The season may have just begun but DCYOP students and staff have been busy all summer doing great things. Here are just a few highlights:
DCYOP Students Perform with the Afghan Youth Orchestra at the Kennedy Center
On August 8th, 12 Youth Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic musicians proudly joined members of the Afghan Youth Orchestra (AYO) in performance as they made their much-anticipated return to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall stage after more than a decade. AYO is one of the flagship ensembles of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), which was founded in 2010 by Dr. Ahmad Sarmast as the country’s first and only school of music. The After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, ANIM and its students made the bold move to relocate to Portugal, where they continue their mission of providing equitable, co-education training in Afghan traditional music and Western classical music for talented Afghan children. Washington, DC was the last stop on AYO’s successful East Coast tour, which included performing at Carnegie Hall as part of the World Orchestra Week celebration of international youth orchestras. You can view the entire joyful performance to a packed Concert Hall via the Kennedy Center’s website.
Four DCYOP Students Named 2024-2025 NSO Fellows
We are proud to announce that four DCYOP students were selected to participate in the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO)’s prestigious Youth Fellowship Program for the 2024-2025 school year! Students are selected through a competitive audition and application process to participate in this full-scholarship orchestra training program for serious young musicians considering a career in orchestral music, where they have the opportunity to study with members of the NSO or Washington National Opera Orchestra, rehearse side-by-side with the NSO, and participate in a wide range of opportunities to be coached and mentored by orchestra professionals. DCYOP students who will be participating in the program this year are: Rishab Jain (percussion), Chloe Lee (viola), Kalman Levitin (oboe), and Chloe Robertson (violin).
DCYOP Welcomes New Director of Operations and Operations and Administrative Assistant to Staff
Over the late spring and summer, DCYOP happily welcomed Terrence Teel, Director of Operations, and Allison Giovanetti, Operations and Administrative Assistant to our team. Terrence comes to DCYOP with years of experience as a skilled administrator with expertise in logistics, strategic planning, and organizational governance in organizations including NASA, the Pentagon, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Allison is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, arts administrator, and French Hornist, whose research includes a study of the representation of Indigenous North American musicians at the GRAMMY Awards during the span of the twenty-first century. Terrence and Allison play critical roles in ensuring that all the behind the scenes operations at DCYOP run smoothly, and we’re so grateful to have them join the DCYOP family.
Please be sure to say hello and introduce yourself to Terrence and Allison the next time you see them at program!
DCYOP Staff Member Selected for League of American Orchestra’s Flagship Training Program
Sandy Choi, Sr. Manager for Marketing and Communications, was one of 36 professionals from the United States, Canada, Spain, and Nigeria, to participate in the League of American Orchestra’s Essentials of Orchestra Management course hosted by the Juilliard School this past summer. The ten-day course offered participants who are committed to careers as arts administrative leaders in the orchestral field the opportunity to learn about every aspect of the industry from leaders representing the full range of orchestral and arts-related organizations across the country, including past and present administrators from the New York Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Carnegie Hall, Atlanta Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
It is hard to imagine a program day that doesn’t start and end with Ken Giles in the building. A beginner violin and viola instructor at DYCOP for over 20 years, Mr. Giles is also a proud former DCYOP parent and a trained musician who performed with the likes of American folk legends such as Pete Seeger and Odetta. Read on to learn more about Mr. Giles’ fascinating life story, including his lifelong commitment to combining his passion for music with social justice movements. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Chicago, and lived in Galesburg, Illinois for elementary and middle school. I moved to Interlochen, Michigan for high school, but this was interrupted in 1965 when I was a U.S. Senate Page and lived in D.C. Then, back to Interlochen. I graduated in 1967 and went on to attend Swarthmore College. I came to D.C. permanently in 1971.
How did you get started on your instrument?
I played viola in elementary through high school, and came from a musical family – Mom played string bass; Dad played trombone; we all played in local community orchestra in Galesburg. Interlochen was very educational. Played a concert every week, lots of repertoire. Amazing students… some destined to be star performers. I was not a great performer, but I learned a lot.
