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Quarter Notes
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Kennett Symphony |
In this issue Musician Profile - Luis Engelke Musician Profile - Jennifer Lee
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
In this season of economic challenges, no communication from an arts organization would be complete without a mention of our finances. Of course, money is tight as each of our funding sources – ticket buyers, individual donors, corporate sponsors, and grant makers – feel the stress. Your Symphony Board has responded by carefully monitoring our cash flow and trimming discretionary expenses. For example, you will receive more of our communication electronically, such as via e-mail, rather than as printed matter. However, we are very encouraged by the support that we have received from our community. Two of our last three concerts have sold out. The two fundraisers this quarter were highly successful, thanks to hard work from volunteers. Donors are generously supporting our Annual Fund Drive, which is still in progress. Several of our largest corporate sponsors have renewed their support. We have received substantial new grants from several local foundations. And our musicians have taken a number of actions to support our organization. Thank you for your continuing support. See you at the Symphony! |
Konstantin Soukhovetski |
Up and coming soloists were the story at the Symphony’s October and December concerts. The October concert, Sorcery & Spirits, featured Konstantin Soukhovetski on piano in performances of Chopin’s Grand Polonaise and the spectacular Totentanz by Liszt. Mr. Soukhovetski, who won the Hilton Head Orchestra International Piano Competition, was a wonderful showman who “walked the talk” with an equally wonderful performance. Caryl Huffaker, writing in The Kennett Paper, said, “He was simply phenomenal. He should go on to fame and glory and we will be proud to say – we knew him when.” This concert was sponsored by First National Bank of Chester County and an anonymous donor. |
Abdul Barr Khaliq
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Sounds of the Season, in December, featured the majesty of the Symphony musicians, the energy of the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, and the spectacular debut of Abdul Barr Khaliq, the young tenor from Lincoln University. Ms. Huffaker reported, “He sang two solos from the Messiah with a perfection you don’t encounter very often. His beautifully trained voice gave every nuance and modulation inherent in the pieces.” We will hear more from him, too! This concert was sponsored by Exelon Generation and Genesis HealthCare. |
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NEWS UPDATE 
New faces now greet you in the Kennett Symphony offices. Ginna Goodall (left), formerly our Business Manager, is now our Executive Director, responsible for managing all aspects of our organization. Ginna is a former teacher and has lived in Kennett Square for 8 years with her husband, Bruce, and two sons. Carol Goldberg (right) is now our Business Manager, responsible for the “front office,” including ticket purchases and financial operations. Carol had a career in health care information technology; she lives with her husband Art in Kennett Square. Please welcome Ginna and Carol to their new roles. And you can welcome them when you visit our new office! Thanks to a generous grant from the Longwood Foundation, we have moved into 206 E. State Street, the storefront formerly occupied by the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Our former Board President Shirley Pritchard arranged for substantial renovations to the space. We thank John Sturgis of Sturgis Builders, Jay McAtee of Denney Electric, Steve Basciani of Basciani Decorators, Brian Lawrence of Lawrence Electric, Rob Gallagher of the Odds and Ends company and Mr. Shinn and the staff of Shinns at New Garden Shopping Center. Everyone donated their labor and their materials to this project. Talk about community support! |
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TWO BIG EVENTS 
On a beautiful Sunday this past October, over 250 "Blues" and Classic Car aficionados gathered in support of the Kennett Symphony at the Brantwyn mansion for the first “The Classics at Brantwyn” Vintage and Supercar Tour and Show. The event was organized by Sandy and Stark Thompson, Lynda and John Hodgson and Bill Simeral with support from dozens of volunteers and car owners. John Hodgson emceed the "Grand Parade" of 25 vintage and exotic cars and 5 vintage motorcycles. Mark "Muddy Harp" Hodgson provided entertainment. The raffle, organized by Sandy Yeatman, featured a 2009 Mustang donated by Joe and Jill Sheridan of Sheridan Ford or alternatively a cash award of $15,000.The raffle concluded with a drawing during the December concert. The winner, Bonnie Korengel of Kennett Square, chose the cash award. Our sincere thanks to the organizers, sponsors, and attendees for the most successful fund raiser in the Symphony’s long history. We hope to see you at next year’s “Classics” on Sunday, October 4, 2009. |
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League Luncheon and Fashion Show 
More than 250 finely attired ladies attended the 27th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show, presented by the Kennett Symphony League at the Mendenhall Inn. The event was organized by Martha Diffey with help from Donna Elliott, Betsy Halsted, Edna Hein, Cynthia Horgan, Linda Much, Mary Scott, Barbara Toman, Sally Weil and dozens of volunteers. Local merchants and artists donated more than 250 items to the Silent Auction, the Live Auction and the Raffle Baskets. The Silent Auction was styled by Rose Ehlen. The Raffle of gift baskets was arranged by Betty Jo Bowman. The Fashion Show featured Lady's Image of Wilmington and Hockessin, and Jacques Ferber Furriers of Philadelphia, Ardmore, and Greenville. Models included volunteers from Genesis HealthCare, organized by Jeannie Phillips. Ladies from Genesis also spotted for Shirley Pritchard, who served as auctioneer for the Live Auction. Thank you to the Kennett Symphony League and our many supporters. |
