Fanfare - Preucil School of Music

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Celebrating 42 Years!
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August 20
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Preucil School of Music
Iowa City, Iowa
Volume 28, Number 2
August 2016
Director’s Message By Sonja Zeithamel
Greetings Everyone!
I am writing this after the school's final event of the year, the Summer Chamber Festival. Preucil
faculty and guests from the community and university challenged and motivated our students in chamber
groups, master classes, orchestras, theory, conducting and voice exploration. It was exciting to watch the
interactions between students and teachers, as they explored and applied new concepts. The result? A
magical week filled with music, learning, personal accomplishments, new experiences and making new
friends. A fitting end to a wonderful year! In this Fanfare you can read more about the Summer Chamber
Festival and other highlights of the 2015-16 school year.
As we approach the new year, we do so with great optimism for the future. Compared to one
year ago, the Preucil School is in a vastly different place. In preparation for the next 10 years, the school has undergone a selfstudy, with representatives from each area of the school creating a steering committee. That exercise encouraged employees to
have a voice, pointed out what the school is doing well, what it needs to improve upon, and what changes need to be made or
considered as we move forward. In addition, a new Strategic Plan, based on the self- study, has been written. Committees made
up of board, guild, staff and faculty have started putting the plan into action. I would like to thank the members of both the Board
of Trustees and the Preucil Guild for their time and expertise on this project. In addition, I would like to extend to Jim Hussey,
board chair, a heart-felt "thank you!" for his leadership and work throughout!
One goal in the Strategic Plan that became an immediate priority, is to increase the annual financial aid package the
school is able to award to students. Having this ability at the school is of extreme importance to our faculty and families, so more
children can have the opportunity to be exposed to the arts and develop their ability. For the 2016-17 school year, the financial
aid committee was able to provide $23,455 to 65 students, enabling them to continue their instrumental studies or their preschool experience at the Preucil School in the new year. In addition, three students will have the opportunity to start lessons at
the school through Stacy's Fund. Thank you to everyone who has given in support of this cause and we look forward to increasing
both funds in order to reach out to more children in the future.
I hope our readers will have the opportunity to enjoy music by our students at one of our special performances during
the year or out in the community doing what we do best, "Bringing Music to Life!" On Sunday, February 12th, the school will do
just that as it returns to Hancher Auditorium for its Annual String Concert! What a treat to have our students perform in this
beautiful new auditorium during its inaugural year and how exciting to realize this arts facility is once again a part of our community! In June 2017, we go international with our young PSSO musicians when the orchestra travels to Europe on a concert tour of
the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
I invite you to please read on, to find out more about the exciting happenings at the school and the coming year. You can
also follow us on www.preucil.org or Facebook. Thank you for your interest and continued support!
Table of
Contents
Board Changes ................... 2
In Memoriam...................... 2
Preucil Website .................. 2
PSSO Tour ........................... 3
Faculty/Staff Changes.... 3&4
News from Alumni ............. 5
New Fall Offerings .............. 6
Piano News .........................7
Voice Program ....................8
Harp Happenings ................9
Preschool ..........................10
Music Together® ..............11
Annual Concerts................12
Corporate Sponsorships ...12
Chamber Music ................ 13
100 Days Club ................... 14
We Congratulate .............. 14
Outreach ......................... 15
Graduation ....................... 16
SAA Conference ................ 18
Picnic/Faculty Show ......... 22
2
Board Member Changes:
2015-16
Director
Sonja Zeithamel
Assistant Director
Lisa Guttenberg
Director Emeritus
Doris Preucil
Administrative Manager
Tom Birkenholz
Permanent
Board Members
Doris Preucil
William Preucil
Sonja Zeithamel
Lisa Guttenberg
Board of Trustees
Jim Hussey, President
Jason Aird
Alison Ames Galstad
Lillian Davis
Jeff Edberg
Neil Erusha
Jason Hagedorn
Brian Hunt
Lin Pierce
Sandra Thorington
Preucil Guild
Kiki Aanestad
Mary Anne Berg
Roxanne Boysen
Linda Cretzmeyer
Lillian Davis, Chair
Katie Kahler
Ellen Marie Lauricella
Mary Merulla
Jeremy Richardson
Susan Riedl
Patti Walden
Jan Warren
Committee Members
David Lacina, Building
Brad Langguth, Finance
The Preucil School of Music is a non-profit organization governed by the Board of Trustees
(BOT). Its objective is to set policy and direction for Preucil School and to support the Preucil Administration in accomplishing the organization’s mission. The Preucil Guild, a subcommittee of the
Board of Trustees, focuses on fundraising, marketing and special events. Members of both boards
commit to serving a three-year term, which may be extended for a second three-year term.
