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Quarter Notes
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Kennett Symphony |
In this issue Musician Profile - Lisa Hammell Musician Profile - Phil McClelland
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FROM THE PRESIDENT We awaken from our winter slumber with this Spring edition of our newsletter, full of news and upcoming events. Perhaps it’s good to view all this activity through the Kennett Symphony’s mission:
We continue our profiles of the professional musicians in the Symphony with Lisa Hammell, Viola, and Phil McClelland, trombone. And we remember Cal Bourgeault, our former Music Director and Conductor. In this season of economic challenges, we are grateful for the strong support that we continue to receive from our audiences, donors, sponsors, foundations and – most particularly – our musicians. See you at the Symphony! |
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FREE CHILDREN'S CONCERT AND INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO A Spring tradition continues on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 with our Free Children’s Concert at Emilie K. Asplundh Hall on the West Chester University campus. The Symphony will perform the family favorite, Carnival of the Animals, accompanied by dancers from the West Chester Dance Works. We will also have visits from Daniel Song and Eric Guo, local piano prodigies, and Amanda Galick, Second Place finisher in the KSCC Instrumental Competition, on flute. After the 60 minute concert, the Symphony musicians will host an Instrument Petting Zoo, welcoming young and old audience members on-stage to share musical experiences. Our thanks to the Kennett Symphony League, Phillips Mushroom Farms, Target, Kohl’s, Taylor’s Music Store, and Dansko for their generous support of this concert. The concert is free; contributions at the door are welcome. Details |
Beethoven
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APRIL CONCERT Join us on Saturday, April 25 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester. In this beautiful setting, Maestra Mary Woodmansee Green and The Kennett Symphony will provide musical insights and illustrations of Beethoven’s landmark “Eroica” Symphony, as it moves from the forceful opening chords, through the hero’s funeral march, the energetic scherzo with its virtuoso horn trio, to the unprecedented breadth of the finale. Then, experience the power of the “Eroica” Symphony - in all its intense, peaceful and tumultuous entirety. Sponsored by Herr Foods. And continue the conversation at a reception after the concert, sponsored by ACME Markets.. Come “Meet the Music!” But get your tickets soon – this concert will sell out. Details |
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2009-2010 SEASON PREVIEW While we still have a few I’s to dot and T’s to cross, Maestra Green has prepared a marvelous program for the upcoming season. Here is a glimpse:
Save the dates and get ready to Celebrate Music with the Symphony. Look forward to receiving our full program brochure in a few months. |
Julia Mintzer |
COMPETITION UPDATES On February 21, 2009, the Symphony held the Junior Instrumental Competition. at Patton Middle School. With 26 entrants in grades 4 through 8, the talent was remarkable! Prize winners include: Pianists Peter Wang and Nicholas Wu, who tied for First Place in the Piano/Violin category, and cellist Eunice D. Ju, who won First Place in the Other Instrument category. Thanks to the organizers, participants, and judges. Details Voice CompetitionOn March 21, 2009 at 1:00, the Symphony will hold this year’s Voice Competition in the Auditorium of Kendal at Longwood. Twenty young artists will compete for cash awards and the opportunity to perform at a future Symphony concert. Last year’s competition discovered Abdul Barr Khaliq, who thrilled audiences at our December concert, and Julia Mintzer, who will perform at our June concert. Admission is free, so come and see the next generation of talent firsthand! Details |
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KENNTTT SYMPHONY CHILDREN'S CHORUS
The Kennett Symphony Children's Chorus is enjoying a fine spring term as they work on repertoire for their upcoming spring concerts where their performances will take them on the road to Lancaster, PA, Kennett Square, PA, and to their home venue in-residence at West Chester University. Mark your calendars and plan to join us!