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KENNTTT SYMPHONY CHILDREN'S CHORUS
In 2006, Karen Markey, Founder of the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, was looking toward retirement. As a professor of Music Education at West Chester University, Dr. Kristen Albert was eager to start a children's chorus program at WCU that would provide training and internships for our WCU students while providing an advanced musical outlet for children in Chester and surrounding communities. And just as the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup came to be, two great ideas were about to come together to form something wonderful. One of our Music Education majors, who was also a student in the Honors College at the time, came separately to Mrs. Markey and to Dr. Albert and proposed to bring these two great “tastes” together, to form the perfect Peanut Butter Cup—the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus In-Residence at West Chester University. WCU alumna Emily MacLean, whose younger sisters were active in the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus (KSCC) worked with Dr. Albert, Karen Markey, leaders of the Kennett Symphony of Chester County, and with Dr. Timothy Blair, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at WCU to create a two year transition plan, designed to bring the KSCC to its new home as Children's Chorus in Residence at West Chester University. The KSCC continues its healthy affiliation as an educational outreach of the Kennett Symphony of Chester County. The Chorus is led by Dr. Kristen Albert, Artistic Director, Mrs. Nancy Lineburger, and Mr. Drue Bullington, Associate Conductors. Currently in its 19th season, the Kennett Symphony Children s Chorus is a community choral organization for boys and girls ages seven through eighteen. KSCC is an educational outreach of the Kennett Symphony of Chester County and gives qualified singers an opportunity to perform high-caliber, age-appropriate repertoire that is culturally and musically diverse while nurturing vocal and musical development within an ensemble setting. Singers are auditioned and placed by age and/or experience in one of three groups, the Ensemble, the Chorus, or Youth Chorale. Numbering more than eighty singers in grades 2 through 12, the choristers represent public, private, parochial and home schools in the Chester County and the Northern Delaware Region. The fall semester of 2008 marks the second year of the Children’s Chorus’ residency at WCU, and in the past three semesters, more than 30 Music Education majors (also known as “candidates”) have chosen to enhance their teacher education program by becoming involved with the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus. These candidates, through their participation in a specially designed course, "Practicum in Teaching the Children's Chorus" work as KSCC support staff under the guidance of Dr. Albert. In addition to providing musical accompaniment for the KSCC, candidates have the opportunity to work with the musical, creative, and administrative aspects of the program. In the spring, a similar course is being offered at the graduate level for teachers currently in the field. The residency of the Kennett Symphony Children's Chorus is something unique to our corner of Pennsylvania. West Chester is the only university in the State System that has a full-time residency for a community children's musical ensemble that includes a significant candidate component through courses and internships. Only Duquesne University (Pittsburgh PA) offers a similar residency. The goal of the Department of Music Education at WCU is to train exceptional choral music educators; this residency and partnership plays a significant role in providing exceptional training for the candidates who become involved with this program. Dr. Albert, as Artistic Director of the Kennett Symphony Children's Chorus, has developed an Internship Program where advanced music education majors may apply and audition for a paid internship with the KSCC, for up to a full year. Currently two senior music education majors hold these paid internship positions with the KSCC. Last summer the directors of the Chorus were able to provide a week-long summer choral camp for choristers in preparation for Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, and the Symphony’s sold out performance at Longwood Gardens. Future goals include obtaining grant monies to support summer choral opportunities for young singers led by invited guest conductors, and the commissioning of a work by a renowned composer for performance by the KSCC. We are exploring further collaborations with WCU ensembles as we continue to grow our roots here at WCU. Endeavors such as these require funding, and your financial support is welcomed. The KSCC rehearses on the WCU campus every Tuesday evening from September through April, with a brief break over the December holidays. The Children’s Chorus gave their annual holiday performance on Sunday, December 14th at 5PM in the Madeline Wing Adler Theater in the Swope Music Building. For more information, or to offer your financial support of the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, please contact Dr. Kristen Albert, Artistic Director, at 717-442-5269 or by E-mail at kalbert1@comcast.net. |
