Youth Philharmonic

Wamma (far right) pictured with a student and her
parents at the MAYSO Picnic

In light of auditions, this month's post will be more specific, as it is centered around the new addition to the MAYSO ensembles: Youth Philharmonic (YP). Next month's will be about the conductor of NSS and YP, Mark Wamm. Per Wamma, "MAYSO and NSS had reached a point where the jump from MAYSO to NSS was getting larger and proving a challenge for NSS students who wanted to bump up to MAYSO," yet there was a growing gap between the new recruits and NSS' most advanced players. Consequently, YP was formed to help bridge the gap as a middle-level orchestra.

Wamma has two goals as the conductor of both YP and NSS. First, he wishes to challenge his students "both technically and musically." Himself an alumni of both NSS and MAYSO (violin!), he also hope to "foster a love of ensemble playing that will last beyond this organization." To do these, he tries to create an rehearsal environment that is focused. Yet, he also wants the process to be enjoyable and fun: "During rehearsals, I try to improve two or three specific things in each piece."

Wamma playing the bells in
MAYSO's 2017 Summer Orchestra

Concerning Mark Wamma's conducting style, he initially described it in one word: minimalistic. He explains that his "role is to get [his] students to the point during rehearsals where they know the music well and could play it even without [him]." He prefers to "stay out of the way" in the final performance as much as possible, with both NSS and YP. Outside of rehearsals, students are expected to practice. They are also encouraged to take difficult sections to their private instructors, as well as to listen to the pieces. There are only so many rehearsals: "we cannot spend much time reviewing in rehearsals." To the incoming and prospective students, he says the following:

It can be intimidating joining an orchestra for the first time. The best advice I can give is to be patient. Give yourself time to adjust to the new environment and make small goals for each rehearsal. If the notes are too fast at first, try to play the first note of every measure or of every group of notes. Then, try for more. Soon you'll find you are able to keep up and be more involved in making music. And don't forget, this is a social activity! Introduce yourself to your stand partner and talk to your section mates. Music is much more fun when you get to play with your friends!

MAYSO is growing, and hopefully there will be many more new faces this season! Shameless plug alert: official audition day is September 9th!

Carolyn Borgen

This July blog post features Carolyn Borgen, who has been the executive director of MAYSO since September 2012. Her responsibilities are "anything that happens in the background to help the students and directors," such as maintaining finances, handling payroll, writing grants, and seeking new revenue sources. To do these things, she works with the marketing intern (me), the board, and parent volunteers to make things run smoothly.

2016-17 Seniors

This month features this past season's seniors, all of whom have now graduated from their respective schools. Read about where seniors are going after high school! 

So your child is in an orchestra...

Last month's blog post was catered towards new orchestra students who may be a little overwhelmed by or confused about their first time in an orchestra. May's blog post is for the parents and will include quite a bit of information regarding volunteer expectations, ensemble information, and more. This includes information for another new ensemble! While the logistical and practical information of this blog post can be quite helpful, it may not answer all questions new orchestra parents may have. Executive Director Carolyn Borgen, along with veteran parents or students, can help with unanswered questions or concerns. The website, mayso.net, can also help answer questions.

So, you decided to join an orchestra...

Many of the alumni and current students featured in this blog have said that the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra is the first orchestra they had or have been in. The first time in an orchestra, or in any situation, can often times be a little overwhelming: where do I need to go? Should I talk to people? Do I need to bring a snack? How early do I need to get there? Where is 'there'? These are some of the questions I asked myself when trying to figure things out at my very first MAYSO rehearsal.

Heidi Riehl

The theme for March's blog post is getting behind the scenes of the orchestra and highlighting the work of a dedicated member of the orchestra board. The spotlight of that mission has landed on Heidi Riehl, who currently serves as Board President and also co-chair of the Chocolate and Chamber Music Fundraising Event. This has been her first year as Board President, but she has been on the board for three years.