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MUSICIAN PROFILE Violist, Lisa Hammell spent her early years in Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania. She began viola lessons at age 7. Her parents chose this instrument for her because “the violin was too squeaky.” Practicing at first at the insistence of her parents, Lisa then grew to love music and enjoy performing. In High School, she was placed as principal viola with four orchestras in Pennsylvania - South Eastern District Orchestra, Regional Orchestra, State Orchestra, and The Honors Principal Orchestra. At age 14 , she was a member of the Pottstown Symphony and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. She graduated, cum laude, from Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, as a student of Joseph DePasquale, former Principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lisa followed an orchestral career in the tri-state region, performing for 20 years in the Princeton Symphony, Riverside Symphonia, Pottstown Symphony, and Kennett Symphony. She has also played with the Delaware Symphony, West Jersey Chamber Symphony, the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Choral Arts, Princeton Pro Musica, Tenth Presbyterian Chamber Orchestra, Ocean City Pops, and Boheme Opera, as well as showrooms in Atlantic City. Lisa is a founding member of the Wharton String Quartet. Their repertoire ranges from Mozart to Late Beethoven and Borodin. Her favorite performance was of “the Grosse Fuge” a piece Beethoven could only hear in his head. Ms. Hammell also performs regularly with the King’s String Quartet, most recently performing for a fund raiser for the Philadelphia Orchestra in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. She owns a baroque viola and has performed with the Brandywine Baroque ensemble. She has a full private teaching schedule and regularly places students in top notch regional student ensembles, including the South Jersey Orchestra and Temple Prep. Lisa and husband, composer, Charles Hammell, reside in Moorestown, NJ and are parents of two adult children. On discovering that several of Lisa’s ancestors founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, she and Charles have become dealers of high quality antiques, relating to her heritage. This past year, they were asked to participate in the prestigious Princeton Antiques Show, as well as, the New Guilford, Connecticut Spring Antiques Show, and Hartford Connecticut Shows, and Two Rivers Show in Red Bank, NJ. A sample of their collection can be seen on www.noonmarkantiques.com. Lisa would like to thank Mary Green for her extraordinary commitment to Kennett Symphony . Mary’s dedication, musicality, and generosity towards the musicians in the orchestra is an inspiration. |
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MUSICIAN PROFILE Instrument: Trombone (bass and tenor) Birthplace: Carbondale, PA Musical Influences : My interest in music began not as an instrumentalist but as a singer. My sister and I sang popular songs as duets for local PTA, Kiwanis Clubs and community gatherings. I studied voice, but then branched out into the instrumental world, first on trumpet and then trombone. My first trombone teacher was a jazz drummer and his enthusiasm for all types of music have stayed with me for all these years. In addition to classical, I also enjoy playing big band music, and have toured with Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and Glenn Miller. I continue to play big band music in Atlantic City showrooms for headlining stars. I have had the privilege to play for Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Rawls, Dean Martin and Johnny Mathis, to name a few. Most recently I played for the Temptations and Frank Sinatra, Jr. Schools: Lebanon Valley College; Curtis Institute of Music Professional life outside of Kennett Symphony: I am a tenured member of the Harrisburg Symphony as well as the orchestras of the PA Ballet and Opera Company of Philadelphia. I am also an adjunct trombone instructor at Temple University. I continue to sing as well, and am currently the tenor soloist at Good Samaritan Church in Paoli, PA. Noteworthy: I am the only bass trombonist on the "A" sub list with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Interests: Audio engineering has been an ongoing passion of mine. I was the Director of AV Services at the Curtis Institute for many years, and continue to have requests to record artists. Last year I went to Israel to record Hagai Shaham for Hyperion Records and consulted with Jerusalem Music Center for updates in their studio. I recorded and produced the complete Schubert and Beethoven Sonatas with world-renowned pianist Seymour Lipkin, and was also the engineer for a soon-to-be-released CD of the Guarneri String Quartet. Favorite thing about performing music: The brass sections that I work with in the tri-state area freelance community are not only some of my favorite musicians but are some of my closest friends and people I most enjoy spending time with. It is a real treat to enjoy going to work on both a professional and personal level. If you could play another instrument it would be: I have always fantasized about playing the cello, and am thrilled that my youngest son, Evan, is an enthusiastic young cello student! Favorite composer: Hmmmmm.....it depends on my mood. Personal: I live in Philadelphia with my wife and 3 children. My twin sons, who just turned 16, proudly share our family's passion for music. They play oboe and flute, sing in a barbershop quartet as well as an acapella ensemble at Germantown Friends School. |