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MUSICIAN PROFILE Brazilian-American trumpet artist, educator, and scholar Luis Engelke is professor of trumpet at Towson University, Principal Trumpet of the Kennett Symphony Orchestra, and Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He performs well over one hundred engagements annually as a soloist and orchestral/chamber musician, serves as Music Reviews Editor for the International Trumpet Guild Journal, and is a Yamaha Performing Artist. Solo appearances have brought him throughout North America, South America, Asia, and Europe, and he has appeared on more than 20 commercially released recordings for the Pro-Arte, Decca, Innova, Aurora, and several other labels. His performances and research into Latin music are highlighted by his first solo CD titled A Brazilian Collection, an anthology published by Balquhidder Music under the same title and containing editions of significant Brazilian solo trumpet works, and many world and modern premieres of Latin-American works for solo trumpet. These include the first performances and recordings of lost works by noted Brazilian composers Claudio Santoro, José Siqueira, and Santana Gomes and first performances of music from the library Mexican-American legendary Rafael Méndez since his passing in 1981. Hailed as “one of the greatest Brazilian talents of his generation” by Isaac Karabatchevsky (former conductor of Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira), Engelke’s performance has been described as having a “light feel with many beautifully rendered ethnic embellishments,” possessing a “vigor and a tasteful array of rubato,” and a “mastery of the horn [with] many subtle tone colors and always a beautiful sound” (International Trumpet Guild Journal). As a member of Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Engelke recorded trumpet solos for soundtracks for the films Villa-Lobos: Sua Vida de Paixão and Stories of the Land. He has performed with orchestras internationally including the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony, Mid Atlantic Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Maryland Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, Annapolis Opera, Harrisburg Opera, Orquestra Pro-Música (Rio de Janeiro), Music at Penn’s Woods Festival Orchestra, Pro-Music Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, and the Thailand Philharmonic. He has appeared as a soloist with ensembles all over the world including Orquestra Eintracht, Rome Festival Orchestra (Italy), Naval Academy Band, Gulf Coast Symphony, Frederick Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, and Lancaster British Brass Band and performed with such diverse musicians as Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin, and The Moody Blues and Brazilian legends such as Paulo Moura, Ivan Lins, and Ze da Velha. His brass ensemble and chamber music appearances include the Baltimore Symphony Brass Ensemble, Rio Brass Quintet, and Rio Trumpet Ensemble. Engelke’s writing includes more than 150 publications in the ITG Journal, Euro-ITG Newsletter, Jazz Educators Journal, NACWPI Journal, and Triad. Topp Brass in Switzerland and Triplo Press in the USA published several of his arrangements and editions. His articles include such diverse topics as “Twenty-First Practice Techniques” or the use of modern technologies in brass pedagogy; the history and literature of the trumpet including “Twentieth Century Brazilian Trumpet Works” and the music of Baroque composer Johann Melchior Molter; and jazz education, the national standards, and other education related issues and topics. The following organizations have supported him through scholarships and grants from the following organizations: CAPES-Fulbright, Music Teachers National Association, International Trumpet Guild, and Rádio Mec. He has taught at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Conservatório Brasileiro de Música, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Florida State University Music Camps and appeared as a soloist and presented lectures in many regional, national, and international conferences sponsored by such organizations as the International Trumpet Guild, Music Educators National Committee, and the College Music Society. A frequent lecturer and guest artist, he has presented master classes and recital throughout the world including Appalachian State University, Central Michigan University, the University of Connecticut, West Chester University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Texas Christian University, James Madison University, Montgomery College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil), and Mahidol University (Thailand). |
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MUSICIAN PROFILE Instrument: Violin, piano (accompanist) Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Earliest musical memory: hearing my mother play the piano Schools: Eastman School of Music (Charles Castleman), Indiana University (Franco Gulli) Noteworthy: I played in the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for 10 years, as section, principal second, acting concertmaster and soloist and was also principal second of the Hilton Head Orchestra, which Mary Green conducts. Currently, besides playing in the Kennett Symphony, I play in the Delaware Symphony, and in the orchestras of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Academy of Vocal Arts. In addition to playing the violin, I teach at Temple Prep and maintain a private teaching studio of students in this area as well as some who live in Savannah, GA. (One of my Savannah students just won a concerto competition.) Interests: Spending time with my 20 month old daughter. Playing tennis. Favorite thing about performing music: It depends on the type of performance. In an orchestra performance, I like being part of something that sounds good and being able to fit my part in exactly where it should be. In an opera performance, I love hearing great singers, and in a solo performance, I love being able to decide exactly how I want the music to be played and communicating that to an audience. If you could play another instrument it would be: I wouldn't want to play another instrument, just have more time to play the piano. Favorite composer: Chopin First performed with the Kennett Symphony: Oct. 15th, 2005 |
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Welcome to the Winter edition of our quarterly newsletter. We have been busy and have a lot to share with you! We describe our two recent 