The school appreciates the service by each of its Board and Guild members. The school
could not operate and continue offering the quality music experience for its students without the
support of both groups. Today’s economy presents special challenges to non-profit organizations,
and these individuals with their vision, expertise and desire to make a difference have been an inspiration to the school’s leadership!
Farewell!
Each year several people complete their terms or resign their position for personal reasons. This year two people have left the Board of Trustees. Sadly, Jason Hagedorn and Sheba Francis, good friends of the school, have resigned from the Board. In addition, Susan Riedl and Mary
Merulla have completed their terms with the Guild. We are very grateful to all for their contributions to Preucil School of Music and wish them well.
Welcome!
We welcome Jim Conard and Aaron Warner to the Board of Trustees and the Finance
Committee as well as Patti Roberts and Heather Warner to the Guild. Thank you for your sharing
your time and expertise with the Preucil School.
How May I Serve?
If anyone would be interested in serving on the Preucil School of Music Guild in this very
special volunteer capacity, please let Sonja Zeithamel know at 319-337-4156, x103;
[email protected].
In Memoriam 2015-16:
Leonard V. Terry, 8/13/60-1/20/16: Father of Tami, Amina & Halle; Husband of Ana
Dr. James J. Mezhir, 5/28/73-2/3/16: Father of Malinee & Anjali; Husband of Priya
Mary DeJong Gantz, 4/4/49-4/14/16: Mother of Jay, Ellen & Jessica Rose; Wife of Bruce;
longtime friend of Preucil School, volunteer & board member
Peter E. Nathan, PhD, 4/18/35-5/8/16: Father of Siri Skinstad Odegaard; Husband of Anne
Skinstad
Check out the
Preucil School of Music Website:
www.preucil.org
Ways to help the Preucil School of Music: Stuff, etc., Goodshop.com, GoodSearch, AmazonSmile
A link to the Preucil School Facebook Page can be found at the bottom of the Preucil
School website
Alumni link: Click “Alumni” tab on the website to go to a page where alumni information
can be submitted. It is regularly monitored. Keep in touch!!
3
Faculty & Staff Farewells:
It is always sad to say goodbye to people who have made an impact on your life or the life of others. The following peole have
made major contributions to the Preucil School and we wish them the very best in the future!
Sharon Sonnleitner, Administrative Assistant, retired last March after working at the North Campus for 14 years. Prior to
that, Sharon was a Suzuki mom to daughter Theresa, so she really knew the School and how it operates. There was never a task
that Sharon was not willing to learn, fix or figure out. She continues to remain in contact with the School in her “retirement” by
updating the School’s website and serving as tour coordinator for the 2017 PSSO Tour to the Baltics. We wish her the best!
Lori Hagedorn, Preschool Teacher, left in May to take classes and gain her Iowa Teaching Certificate. She has worked with the
Preschool for 7 years in several capacities including Extended Day and most recently, 3-day assistant teacher. We will miss her gentle patience in the classroom! Wishing her the best in the future.
Lisa McDonough, Preschool Teacher, is leaving at the end of the summer to pursue a full-time teaching job with the Iowa City
Community School District. She has been a lead teacher in the Preschool for 8 years. We will miss her creativity and ability to
“make something out of nothing.” We wish her the best and know the ICCSD will be gaining a great teacher!