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IN REMEMBRANCE Calvin, born in Bridgeport, PA, and raised in Conshohocken, was the youngest child of Alfred and Nora Bealer Bourgeault. His parents died before he was six months old. As he was too young to go to the Odd Fellows Orphanage with his four older siblings, he was taken under wing and later adopted by his paternal uncle and aunt, Louis Fabian and Clara Himes Bourgeault. Cal began piano lessons in fourth grade and continued his piano studies through high school, college, and beyond. He graduated from Conshohocken High School in 1942 at the age of 16, and he then worked at the local steel mill while also earning some additional pocket money playing piano in several neighborhood bars until he was old enough to join the Army Air Corps in January of 1944. He served in the United States Army of Occupation in Foggia, Italy from 1945 through 1946, and as ‘Slim the Milkman’, he was the daily morning wake-up voice for the troops in the Foggia area. He returned to Philadelphia and received his B.S. in Education (music) in 1950 and M.S. in 1951 from Temple University. In addition to his continued specialization in piano, he studied choral conducting with Elaine Brown, and he served as the principal accompanist for the Temple University Glee Club, which toured throughout the Eastern US and in Europe as well. He would later continue his studies in conducting with Nadia Boulanger at the Ecoles d’Art Americaine Conservatoire de Musique in Fontainbleau, France. Cal was a charter member of the Singing City Choir of Philadelphia, founded by Elaine Brown, and he continued performing with that group for more than twenty years. In the fall of 1951 he was asked to fill in for a few weeks at Tower Hill School. That “temporary replacement” grew into 27 years as “Mr. Music” at Tower Hill. His high school choirs and vocal ensemble soon developed renown for both skill and repertoire well beyond their young years. In addition to two world premiers specially commissioned for the Tower Hill Choruses, the Choral Ensemble, combined with the Singing City Youth Choir, performed regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra. A highlight of Cal’s career came in 1964 when he was asked to provide and train the youth choir for a performance of Stravinsky’s Persephone with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, and New York City. A snow storm prevented the regular rehearsal accompanist from getting to The Academy of Music, and Cal played for the rehearsal under the baton of Mr. Stravinsky. Beyond his involvement at Tower Hill, he also gave generously of his time to high school music education all over the Delaware Valley. Cal moved from Tower Hill in 1977 to serve as Middle and Upper School Vocal Music Director at Friends Select School in Center City Philadelphia where he remained until his retirement in 1989. He was an active member of the Music Educator’s National Conference, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the American Choral Directors Association, and he was a committed participant and highly respected adjudicator at local high school music festivals and competitions. During the 1970s he was a faculty member at The Temple University Summer Workshop for Gifted High School Pianists and Vocalists. He was a tough but compassionate and gifted teacher, and many of his students went on to distinguished careers in professional music. Cal was also active in the local music and musical theater scene, conducting many summer shows with The Brandywiners, Ltd at Longwood Gardens, as well as performances with Brecks Mill Players, and The Wilmington Opera Society. He was the conductor of the Kennett Community Symphony Orchestra prior to that ensemble becoming the all-professional Kennett Symphony of Chester County. Since 1983 the husband and wife team of Calvin and Sheila Grady Bourgeault have served as artistic directors and conductors of The Northern Delaware Oratorio Society, and when illness prevented him from continuing his conducting duties, he was named Director Emeritus of the group. From 1968-79 he led The Renaissance Singers of Philadelphia, which performed its own concert season as well as collaborating with the University of Pennsylvania Collegium Musicum on several medieval music dramas. On the personal side, Cal continued his love for flying, owning three single-engine aircraft over the course of his flying career and maintaining his pilot’s license until 10 years ago. He was a devoted member of the (Quaker) Wilmington Monthly Meeting of Friends. |
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