Did you always want to become a professional musician? What was your path (did you play in youth orchestra growing up, study music in college, have you pursued other careers, etc.)?
Two important themes for me: music, especially how music can help change our society and improve things, and social activism for equality and peace. And I have always emphasized the connection between music and social change. Civil rights songs helped promote the civil rights movement, and “We Shall Overcome” became the anthem. I teach my students the classics, and also civil rights songs, labor songs, fiddle tunes, some blues/jazz. All kinds of music and the history of our society associated with the music.
When I first came to DC, I worked for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Then, inspired by DCYOP when my kids were there, I switched to music teaching.
How long have you taught at DCYOP and what is one of your favorite memories?
My two boys were students at DCYOP from 1986 to 1997…one played violin, the other French horn. I was so inspired by the music teaching and the community spirit that I decided to become a teacher. I took Suzuki training and child development classes, and got certified as music teacher at Shepherd Elementary School in D.C.. I started teaching at DCYOP in the early 2000’s. It’s the best thing I do.
What do you like most about teaching?
Helping younger folks play their instruments, and introducing them to all kinds of music… from classical to topical to folk to blues/jazz. And passing on to a younger generation what I learned in my 75 years.
Do you do perform/teach outside of DCYOP?
I still do group violin classes at Shepherd Elementary School (and occasionally recruit students to DCYOP), and I teach private lessons, many with DCYOP students. I sing with DC Labor Chorus – labor union songs, civil rights songs, topical songs. In the 1970’s-1980’s, I performed with the folk music band “Bright Morning Star.” We sang civil rights songs, peace songs, and environmental songs, and performed with Odetta, Pete Seeger, and Holly Near. It was music with a message.
Who is one of your favorite performers? Why?
Rhiannon Giddens is an excellent instrumentalist (banjo, fiddle), and singer/songwriter. She’s reviving the multicultural songs and dance tunes of Appalachian people (Black and White) from 100 years ago, and recently succeeded Yo-Yo Ma as leader of the “Silk Road” ensemble, an international group of musicians playing music from all over the world.
Pete Seeger was a mentor and friend to me. I learned so much about music and history… how music can change our society for the better.
What is one of your favorite pieces of music? Why?
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is an optimistic anthem that is often called the Black national anthem, though I think the lyrics can be sung universally. My DCYOP chamber group performed “Lift Every Voice” last year.
What are your interests outside of music?
Civil rights (as a US Senate Page, I saw the Voting Rights Act pass in 1965); peace (longtime antiwar activist and conscientious objector); environmentalism (climate change; renewable energy).
Where is your favorite place to go for fun/what is your favorite thing to do in DC?
The Labor Day concert on the Capitol Lawn by the National Symphony. This year, they played some Duke Ellington music, and Christylez beatboxed while the NSO played Go-Go.
Welcome to the 65th season of DCYOP! On September 14th, we welcomed 573 students to Takoma Elementary School for the first day of program, including our beginners who were introduced to a brand new instrument for the very first time and all the other young musicians in our nine progressive ensembles that range from the 50+ musician-strong Debut Orchestra, our beginner string ensemble, to the nearly 100 members of our full symphonic Youth Orchestra.
As the DCYOP family grows, we are excited to continue expanding our programs in response to the needs and interests of our students. In addition to our beginner classes and ensembles, we offer a range of supplementary programs, from free music theory classes for beginner ensemble student to holistic workshops supporting socio-emotional wellness through our Whole Musician Masterclass series to scholarship and mentorship opportunities through our Talent Development Program and our participation in the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative. We’re also seeing record participation in our chamber music program and a wave of interest in the new JazzDC Youth Ensemble, a brand new ensemble representing a joint partnership between DCYOP, DC Jazz Festival, and Sitar Arts Center.
We are excited to begin a new year filled with music, friendships, and growth, and look forward to sharing the magic with you over the months to come!
What do you like most about teaching?
Do you do perform/teach outside of DCYOP?
