Get to Know DCYOP: Angela Hamilton

This month, we are introducing you to Angela Hamilton, who many of our families know well as the Program Manager for the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative and DCYOP’s Talent Development Program. Read on to learn more about Angela’s favorite things about working with our students and her many interests outside of work.

Where did you grow up?
Cincinnati, Ohio.

Did you study an instrument growing up? How did you get started?
I studied voice growing up. I started singing in my elementary school choir and studied classical voice at the performance arts school in Cincinnati.

What was your path to your career in arts administration (did you play in youth orchestra growing up, study music in college, have you pursued other careers, etc.)?
I was a stage manager in high school for the various productions, which lead me to learning more about arts administration. I took an arts admin class my senior year of high school and majored in it in college. I’ve worked in theatre, opera, and orchestra!

How long have you been with Pathways and what is one of your favorite memories?
I joined Pathways in May of 2022, a few months after the pilot program began. One of my favorite memories was seeing all the WMPI students perform in our first spring juries. Seeing the talent of the cohort and the progress they made in the first year of the program solidified how special the program is.

What do you like most about working with Pathways and DCYOP?
The young musicians! It’s been great getting to know the students and families and to see how much the students grow over the years.

Are you involved in the arts outside of your work?
I am the Managing Director of Hearing in Color, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to sharing music, stories, and composers, that have been historically excluded from musical spaces.

Who is one of your favorite performers? Why?
Leontyne Price is one of the best opera singers in the world. The beauty and power in her voice, and the control that she has over her voice is unmatched. If I could time travel, I would go back to see her farewell performance of Aida at The Met!

What is one of your favorite pieces of music? Why?
AMEN! By Carlos Simon. It’s a newer piece, but I listen to it at least twice a week. It’s such a fun piece!

What are your interests outside of music?
I love to knit, crochet, and read.

Where is your favorite place to go for fun/what is your favorite thing to do in DC?
I love going to museums, and DC has so many! My favorites to revisit are the Rubell Museum and the Hirshhorn Museum.

Welcome to DCYOP’s Winter 2024 Concerts

Our Winter 2024 concerts will be taking place on Saturday, December 14th, and Sunday, December 15th at the UDC Theater of the Arts. Performances will take place at the following times (click the links for full digital concert programs):

Saturday, December 14th
1:00pm – Debut Orchestra, Concertino, Sinfonia, and the JazzDC Youth Ensemble
4:00pm – Premiere Winds, Young Artists Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble

Sunday, December 15th
2:00pm – Repertory Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic
4:00 PM – Community reception in the upper level lobby of the theater
5:00pm – Youth Orchestra

The UDC Theater of the Arts is located at 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008. Parking is available in the adjacent UDC parking garage or on the street. All events are free and open to the public!

 

Making Music After School through the DCYOPrelude-DCPS Partnership

DCYOP is known as one of the few comprehensive orchestral music education programs in the country where a four-and-a-half year old can start the program with no musical experience, be introduced to an instrument for the very first time, and come out of the program thirteen-and-a-half years later as an advanced musician with experience performing major orchestral works in professional venues like the Kennedy Center and touring around the world. But did you know that DCYOP directly offers instrumental training to students in the DC public schools (DCPS) system through Prelude, its after-school program?

Originally founded at the request of DCPS in 1960, DCYOP has always been connected to our city’s public schools, whether through direct in-school programming or the location of its Saturday rehearsals and classes. Today, Prelude serves as another unique avenue for DCYOP to provide students in DC with more equitable pathways to instrumental music education, providing tuition-free instruction at five Title I DC public and public charter schools: Takoma, John Lewis, Langdon, and Langley Elementary, and Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School (East End campus).

For many years, DCYOP has extended its commitment to providing access to music education into the public schools,” says DCYOP Artistic Director, Evan Ross Solomon. “Students at these Prelude program sites have the opportunity to learn an instrument, make friends, and realize the potential of music education. We are proud to partner with DCPS schools to support these young people in their musical journey.”

Through the Prelude program, approximately 90 students across five schools currently receive up to 6.5 hours of weekly instruction on ensemble instruments including violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. No prior musical experience is required, and students receive loaner instruments at no charge. Prelude students perform in public concerts twice a year in addition to occasional smaller in-school performances, and have the opportunity to join DCYOP’s regular Saturday program when they demonstrate that they are ready to move up to an ensemble experience. The program is heavily inspired by El Sistema, Venezuela’s renowned youth orchestra program that uses music education as a means of youth development and social transformation.

