Ten music educators from the Delaware Valley will be honored by the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) during their Annual Festival Concert at the Kimmel Center on May 31stfor "inspiration and outstanding leadership in music education." ***[Go to the bottom of this post for announcement of the 2015 Ovation Award Winner.]
Current and former students nominated their music teachers for the Orchestra's 2nd annual Ovation Award. Out of the 60 submissions, a blue-ribbon panel chose 10 finalists. At the May 31st concert at 3 pm, Maestro Louis Scaglione (president and music director of PYO) will present the winner with a trophy and the grand prize award, which includes a check for $1,000 from the H.E.L.P. Foundation and a $500 gift card from J.W. Pepper. Jacobs Music Company will provide plaques for all finalists and a crystal trophy for the winner. Finalists will each receive a $100 cash prize from H.E.L.P. and a $100 gift card from J.W. Pepper.] The Ovation Award is presented and endowed by H.E.L.P.® Foundation and sponsored by Jacobs Music Company, J.W. Pepper, and WRTI-FM. WRTI's Jack Moore will be your host for the ceremony.
The goal of the Ovation Award is to honor exceptional music educators who change students' lives by not only imparting musical knowledge, but by helping to build character and confidence for a lifetime. The appreciative students wrote glowing essays about their music teachers. The ten finalists are: Karen Burgman—Fountainville, PA; Shirley Curtiss—Philadelphia, PA; Jonathan Holland—Little Egg Harbor, NJ; Ralph Jackson—Lansdale, PA; Robert Kesselman—Havertown, PA; Dr. Anton Kiehner—Cary, NC; Irving Ludwig—Philadelphia, PA; Clinton Nieweg—Glenside, PA; David Schopp—Fort Washington, PA; and Anthony Williams—Philadelphia, PA.
Plan now to hear the talented members of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra perform. Under the direction of Maestro Louis Scaglione, this concert will showcase the world premiere of Across the Sky, an 8-minute dramatic and multi-faceted commissioned work by PYO alumnus Sheridan Seyfried; Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto — widely considered one of the most technically difficult works for the violin — performed by Michael Ludwig, concertmaster of The Philly Pops, former concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic, and former associate concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra; followed by Gustav Mahler’s monumental Fifth Symphony. Sunday, May 31st at 3 pm, Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. Ticket information here.
Ovation Award Finalists:
KAREN P. BURGMAN
Fountainville, PA
Karen Burgman’s “passion and enthusiasm is contagious, and she instills that same contagious enthusiasm in her students.”
An award-winning chamber musician, collaborative pianist, teacher, and composer, Karen has performed coast to coast in the USA, Canada, and Europe. Notable venues include Carnegie Hall, the Toronto Center for the Performing Arts, the National Gallery of Art, Boston's Symphony Hall, and Jordan Hall. Karen performs regularly with other instrumentalists, including performers from The Philadelphia Orchestra, Grammy-nominated artists, and faculty from Oberlin and Juilliard. She serves on the faculty at the internationally recognized Credo Chamber Music Festival in Oberlin, Ohio, and is the founding pianist of the Credo Trio. Karen is the founding artistic director of Sola Gratia Musicians, a choral program for homeschool students, now including seven choirs, in Bucks County, PA. Certified in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Karen received her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory. Karen teaches piano privately at Cairn Community Arts Academy, serves as a coach to chamber ensembles, and is a master class clinician to college and high school-level musicians. Graduates of her private studio have pursued conservatory-level musical training and musical professions.
Nominator:
Elise Venter, Warrington, PA
A piano student of Karen Burgman’s for five years, Elise credits her teacher and mentor for giving her the confidence to challenge herself and arise to any difficult occasion.
SHIRLEY CURTISS
Philadelphia, PA
Shirley Curtiss provides students with a strong sense of self-discipline and encourages them to become better musicians and, overall, people.
A renowned bassoon pedagogue, Shirley served as the founder and lead faculty member of Settlement Music School’s woodwind program for nearly 50 years. A native of Illinois, she studied bassoon with Sol Schoenbach and maintained an extensive performing career in Philadelphia, having held principal positions with the Pennsylvania Ballet and Pennsylvania Opera Theater. Shirley received the Chamber Music America Award as well as the Gruber Award for excellence as a chamber music teacher. Shirley's students and ensembles have performed as soloists and many now hold positions in major symphony orchestras in the United States and abroad, including the New York Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Nominator:
Lauren Milewski, Springfield, PA
Lauren has studied bassoon for over four years with Shirley, who, through her actions and principles, became a role model in all aspects of Lauren’s life. Lauren currently attends Springfield High School and was previously a member of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra before joining the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra.