Heidi feels "honored to serve alongside and support [the Executive Director and Directors] in their vital work." Among her responsibilities as Board President are assisting Executive Director Carolyn Borgen and participating in "MAYSO strategic planning, such as continuous improvement and development of offerings to serve student participants." As co-chair for the Chocolate and Chamber Music Fundraising Event, Heidi fundraises for and coordinates the Chocolate & Chamber Music Event. Heidi Riehl seems to be enjoying her decision to be involved with MAYSO.

Simply, MAYSO is a fabulous organization which provides student members a life enriching music education experience. The MAYSO organization/Board Members are energizing, forward thinking, and engaging individuals interested in serving the needs of talented student musicians in our region and are dedicated and committed to promulgating the mission of MAYSO. I became involved because I wanted to be a part of this dynamic organization and give back in appreciation for all this organization has done for my student participants and all South Central Minnesota.

Her children, Zach and Kiera, have both been in the orchestra for three years. Kiera Riehl was highlighted in last month's blog post, upon winning the Concerto Competition with her Night Soliloquy by Kent Kennan on flute. Zach Riehl is an 18-year-old senior trumpet, who will be highlighted with the other seniors in a post for June. The two have been involved in MAYSO, MAYWE, and the Summer Pop's Program; one was involved in the Music Theory course offering.

Outside of MAYSO, Heidi is a "wife, mother, and a nurse - employed as a case manager." She also volunteers, and she worships at Peace Lutheran Church. She enjoys hobbies such as tennis, gardening, biking, reading, and cooking/baking, and she attends music, theater, and dance productions when she can. Like many parents, Heidi spends quite a bit of her time "transporting [her] children to & from activities and watching as they participate."

Heidi, herself, has been involved in music throughout her life, starting with guitar and clarinet in junior high. In high school, she participated in the choir and musical theater, which were "actual classes" at her high school. After high school, she continued her involvement with voice and community theater until her mid-twenties. Now, she sings in the church choir, and she took piano lessons for two years. Much of Heidi's involvement in music has concerned her children, in a "supporting capacity... and as support to the MAYSO organization." 

I stay involved because as a parent, I want to support and honor my children's talents and interests. As a MAYSO Board Member, I stay involved because I see the first hand value of the organization-- that is how, through participation and instruction form the various directors within the MAYSO organization, I have seen how my children have increased their individual musical repertoires, matured in the areas of musicality and sight reading, bonded with other like-minded student participants and the Directors, and gained confidence in performing as a member of a group and as an individual.

Heidi is ever dedicated to fostering growth of MAYSO and continuing to serve its students "throughout the South Central Region." This organization would not run as well as it does without the support of parents, whether those parents are on the board or not. All of your dedication, love, and support is much appreciated in the mission to foster a continued youth interest in and involvement in music. Thank you.

Kiara Riehl

Like last month's post, February's spotlight is on a current member of MAYSO. Kiara Riehl recently won the Concerto Competition, and she will be performing Night Soliloquy by Kent Kennan with the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra on March 11th and 12th.

Kiara wishes to attend college after high school to pursue a major in flute performance, along with a "possible minor in music composition, a science, or art." Hopefully her experience as a Concerto Competition winner has and will help her in her decisions for her future, but she currently "aspire[s] to be a professional flautist," though more specifically for the "production of movie soundtracks."

Kiara chose to participate in the Concerto Competition "for the experience" and for "constructive feedback on [her] performance from an outside source." She was "most definitely" nervous while competing: "Whenever I play flute with piano accompaniment alone, my hands will often get icy cold and I get a shaky feeling. Makes it rather tricky to play fast runs and moving segments when your fingers are cold and stiff." Admitting she is "a bit nervous about the future performances," Kiara says she was "kind of shocked" when she learned she won the competition, but she "suppose[s]" she is "glad [she] did well."