Kalmia Strong, Administrative Assistant, started last July and left in December. A small business she had started was more
successful than she planned for and it needed her undivided attention. We wish her continued success with her venture!
Kelsey Morrison, Office Assistant, started at the School in 2012 and left last September to take care of her first born, Mollie,
and to start a career at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. She has kept in touch by coming back to help us with events during the year. Congratulations to the new Mom!
Joshua Marquez, Literature & Materials of Music teacher in the Certificate Program, has completed his PhD in Composition
from The University of Iowa and moved to Wilmington, NC. He is currently serving as Artistic Director of GRIT Collaborative, an
interdisciplinary arts nonprofit that connects artists from different disciplines with the community by presenting art events in
unique places.
Preucil School String Orchestra (PSSO) to Tour the Baltic
States in June 2017 By Sharon Sonnleitner, Tour Manager
From June 18 to 27, 2017, PSSO, under the baton of Anthony Arnone,
will tour the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Fifty-seven people,
including 41 students, are currently committed to the trip. Highlights include 4
concerts, guided tours of the major cities, visits to important historical sites and
a walk on a white-sands beach.
Every four years, PSSO has an opportunity to travel internationally to
share their music with another culture. All tours are planned to provide a balance of concerts, culture and fun and are made possible by a generous gift from
an anonymous donor. The invested donation provides each student a grant of
up to ½ the cost of the tour, making the tour affordable to most students.
The 2013 tour was an amazing experience in China, where the orchestra performed a joint concert with students from the top music school in China
(attended by China’s first lady), presented a concert on the Great Wall, played
to a full house of University students during their final exams and performed for
townspeople and dignitaries in a resort city. Previous tours have travelled to
Eastern Europe in 1991, England in 1994, Germany in 1997, Italy in 2001, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Vienna in 2005, and Austria in 2009.
During this year of preparation for next summer’s tour, several fundraisers are planned to enable students to raise money
for their trip and pay for overhead expenses. Among them will be sales of World’s Finest Chocolate throughout the year, poinsettia and holiday greenery in October, and a spaghetti dinner in late January or early February. We look forward to this wonderful
opportunity for our students.
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New Faculty & Staff:
It is a privilege to welcome the following people into the Preucil “family.” To read more about our outstanding faculty and
staff, visit our website at: www.preucil.org.
Tom Birkenholz, Administrative Manager, joined us last August. He is nearing the end of his first year and what a
year it has been. He has been an invaluable asset to our School with his creative thinking, pleasant personality, nonprofit background and appreciation for the arts and children. It has been a pleasure getting to know Tom and work
with him on a daily basis.
Henry Cardenas, Office Assistant/North Campus, joined us at the beginning of March. He recently moved to Iowa
City from New York City to complete his undergraduate studies in Elementary Education at The University of Iowa. For
the past three years, he was a leading instructor with a non-profit organization, Building Beats. Henry is passionate
about music education and believes that after-school programming provides young students with an opportunity for
creative output and student development.
Rachael May, Administrative Assistant/Main Campus, joined us in January. Her musical journey started with
piano at the age of five and led her to oboe, flute, and singing. She attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin,
to pursue a degree in Music Education, with an instrumental emphasis. Most recently, Rachael headed up the band
department at her home town high school in Illinois. Rachael cherishes the music that was created, life lessons
learned, and relationships formed with other music teachers, students and parents she has worked with.
Denise Merritt, Administrative Assistant/North Campus, joined us in March. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree
from The University of Iowa in 1981. She has lived in Iowa City for the last 39 years and worked at ACT, Inc. for 31
years in a variety of roles. Her responsibilities at ACT included exam registration, fee processing, customer support, assisting disability students, mass mailings and working in multiple types of databases. Denise is married and
has two grown daughters. She loves all music and has attended many concerts and been a parent volunteer with
City High Show Choirs, Band and school.