The benefits are clear to John Lewis Elementary School music teacher and DCYOP faculty member, Joanna Ramirez. “Through their participation in our after-school program, my students have been able to foster a community with each other that is very diverse. In orchestra, we have students from second grade all the way through fifth grade, students who are from different backgrounds, and students with very different interests. Throughout the school day, my students only interact with their specific grade band but in orchestra they have the opportunity to interact with people that they wouldn’t otherwise. Most noticeably, my students have developed very promising leadership skills. They are very quick to hold each other accountable, whether they be in the same section or not! They will even correct one another if someone is sitting incorrectly or putting their instrument together incorrectly. They also demonstrate their desire to contribute to our community. They will practically fight with one another for the opportunity to organize the music books, organize the music room, and to organize the instrument room! As they become more passionate about being in the program, they also become more dedicated to the success of the ensemble.”

Our Prelude students are off to a great start this school year, and we look forward to enjoying their first performances very soon! Interested in seeing if your DC public or charter school might be eligible to start its own Prelude program, or wondering how your child can enroll in your school’s existing program next year? Contact your school music teacher or reach out to DCYOP Program Manager, Tim Provost, at [email protected] for more information.

24-25 Whole Musician Masterclass Series Opens Student Ears, Minds, and Hearts

The Whole Musician Masterclass series for the 2024-2025 season has gotten off to an exciting start! We have been lucky to welcome three amazing artists so far this fall who have worked with our students on everything from managing their stress to expanding their repertoire and navigating careers in the arts.

To kick off the school year, former Whole Musician Masterclass presenter (and DCYOP parent!) Eva Cappelletti-Chao returned to help our seniors learn cognitive diffusion techniques to help them meet the college application process with more openness and curiosity and less stress. An experienced and in-demand freelance violinist, Eva earned a degree in Psychology alongside her conservatory training, and has most recently honed her skills as a life and career coach specializing in supporting professionals and students in the performing arts.

We were also excited to welcome 2022 Sphinx Competition Winner, Kebra-Seyoun Charles to program in September! A highly sought-after virtuoso bass soloist and composer, Kebra coached both beginner and advanced bass students and engaged our community in conversation about their experiences navigating the world of classical music, offering highly personal advice and insights for students who may be considering pursuing advanced music studies in college and beyond.

Lastly, violinist and pedagogue Katie Lansdale shared a fascinating program with members of our Young Virtuosi earlier this month. Katie performed a wide variety of works for violin by composers from underrepresented demographic groups, including Reena Esmail, Jerod Impachchaahaaha’ Tate, and Lei Liang, as a vehicle for encouraging conversation, introspection, and brainstorming around our preconceived notions of “traditional” repertoire and how students can learn to broaden their musical horizons as performers and listeners.

We are excited to continue presenting a wide variety of artists and specialists as part of the Whole Musician Masterclass series throughout the rest of the season as part of our efforts to offer DCYOP students a broad, holistic education in musicianship that embraces every part of the artist. Interested in learning more or suggesting ideas for guest presenters or topics? Contact [email protected] to share your ideas.

October 2024 News

The latest news and updates from the DCYOP Family:

Spreading the Joy of Music in Community

YO cellist and Washington Pathways Artist, Ishaan Banerjee, has started a musical volunteer project called The Melodic Minors. Musicians can sign up to perform music at senior centers and homes, elementary and middle schools, and other venues to help spread the joy of music in the community. You can follow them on Instagram or check out this flyer to learn how to sign up and follow their performances throughout the school year.

YO Senior Shortlisted in Prestigious International Essay Competition

Senior Emma van Selm (violin, YO) was shortlisted for the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, a prestigious annual international contest based at Oxford University in the UK. Emma recently attended the gala awards dinner in London, where she received a Certificate of Merit.

DCYOP Students to Lend a Musical Hand at Annual Kennedy Center Spooktacular

In what has become a tradition, DCYOP students volunteered their services at this year’s NSO Halloween Spooktacular, which took place at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, October 27th. Students demonstrated their instruments and performed for young trick-or-treaters at the popular Haunted Hall Musical PLAYspace in the REACH prior to the NSO’s family favorite performance in the Concert Hall.

September 2024 News

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).
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!

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.

Get to Know DCYOP – Ken Giles

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 2024-2025 Season!

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!