We offer a musical experience for students of all levels:
Prelude Orchestra
String Ensemble
Chamber
Operating as usual
This week Prelude Orchestra worked in sectionals with Mrs. Buchko, Ms. Scher, Mrs. Grundvig, and Mr. Isaac. When they came back together for rehearsal we heard excellent progress! We are so grateful to our coaches for their enthusiasm and dedication.
Chamber Orchestra working with Dr. Mark Taylor!
String Ensemble worked on rhythm skills in sectionals yesterday! Our students worked with Mrs. Sengstack, Mrs. Plunkett, Mrs. Grundvig, and Mrs. Chou.
We hope you are having a wonderful break! All four orchestras will rehearse on Tuesday, January 3rd. Dr. Mark Taylor will be working with Chamber Orchestra.
Dr. Mark A. Taylor, Director of Orchestras at Centreville HS, is an award winning music educator and composer. He has been honored as Teacher of the Year for Region 5 in Fairfax County Public Schools, the VA branch of the American String Teachers Association, and the Fairfax Orchestra Directors Association. Dr. Taylor regularly composes and guest conducts for all levels. He plays cello under the direction of his father, F. Wayne Taylor, in the Friends & Family Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Taylor holds a BM from George Mason University, an MME from Shenandoah Conservatory, and a DMA in Composition from George Mason University, where he studied under Dr. Glenn Smith.
When he is not making music, Dr. Taylor enjoys spending time with his family and riding his bike wherever the roads might take him. While he once took an unsupported bike trip from Virginia to Alabama to raise scholarship money for his students, most trips encompass a much smaller radius. Mark, his wife Holly, daughter Jacqueline, and son Curtis reside in Centreville, Virginia.
PC: CVHS MOB Historians
Happy Holidays from our staff! We are on break until Tuesday, January 3.
Musicians from Prelude Orchestra and String Ensemble played holiday tunes at the Springfield Town Center. Thanks for having us!
Our Chamber Orchestra musicians worked really hard on St. Paul’s Suite in sectionals! We are grateful for our dedicated sectional coaches- Dr. Kobayashi, Mr. Matthie, Mr. Levin, and Mrs. Chou.
Select members of the Chamber Orchestra played holiday tunes in the lobby before the Manassas Symphony Concert yesterday. Thanks for including us, we had a great time!
What an absolutely lovely chamber music concert! Congratulations to Kenneth Law (Chamber Music Director) and all performers for their hard work and preparation.
Thank you Pender United Methodist Church for hosting us!
We are looking forward to the Chamber Music program tomorrow evening at Pender UMC. Come hear our students perform Beethoven, Mozart, Dohnanyi, and Haydn. Good luck to our performers!
Congratulations to our Mozart Quartet, Prelude Orchestra, and String Ensemble on their performance last night. We are so proud of you!
Select Chamber Orchestra musicians will be performing holiday tunes in the lobby at the MSO concert. Thanks for having us, Manassas Symphony Orchestra! We are looking forward to your concert!
On December 10th the Hylton Center will be transformed into a wonderland with MSO's unique synchronized light show featuring holiday favorites. There is still time to buy tickets at HyltonCenter.org. Children and students tickets are free.
Come hear our Mozart Quartet, Prelude Orchestra, and String Ensemble perform on Tuesday!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁
Best wishes to students and teachers performing at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Conference this weekend.
The Lake Braddock Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael Luley, will be performing “The Enigma,” composed by Mr. Austin Isaac (Prelude Orchestra Conductor). He will appear as guest conductor at their performance on Friday.
Congratulations to all!
What a wonderful season opener with the Haydn Quartet, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra. Bravi tutti!
Congratulations to the students, conductors, and teachers involved with the JRO/SRO events this weekend! Your rehearsals have been inspirational. Good luck with the performance!
In honor of Veterans Day, we are featuring TCSYO’s Percussion Coach, Mr. Jake Harpster. He is a Percussionist/Assistant Principal Timpanist in The United States Army Concert Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington D.C.
He is in rehearsal with us every week- guiding our students and helping them understand the intricacies of orchestral playing. We are so thankful for him!
When asked about what it’s like playing in a military band, he says: “It’s an honor - especially on Veterans Day - to be able to combine the joy of performing in a world-class ensemble with the mission of honoring soldiers and veterans.”
PC: Hey Next Paige
Next week, Prelude Orchestra will be conducted by Mrs. Kusdarman.
Jessica Kusdarman is a Northern Virginia based violinist who grew up in the area attending Fairfax County Public Schools. She currently teaches orchestra for FCPS at Sangster and White Oaks elementary schools, and is a private violin teacher in the region.
She is also a freelance violinist, performing across the Tidewater and Northern Virginia areas. Mrs. Kusdarman holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education and Violin Performance, and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Christopher Newport University.
