-12 610-438-5442

c 310-251-4261

1154 Bushkill Street

Easton, PA 18042

Christine Gahman, 10-12 610-861-7302

c 484-241-6111

2158 Johnston Avenue

Bethlehem, PA 18015

Denise Lawrence, 08-10-12 610-868-8287

Vice-President

3147 Nijaro Road

Bethlehem, PA 18020

Jim Lazzaro, 10-12 610-965-1481

6541 Crown Lane

Zionsville, PA 18092

Peggy Lovas, 10-12 610-965-5437

747 Frank Drive

Emmaus, PA 18049

James Minneman,03-05,06-08-10-12 610-366-8376

President

1110 Greenleaf Circle

Allentown, PA 18103

Maggie Minneman, 08-10-12 610-366-8376

1110 Greenleaf Circle

Allentown, PA 18103

Ram Narasimhan, 09-11 610-530-7915

c 484-347-1471

4651 Berwyn Lane Treasurer

Macungie, PA 18062

Laura Rauscher, 10-12 610-966-1616

4802 Skytop Drive

Emmaus, PA 18049

Harry Reichelderfer, 10-12 610-966-6792

c 610-212-7874

2667 Fieldview Drive

Macungie, PA 18062

Coleen Sawyer, 09-11 610-451-4815

472 Sugar Maple Court

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Wendy Thompson, 09-11 610-867-3021

1607 Saucon Valley Road

Bethlehem, PA 18015

Staff:

Kenny Bean YPP Assistant Conductor

c 484-767-0820

1704 Sycamore Street

Bethlehem, PA 18017

Dr. Stephen Framil JSP Conductor

484-580-8058

686 Limehouse Road c 610-716-5737

Wayne, PA 19087

Amanda Grube Business Manager

c 610-554-1359

6220 Glen Court

Germansville, PA 18053

Caroline Dawson Administrative Assistant

YPP Office 610-868-9888

499 Rosewood Drive c 484-515-4166

Northampton PA 18067 610-767-7851

Permanent Board Members:

Jerry Bidlack YPP Conductor

610-868-9200

Nancy Bidlack JSP Artistic Director

610-868-9200

1704 Sycamore Street

Bethlehem PA 18017

Nanci Funfgeld YPP Manager

610-866-3574

3127 Nijaro Road c 610-509-8666

Bethlehem PA 18017

Student Representative

Norman Lawrence (YPP) 610-868-8287

Secretary

3147 Nijaro Road

Bethlehem, PA 18020

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