JONATHAN P. HOLLAND
Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Jonathan Holland instills students with a sense of gratitude and humility through his teaching.
Jonathan is music department chairman at The Pilgrim Academy, Galloway, New Jersey, where he has taught for the past 30 years. He directs the 50-voice Pilgrim Academy Choir, teaches lessons on a wide variety of instruments, and directs the Pioneer (elementary), Gateway (junior high) and Festival Orchestra (high school). The Festival Orchestra placed first in the national competition of the American Association of Christian Schools, held in April 2015 at Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina. He has also taught at the Csehy Summer School of Music, Houghton, New York since 2003, directing Junior High and Senior High orchestras. Among the things he enjoys are: spending time with his family, being outdoors, reading, composing and arranging music, and studying foreign languages.
Nominator:
Inez Yu, Egg Harbor City, NJ
A violist with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and Settlement Music School, Inez admires Jonathan Holland for his ability to work with a variety of music students with patience and kindness.
RALPH T. JACKSON
Lansdale, PA
Ralph Jackson brings out the best qualities in all of his students, while encouraging them to reach their full musical and personal potential.
Ralph is a music educator who teaches strings to approximately 200 Kindergarten through 6th grade students at Bridle Path Elementary and Montgomery Elementary Schools in the North Penn School District. Ralph teaches Suzuki violin classes to children and parents beginning in Kindergarten, traditional string lessons to children in grades three through six, the 120 members of the Bridle Path/Montgomery Orchestra, and the Select String Ensemble. Ralph is a recipient of the “Citation of Excellence” award from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) for his work at the elementary level. He sits on the board of ArCoNet (The Arts and Community network), and was the founder and director of the award-winning North Penn Youth Orchestra. He has also served as conductor of the Elite Strings Community Orchestra at the Doylestown Community Conservatory in Doylestown, Pa., and orchestra director for the Dali String Quartet Summer Chamber Camp and Festival in Doylestown, Pa.
Nominator:
Amanda Ragar, Lansdale, PA
Amanda, a member of numerous musical organizations including the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra and Arco Net Chamber Orchestra, acknowledges Ralph Jackson for setting the stage and helping her to begin pursuing a career in viola performance.
ROBERT KESSELMAN
Havertown, PA
Robert Kesselman motivates students and gives them confidence and the tools to embrace new challenges.
Robert, a native Philadelphian, attended Temple University and the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1980, he won a section bass position with the Pittsburgh Symphony, where he remained until 1987. He had always dreamed of playing in The Philadelphia Orchestra, and in 1987 he was accepted into the bass section. When he is not playing in the Orchestra, he enjoys teaching, solo playing, and performing chamber music. He was formerly on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and currently teaches at Temple University.
Nominator:
Luke Mottola, Havertown, PA
Luke, a member of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra and Delaware County Youth Orchestra, appreciates Robert for inspiring him to succeed, and helping him to view music as a joy, rather than a burden.
DR. ANTON KIEHNER
Cary, NC
Dr. Anton Kiehner demonstrated leadership and compassion and taught his students that “music can express everything you cannot say in words.”
A graduate of the 1955 class of Lebanon Valley College, Anton taught in the Tredyfrin /Easttown School District for 33 years. By 1958, he was the director of bands at Conestoga High School, a position he held for 25 years. As for the highlights of his career, Anton says, "The Rose Bowl Parade was one of the best events. This was something that the whole community got involved in. It took a lot of money and effort to send the entire band and orchestra to California, but it was worth it."
After 25 years at Conestoga, Anton took a sabbatical leave and when he returned in September of 1983, he started teaching at Valley Forge Intermediate School. During that time, he grew the chorus from 15 to 350 students, started guitar classes, as well as an opera appreciation class.
As a retiree, Anton and his wife first settled in Ocean City, New Jersey, where they were members of a community choir. They now happily reside in Cary, North Carolina.
Nominator:
Sally Kuhns, Portland, OR
Sally, an alumnus of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, has many fond memories of Dr. Anton Kiehner when he was her band director and credits him for her long, successful career as a professional musician and educator.
IRVING LUDWIG
Philadelphia, PA
Irving Ludwig inspired students to strive for artistry through musical excellence.