Hope Spragg will be joining the Preschool faculty as the 3-day teaching assistant. She has had two children attend Preschool at Preucil, so she is already a part of our Preucil family. Hope has a B.A. in Art Education from The
University of Iowa and is half-way through a M.A. in Education. Previously, she has taught elementary art in
Saginaw, MI. We are thrilled to welcome Hope to our preschool team!
We welcome Dr. Sasha Garver to our flute department this fall. She was recently on the Suzuki flute
and piano faculty at Community School for Music and Arts and Dominican University of California from 20122015 and former chair of the music program at Northern New Mexico University. She played second flute/solo
piccolo with the Macau Orchestra (07-09) and Santa Fe Symphony (09-12). While in Asia, she studied at TERI
with Mr. Takahashi. She has training in Suzuki Flute Books 1-9 and Practicum. Sasha has taught at SAA and Suzuki World Conferences, Desert Suzuki Institute, Santa Fe Suzuki Institute, Mexico City Suzuki Institute, Regis
University and Colorado Christian University and the National Flute Assoc. Convention.
Christine Burke will be joining us this fall as the Literature & Materials of Music teacher in the Certificate
Program. She is a composer and clarinetist and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from Duquesne
University. Christine is currently pursuing Master’s Degrees at The University of Iowa, where she works as a research assistant in the Arts Share Department.
5
Harvest Hoedown By Lillian Davis
Forty years and more!! The 2015 Harvest Hoedown celebrated the Preucil
School's fortieth anniversary with music, dancing, feasting and an auction. Held at Celebration Farm on November 15th, the event featured Andy Carlson and Casey Cook, fiddle
and guitar duo, who mixed it up with our very own Espressivo Strings, conducted by our
founder, Doris Preucil.
Jim Hussey directed the evening's festivities, with Brent Wears adding his incomparable stamp as auctioneer. Over 240 attended, and enjoyed the fall colors and fruits of
the harvest, gourds and pumpkins, which graced the tables. The event raised over
$20,000 for the school, of which $7,000 is earmarked for financial assistance for students
in need.
Thanks go to the many parents and volunteers who spent numerous hours and to
the very generous contributions from sponsors and attendees.
This rousing fortieth anniversary reflected not only the many accomplishments of students and alumni of the Preucil
School, but also heralded the continuation of the remarkable work of the Preucil School, as exemplified in Shinichi Suzuki's quote:
When Love is deep, much can be accomplished.
Above left: Andy Carlson & Casey Cook perform with Espressivo Strings
Above right: Brent Wears, auctioneer
Lower right: Janice & Herb Wilson enjoy the Hoedown
News from Alumni
Ida del Mundo (1994) is a violinist/ filmmaker/writer in Manila, Philippines, playing with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
She has also taught music and movement at a preschool and Art & Music Appreciation at a university in the Philippines.
Amie Meade (1996) is an archaeologist living in Bismarck, North Dakota. Words of advice: “Enjoy your experience at Preucil
School! Keep in touch with your teachers, too!”
Tyler Hendrickson (2004) is a Suzuki viola, piano and violin teacher. Words of advice: “Read the notes your parents take
from the lesson right away. Always follow those directions, even if you don’t feel like it.”
Stephen Chan (2011) is a software engineer in San Francisco.
Lauren Holt (2011) graduated from Xavier University in Music Education and Violin Performance. She is pursuing her M.A.
in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Words of advice: “Beg your parents to let you go to a summer institute! I have such wonderful memories of institutes and still keep in touch with friends
that I met there. It is so reinvigorating to be in this environment with the best teachers and students from all over the
world making beautiful music together!”
Emma Howell (2011) is an Assistant English teacher for the JET program in Shizuoka prefecture, Iwata City, Japan.
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Exciting New Offerings in the Fall!