Upon her instructor Ruth Giles' recommendation if Night Soliloquy, she was drawn to the dark tones and intrigued by the "mysterious quality" of the piece: "This piece isn't written in the style of most classical music. It sounds much more contemporary... This piece was challenging due to the fast ascending and descending runs... I tend to like pieces that give me an opportunity to push my limits." She is currently focused on perfecting the challenging piece: "... being nervous means I about the quality of my performance and bringing the piece to life for the audience. Hopefully being nervous will bring a mysterious quality and enhance the piece, as well as keep me focused."

So far, the only music competition Kiara has participated in has been this Concerto Competition. However, she is looking to participate in a flute competition called Laudie Porter later this Spring, along with a State High School Solo competition through her school, Mankato East High School.

Kiara is currently a Sophomore at Mankato East High School, and has been in MAYSO for three years, now. As she plans to stay in the organization until she graduates and "aging out," she still has a couple years left. She says she comes back not only for the music, but also for the people: "Really, it's the opportunity to make connections with other talented musicians and learn from one another." She enjoys that relaxed atmosphere of MAYSO, and Dr. Rodger's "stories, jokes, and YouTube recordings... I don't know how many languages Dr. Rodgers speaks, but certainly quite a few more than the average person."

Kiara is also part of MAYWE, the new winds ensemble directed by Dr. Amy Roisum-Foley, whom Kiara says "is very energetic and cheerful - she is always a happy person and makes the atmosphere light." She enjoys the group, saying it's a "very good place to practice with wind and percussion." Understandably, as it's in its first year, Kiara mentioned the MAYWE isn't big:

This year, we had a number of college students filling in spots, but I hope that won't always be the case (although we really did appreciate their help). I hope word of this great group will spread in the future and attract more interested students. Dr. Amy Roisum-Foley is great to work with and brings her own style and passion to direct this group.

Kiara is appreciative of the experience she has gained playing in a "symphony group setting and at different venues," along with the "fabulous pieces" she has played: "The music that I play has... helped me to appreciate the music that I hear. It's kind of gotten to the point that whenever I'm walking somewhere, I'll start tapping out a rhythm on my legs from a band song, movie score, or musical, etc." Music plays a big part (flute part, of course, though she has recently taken up saxophone) in Kiara's life, saying it's "something important" to her: "I realized recently that I have been playing flute for more than half my life."

Kiara's other activities include her school's jazz band, for which she is playing the alto saxophone, as opposed to jazz flute in her junior high years. She has also been a flute soloist, a member of stage crew for her high school, and a part of a pit band for a Bethany Lutheran College performance of Music Man. Last Summer, she also participated in tennis and Summer pop's camps. Musically, she participates in three school bands, MAYSO and MAYWE, and Pop's camps, so "spend[s] a lot of time with [her] flute." In addition to the ensembles, she has been taking private lessons with Ruth Giles for the last eight years, beginning with a "curved head joint Gemeinhardt flute and progress[ing] from there over time." She also takes advantage of solo opportunities and performs recitals.

For the saxophone, she "chose it because [she] wanted to play in jazz band during high school ... [She] also wanted to be able to play in 'pit band', [which] the alto sax would allow [her] to double in the pit which is often needed." Besides one lesson to learn the basics, the saxophone is self-taught for Kiara, and she is currently wanting "to improve on controlling [her] sound and getting more proficient in appropriate fingerings."

For prospective students, Kiara says,"Basically, just practice, practice, practice. Listen to great performances/performers, and most importantly, just relax and have fun!" She first joined when her private flute instructor told her that MAYSO had been looking for flautist: "[She] thought the experience would provide greater opportunity and range of experience in playing with a group. I decided that I would get the music and give it a try, and I've been here since. I suppose she's figured out by now that she was right -- thank you."

Elliott Sorenson

Elliott Sorenson first year participating in MAYSO and MAYWE was the 2016-17 season, playing french horn throughout, though also plays trumpet and mellophone. In January, he was a Minnesota Varsity Featured Composer for his piece Noctis Tenerbis for cello and piano. Elliott hopes to continue composing, with the possibility of going to college for Music Education or Composition.