Our Quartet, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra will be performing next week. We are so proud of our students, and are excited to share what we’ve been working on!
Symphonic Orchestra Members- Concerto Competition Preliminary Round submissions are due Monday (11/7).
https://www.tcsyo.org/concerto-competition.php
All four orchestras will meet on Tuesday next week (No rehearsal on Monday- Halloween). String Ensemble will work with Mr. Fowkes!
Gerald Fowkes, cellist and conductor, is a graduate of Louisiana State University where he graduated summa cm laude in Cello Performance. In addition, he holds a Master of Music Education from Brigham Young University. A Northern Virginia native, Gerald is an alumnus of the American Youth Philharmonic and a past Virginia Emerson Scholar at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan.
From 2014 to the present, Mr. Fowkes serves as Director of Orchestras at Fairfax High School. From 2003-2014 he taught in Prince William County Schools and was the recipient of the 2014 Dale City Civic Association High School Teacher of the Year. In addition to his duties at Fairfax, he is conductor of the Young Artist Orchestra of the DC Youth Orchestra Program, and on the artist faculty as the Orchestra Director of the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute. From 2017-2020, Fowkes was Music Director and Conductor of the McLean Youth Orchestra. Prior to that position, he was on the conducting staff of the Youth Orchestras of Prince William from 2004-2017. He has had the distinct honor of guest conducting numerous honor orchestras throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and is a frequent guest conductor at the annual JMU Spring String Thing.
Mr. Fowkes is currently a member of the George Mason University faculty, teaching applied cello, as well as courses in cello pedagogy and class strings. He is a frequent chamber music collaborator and a past chamber music fellow at the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Park City International Music Festival. A former member of the Baton Rouge Symphony, he performs frequently as a freelance cellist throughout the Baltimore/Washington metro area having performed with the Virginia, Fairfax, and McLean Orchestras amongst others. Mr. Fowkes maintains a private cello studio at his home where he resides with his wife and four children.
PC: BR Chaney Photography
Ivy is one of our soloists in the upcoming Chamber Orchestra concert. We are so proud of you!
Ivy has been with MCAA for several years, taking violin and composition private lessons. Ivy is currently studying with MCAA’s piano and theory/composition teaching artist, Dr. Radina Dosseva.
She has also participated in our Acting for Young People workshops, and Summer Music Production and Music Composition camps.
https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/congratulations-ivy-xu/
All four orchestras will rehearse next week on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday- no rehearsal). Mrs. Michelle Milligan will be working with String Ensemble!
Michelle Milligan is an Administrative Coordinator of the Arts for Prince William County Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from George Mason University and Master of Education in Educational Leadership from James Madison University. Prior to her role in PWCS, Mrs. Milligan was the Music Specialist for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and an orchestra teacher in Prince William County Schools (PWCS) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). In 2017, Mrs. Milligan and the Frost Chamber Orchestra were the featured middle school orchestra performance at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in Hot Springs, Virginia. Under her direction, Mrs. Milligan's orchestras have received consistent Superior ratings at the VBODA District Assessments. Mrs. Milligan was nominated for the Music Arts Educator of the Year Award in 2017 by her students.
Mrs. Milligan is an active clinician and adjudicator in the Northern Virginia area. She has served as a guest conductor for Shenandoah Middle School All-County Orchestra (VA), Loudoun County Public Schools Middle School All-County Orchestra (VA), Alexandria All-City District Orchestra (VA), Dutchess County Elementary All-County (NY) and Ulster County Elementary All-County (NY). Mrs. Milligan is known for her enthusiasm for music, and her strength in program growth and retention, nearly doubling all of the programs that she has had the pleasure of working with.
We love our sectional coaches! Here Mrs. Plunkett is working with our String Ensemble violas and 3rd violins.
Mrs. Rupert rehearsing Symphonic Orchestra on Dvorak 9 for our November Concert. Thank you to The Foxes Music Company for providing folders!
We’ve been having a great time getting to know our orchestra members and learning new music!
Featured this week:
*Mr. Chou- Executive Director, and Ms. Dobberstein-Operations Manager
*Prelude Violist before the first rehearsal
*Symphonic Principal Oboist- who came straight to rehearsal from SRO auditions!
Our bags are ready, and our folders are stuffed. We are so excited to meet you and make music together!
We’re delighted to have Mr. Levin joining us as our Chamber Orchestra viola sectional coach this year!
Harold Levin serves as Artist-Teacher of Viola at The Main Street Music Studios in Fairfax, and violist of The Main Street Chamber Players. He has held faculty positions at the University of Nebraska, Bucknell University, and Skidmore College; and has directed youth orchestras in Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Florida. Dr. Levin holds degrees from Rutgers University, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Ball State University. During the summer he teaches, performs, and conducts at the Blue Mountain Festival.
