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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