A native Philadelphian, Irving received his musical education and training at Settlement Music School. At the age of 20, he became one of the youngest members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he served for 39 years. During his years as a violinist with the Orchestra, he taught privately and at Settlement Music School. Students and colleagues admired him for his humor, deep commitment, and analytic approach to music. In 1991, he was appointed music director of the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. His passion, drive and personal connection with the LSO members instilled a unique esprit de corps within one of the most respected orchestras in the Philadelphia area.
Music, family, and friends were inextricable elements throughout his life. He taught both of his sons who are now accomplished musicians. An avid chess player, Irving twice beat the noted music critic and chess writer Harold Schonberg on the historic 1973 Philadelphia Orchestra tour to China. Irving Ludwig passed away in Philadelphia in 2012, at the age of 83.
Nominator:
Michael Ludwig, Philadelphia, PA
Michael, an internationally acclaimed violinist, and Irving’s son, recalls that his father “was a great teacher, not only because he was a brilliant artist, but because he had so much passion and cared so much.”
CLINTON F. NIEWEG
Glenside, PA
Clinton Nieweg teaches students that music requires a lifelong commitment to the art.
Clinton, retired principal librarian of The Philadelphia Orchestra, is currently president of Proof Purr-fect Research - a company that locates music for conductors, librarians and players worldwide. Clinton graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a concentration of String Bass, Harp and Orchestra Library Science.
Prior to his joining the Orchestra, Clinton was head of the instrumental department at J.W. Pepper & Son Music Publishers and rental librarian at Theodore Presser Music Publishers. He joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1975 as an assistant librarian, and realized his lifelong goal by becoming principal librarian in 1979.
It was at this time that he became a mentor to other students wanting to become orchestra librarians. Creating this career for musicians is a specialty of Clinton's, as no school is currently offering a program in orchestra librarianship. Some of his students are now librarians at the Chicago Symphony, MET Orchestra NYC, National Symphony DC, Toledo Symphony Ohio, New World Symphony (Miami) – to name a few. Clinton retired from The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2003 and continues to mentor orchestra librarian students and compile research for conductors and librarians.
Nominator:
Cynthia Ficca, Boothwyn, PA
Cynthia, encouraged by Clinton to attend West Chester University, remarks that he is “still a dear friend and forever teacher – we never stop learning and teachers never stop teaching.”
DAVID SCHOPP
Fort Washington, PA
David Schopp has been a source of inspiration to thousands of music students for nearly three decades.
David received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University and received a Master of Music Degree in trombone performance from West Chester University.
He is currently celebrating his 27th year as a music educator. For the past 16 years, David has taught at Hatboro-Horsham High School, where he conducts the Concert Band and Symphonic Bands, and teaches Guitar, Music Appreciation, and Rock Ensemble classes. He is also the assistant director of the Upper Dublin High School Marching Band, where he has the incredibly unique opportunity to teach his son, who is a member of the ensemble. David is a proud father to Maxwell, and daughter, Mackenzie.
Nominator:
Michael Duncan, Harboro, PA
Michael, a trumpet player and current student at Millersville University, recognizes David Schopp as a crucial role model for helping him become the person he is today.
ANTHONY H. WILLIAMS
Philadelphia, PA
Anthony "Tony" Williams encourages students to give back to their communities through music and volunteering.
Tony is a legendary alto saxophonist who truly represents "The Sound of Philadelphia." Having graduated from Abington High School, he then attended Tennessee State University. Tony worked in the Philadelphia School District for over 25 years and spent most of his teaching career at three schools: Barratt Junior High School, Ada Lewis Middle School, and AMY Northwest Middle School.
He is the founder and the director of the Mount Airy Cultural Center and has performed and/or recorded with many notable artists, including Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, The O'Jays, Terell Stafford, Grover Washington Jr., and Wynton Marsalis. Tony has taught and mentored many students in education and music that have continued to make powerful contributions to the world at large. He has received hundreds of distinguished awards and honors, and has a jazz festival named after him - The Tony Williams Scholarship Jazz Festival.
Nominator:
Mark Mitchell, Bear, DE
Having known Anthony Williams for over four decades, Mark was inspired by him to pursue a career in not only jazz performance, but music education as well.
And The 2015 Ovation Award Winner Is...
Tony Williams!
Congratulations to a true Philadelphia jazz legend who has mentored and inspired countless students throughout our region. A Mount Airy resident, the 83-year-old alto sax player beamed after his name was announced at the Ovation Award ceremony on May 31, 2015. "Of all the honors I have received," explained Williams, "this captures me the most. I am so amazed to be the one chosen among so many outstanding people standing around me."