PIANO DEPARTMENT
Starting in the fall, piano students Pre-twinkle (beginners) through Book 3 will now have the opportunity to participate
in Suzuki group piano lessons. These classes, a supplement to the private lesson, will be designed to motivate, develop camaraderie and collaboration, fine tune listening skills, reinforce lesson and theory concepts, teach about the composers and the time
they lived, and be fun!
Before registration, parents are encouraged to talk to their studio teachers about adding this unique learning opportunity. Group piano lessons will be held at the Main Campus on Monday evenings or Saturday mornings, run the week of September. 12 through the week of April 24 and may be included in your fall registration.
FLUTE DEPARTMENT
The school's newest flute teacher, Sasha Garver, will be offering a 15 week (first semester), Introduction to Suzuki Flute
class lesson. This exciting opportunity for parent or care giver and child, ages 4-8, will include Suzuki parent education, instrument sizing, step by step introduction to starting the flute, tips on how to practice at home with your child, a chance to observe
others and much, much more!
Students may continue their study in one on one, private flute lessons during the second semester with Jennifer Wagaman or Sasha Garver, after taking this introductory class. We are very excited to get a Suzuki flute class started! Class size will be
limited to 8 students with a parent or caregiver. Call the school for more information on how to register for this fall class.
Group Piano Class! By Ruth Johnson
Our piano faculty has been discussing the merits of group piano for some time. After a piano donation that gave us an
extra piano in the lower level rehearsal room and observing a day of group classes during our Piano Workshop in March, we decided to try the first piano group class, a Book 1 class. The new class for piano students was offered 2nd semester, and like the
violin groups, teaches students how to play common Suzuki repertoire together. In addition, this group of six played rhythm
games and learned about different composers, including basic facts and listening to their music. A highlight of every week was
performing for each other. The students were very enthusiastic and their teachers could see improvement in their private lessons as a result. We are planning more classes to be offered starting in the Fall of 2016.
Delores Hubbard, Kenji Radley, Elaine Xia Mila Wiechert, Ethan Ding & Theodore Prickman enjoy Group Piano Class taught by Ruth Johnson
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Piano Department News By Debra Hernstrom
The fall 2015-16 year brought many new ideas, surprises and wonderful music. The September play-in and Halloween
always create great anticipation and wonderfully spooky performances. Thanks to Chiaki for decorating the stage of the Main
Campus for the Halloween play-in.
The second semester brought some surprises as three of the piano faculty had various injuries due to falls—but we kept
going! For our March Book 1-2 Piano Workshop we hosted two clinicians, Tyler Hendrickson and Marilyn Andersen. Marilyn is
from Villa Park, IL and teaches in the Wheaton program, and Tyler is well-known as a teacher of piano and viola with a particular
strength in group lessons. Many students told us later how much they especially enjoyed the group lessons. Marilyn’s teaching of
the basics reinforced how solidly this has to be done in our teaching. Tyler’s fine knowledge of the repertoire and fun personality
left the students leaving wanting more.
In April students in book 4-5 and up performed for the Concerto Day. Thanks again to the string orchestra who played so
well for our students under the wonderful direction of Carey Bostian. And, a little pizza and cookies help to give some festivity to
the day.
In April-May Ruth Johnson inaugurated group lessons for Pre-Twinkle and book 1 students. It is hoped that group lessons will become a part of the piano curriculum this fall—see page 6.
Theory classes, Musical Achievement and the IMTA competition rounded out the activities for the year.
Above left: Carey Bostian works
with student during Concerto day
Above right: Halloween Play-In
with students of Aura Strohschein
& Chiaki Kubota
Left: Halloween Play-In with students of Lauree Christman
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On Wings of Song By Gloria Galask
Felix Mendelssohn composed a song to the words of the German poet Heine entitled “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges,” translated in English “On Wings of Song.” The three verses capture a beautiful place in the Ganges where a red blooming garden shines
in the quiet moonlight and lotus blossoms wait for their sisters as violets look up to the stars. Sergius Kagen, in his book Music for
the Voice, noted that Mendelssohn’s songs were criticized for their sentimentality, yet they are less sentimental than Schumann
and are magnificent examples of German Lied. Lauren Katz gave a heartfelt performance in our spring recital.
