The Center for gifted young musicians
2008-2009 SEASON
The Center for Gifted Young Musicians (CGYM) provides a challenging package of musical training at the highest level and performance opportunities for gifted young instrumentalists and singers during the fall and spring semesters of the University’s academic calendar.
By audition only.
AUDITIONS for the CGYM’s string ensemble program described on these pages are held in early September for the entire academic year. Auditions for choir are held in June and early September for the academic year. Please call the Music Prep office at 215.204.1512 for audition information.
For
individual lesson offerings, please see Lessons and Faculty
INSTRUMENTAL DIVISION
Luis Biava, Music Director
STRING
ENSEMBLES
Established
in 1986, the Center’s string program focuses on the development
of superior musical skills in ensemble performance. Instruction is
provided by the finest artist/teachers in the region, including members
of The Philadelphia Orchestra and professors from Temple University’s
Esther Boyer College of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music.
All
string ensembles meet on Saturday afternoons beginning September 27.
String
players may be accepted to the Youth Chamber Orchestra
or Chamber Players Orchestra for training in both chamber orchestra
and small ensemble.
Annual Tuition: $995
Annual Tuition for Music Prep individual lesson students: $795
Less
advanced players accepted into the Center for training in one of the
large string ensembles only:
- Baroque Players
- Classic Strings
- Children's Violin Ensemble
Annual Tuition: $495
Annual Tuition for Music Prep individual lesson students: $395
Advanced
pianists are invited to audition and are placed in small
ensembles based on the instrumental needs of the repertoire chosen.
Annual
Tuition: $395
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CHORAL DIVISION
Stephen Caldwells, Music Director
CHILDREN’S
CHOIR
The Children’s Choir is designed for outstanding young singers,
male (unchanged voices) and female, ages 10-17 years. The choir focuses
on expressive singing built upon a foundation of good vocal technique
and musicianship. Singers perform repertoire representing diverse
world cultures and a wide range of styles.
Auditions: September 20, 2008
All
Choirs meet on Saturday mornings beginning on
September 27, 2008.
Chamber
Choir (Touring Choir) - 9:00 AM to 12:15
Annual Tuition: $450
Concert
Choir - 9:00 AM to 10:30
Annual Tuition: $350
Alpha Choir - 9:15 AM to 10:00
Annual Tuition: $200
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MUSICIANSHIP CLASSES
Pre-teens and Teens
Taught
by Veronika Zhmeniak
The
main goal of all three levels is to develop musicianship by integrating
aural, written, vocal and tactile skills. This is accomplished mainly
by using movable Do solfege to help students make the connection
between musical notation and sound.
Basic:
An
introduction to basic musical concepts, including rhythm, intervals,
and chords, through ear-training, solfege, sight-singing, and musical
dictation. Students learn to recognize the following, aurally and
visually: major and minor scales; all the intervals within the major
scale; and major and minor chord qualities.
Intermediate:
Exploration
of music fundamentals leading to an understanding of the practical
application of intervals and chords. Students learn to hear and recognize
the following: isolated intervals (outside the context of the major
scale); basic chords in root position (I, IV, V); and simple chord
progressions. Skills developed include sight-singing and taking dictation
of more complex melodies and simple chord progressions. In addition,
students demonstrate ability to apply knowledge of musical materials
learned by writing short compositions.
Advanced:
An
in-depth integration of all musical elements presented in the two
previous levels, with an introduction to more advanced concepts, analysis,
and composition. Students explore important differences between musical
styles and analyze pieces of music from their own performance repertoire.
Other skills developed include hearing and visually recognizing diminished,
augmented and V7 chords, as well as chord inversions (including V7
chords and their resolutions) and tonic expansions.
Advanced (Vocal emphasis): Designed to strengthen solfege, ear training and sight reading skills, among other basic musicianship concepts. This course enables students to gain the musicianship skills necessary for acceptance into any college vocal program.
-25 Saturdays
Fall: September 29, 2007 through December 15, 2007
Winter: January 19, 2008 through April 26, 2008
(No classes November 24 and March 22)
Basic: 10:00 to 10:50 AM
Intermediate: 11:00 to 11:50 AM
Advanced: Noon to 12:50 PM
Advanced (Vocal emphasis): 1:00 to 1:50 PM
Sept. 27 through April 25
(No classes December 20 through January 10)
Annual
Tuition: $360
An
evaluation to determine class placement can be taken on Septempber
6, 13, or 20. Call 215.204.1512 for information.
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The
Center's Faculty
Helen
Kwalwasser, Artistic Advisor
Orlando Cole, Master Teacher and Consultant
Youth
Chamber Orchestra
Luis Biava, Music Director
Chamber Players Orchestra
Davyd Booth, Conductor
Baroque
Players
Davyd Booth, Conductor
Classic
Strings
Aaron Picht, Conductor
Ben Blazer, Assistant Conductor
Children's
Violin Ensemble
Conductor TBA
Chamber
Ensembles
Charles
Parker, Jr., Coordinator
Coaching
Faculty
Che-Hong Chen
Ellen dePasquale
Glen Fischbach
Thomas Kraines
Charles Parker, Jr., Coordinator
Aaron Picht
Metta Watts
Chamber & Concert
Choirs
Stephen Caldwell, Conductor
Athony Gault, Accompanist
Alpha Choir
Veronika Zhmeniak, Conductor
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