Meet our String Ensemble and Prelude viola sectional coach: Mrs. Eleanor Plunkett!
Mrs. Plunkett graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in music education from West Virginia University, studying viola with Andrea Priester Houde. She currently teaches orchestra for Fairfax County Public Schools. In addition to teaching for FCPS, Eleanor also maintains a private viola and violin studio and works as an instructional coach for local youth orchestras and summer music camps. She is the founder and director of the Maestra Ensemble.
Mr. Matthie will be working with our Chamber Orchestra violinists during sectionals this year!
Stephen Matthie is currently the Director of Orchestras at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, VA, where he is also the chairperson of the Faculty Advisory Council.
Mr. Matthie is a sought-after guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for several honors orchestras, assessments, and solo competitions throughout Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. He was the recipient of the Virginia Chapter of the American Strings Teachers Association’s 2010 New Strings Teacher of The Year Award, given to a teacher each year in their first 6 years of teaching.
Mr. Matthie is originally from Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the United States when he was five years old. He is a graduate of Chantilly High School, part of Fairfax County Public Schools, in Chantilly, VA. He earned his B.M. in Music Education from James Madison University where he studied violin with Dr. Wanchi Huang and conducting with Dr. Robert McCashin. Mr. Matthie is a member of American Strings Teachers Association and National Association for Music Education.
Apart from teaching in the public schools, Mr. Matthie spent 15 seasons as a violinist with the Tysons McLean Orchestra in McLean, VA and is now the Assistant Concertmaster for the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra. He runs a violin studio of 5 students out of his home in Fairfax, VA, and is the second violinist for the BASH Quartet, an ensemble made up of fellow orchestra directors.
It was so wonderful to see our colleagues at the FCPS music inservice this morning. We hope you have a great school year!
Ms. Buchko is a fun and engaging violin sectional coach! We’re so glad she’s going to be working with String Ensemble again this year.
Lara Buchko is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she studied with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Christopher Wu, and Chia-Chi Lin. She received her Bachelor of Violin Performance degree from Penn State University. Her teachers have included James Lyon, Julie Savignon, and Linda Cerone.
Lara was a violinist for Walt Disney World and has performed with the Orlando Philharmonic, Florida Chamber Orchestra, Brevard Symphony, Tysons-McLean Orchestra, Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, and Hershey Pops. She has performed with renowned artists from a variety of genres, including Barry Manilow, Sarah Brightman, Bobby McFerrin, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Neil Patrick Harris, Lorin Maazel, and Leonard Slatkin, to name a few. As a dedicated musician, Lara has participated at a number of summer music festivals, including Eastern Music Festival, Bay View Music Festival, and Interlochen.
Lara is currently a member of the National String Symphonia and freelances in the Washington, D.C. area. She is also proud to serve as Orchestra Director for Loudoun County Public Schools and sectional coach for The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras.
Percussionists- we are still looking for a few students to join Symphonic Orchestra! As a member of the orchestra, you will work with Mr. Jake Harpster in sectionals and participate in Percussion Ensemble.
Mr. Jake Harpster has been TCSYO’s Director of Percussion for the past 3 years. He currently holds the position of Percussionist/Assistant Principal Timpanist for The United States Army Concert Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C.
Read more: https://www.tcsyo.org/perc-director.php
We have openings available in Bass, Harp, Horn, Tuba, and Percussion.
Audition info here: https://www.tcsyo.org/auditions.php
Current members- we have a referral program! Email [email protected] to find out more.
We are delighted to welcome Mr. Eric Hoang to the artistic staff as Director of Brass.
Mr. Eric Hoang is a native of Falls Church, VA and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from George Mason University where he studied with Roger Behrend, Anthony Maiello and John Casagrande. He also holds a Master of Music degree in tuba performance from Ithaca College studying with Dr. Aaron Tindall.
Continue reading: https://www.tcsyo.org/brass-coach.php
We are pleased to welcome back Mr. Kenneth Lee for his fifth year as TCSYO’s Director of Woodwinds!
Mr. Kenneth Lee, clarinetist, is an independent studio teacher in Vienna, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Economics from Cornell University, and has held a Graduate Research Fellowship with the Smithsonian Institution. He is a clarinet student of Leon Russianoff, of the Juilliard School, and was a member of The United States Army Band, Solo Clarinetist of the Baroque Arts Chamber Orchestra, Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra, Arlington Symphony, and, as a member of the Anechoic Wind Quintet, presented Concerts in the Schools under the auspices of the Washington Performing Arts Society.
continue reading here: https://www.tcsyo.org/woodwind-coach.php
Centreville, VA
20121
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| Tuesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
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