Another German composer of the Romantic Era, the opera composer Frederich Flowtow, wrote an arrangement of “The
Last Rose of Summer,” an old Irish air, with words of the famous Irish poet Thomas Moore for his opera “Martha.” It is a metaphor
comparing our own life’s journey and a gentle reminder of our own mortality. The song has a haunting sad quality that also comforts. Savannah Joy Callaway sang this with complete simplicity and understanding. Song is a reflection of history of times long past.
It is Important because it helps us understand humanity.
At Christmas the recital began with the art song “Velvet Shoes” by the eminent American composer Randall Thompson.
He was inspired by the poem of Elinor Wylie, an American poet and novelist.
Let us walk in the white snow
In a soundless space
With footsteps quiet and slow
At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of white lace
Thompson set the music as a march in the distance intertwined with gentle, quiet legato voice parts. One could honestly
imagine the beauty and tranquility of the moment. A quartet of soprano and alto voices with Sue Pearson, Savannah Joy Callaway,
Nyah Taylor Butcher, and Maggie Terry captured the moment.
Nyah Taylor Butcher sang her first song by Gershwin, “Love Walked In.” It may have been Gershwin’s final song and has a
lovely verse and chorus. Alec Wilder described it as “direct, warm and without pretense” in his book on American Popular Song.
Leonard Bernstein idolized Gershwin and while working at a boys’ camp in the Berkshires, he heard on the radio that Gershwin
died. It was a Sunday and one of his duties was to play the piano over the lunch hour. Without saying a word he played Gershwin’s
“2nd Prelude”. Everyone was silent and he said it was then that he discovered “the Power of Music”.
A medley of Leonard Bernstein’s play “A Wonderful Town” was sung by Sue Pearson, Lauren Katz, and Tim Terry and was a
delight, depicting the life of two sisters from Ohio trying to succeed in New York’s Greenwich Village in the 50’s.
Eric Dyken sang “What a Wonderful World,” from the film “Good Morning Vietnam.” The lyrics “Fields of Green, Clouds of
White, Colors of the Rainbow” are a reminder of the simple everyday blessings that we often take for granted.
To borrow from Bernstein we must remember, as singers, that on wings of song the power of words have meaning; they
can transport us into a different world, a place, a time, a memory.
Left: Nyah Taylor Butcher
Bottom Left: Sue Pearson
Bottom Right: Eric Dyken
Right: Tia Rahmatalla, Lily Lumb, Anthony Lumb
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Harp Happenings By Pam Weest-Carrasco
Harp at all levels!
Not everyone becomes a concert artist, but everyone can
enjoy playing the harp!
Whatever your level of participation, know that the enjoyment of music will last a lifetime!
Top Row: Ava Otoadese during a lesson;
Meirav Flatté practices at home.
Second Row: Charles Brungardt performs at The
River Community Church;
Preucil Alum Katherine Siochi performs the Harp
Concerto by Alberto Ginastera during the final stage
of the 10th USA International Harp Competition in
Bloomington, Indiana. Katherine was awarded the
prize for the best performance of the piece and was
awarded the First Prize in the Competition. (Photo
courtesy of Seika Dong);
Mara Maas performs during “Music is the Word” at
the Iowa City Public Library.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Adamek
Adult harp student Mary Adamek received the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the American Music Therapy Association at their 2015 Annual
Conference in Kansas City. Dr. Adamek has served the American Music Therapy Association in various capacities for more than 20 years, including VicePresident, President, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Editorial Review
Boards of both AMTA journals, and Nominating Committee. “She presents
frequently at national and international music therapy and music education
conferences, and conferences of related professions. Dr. Adamek’s longstanding and continuous engagement at such a high level of service, scholarship, and achievement in our profession make her an inspiration to the next
generation of music therapy leaders.”—Program of The 65th Anniversary of
Music Therapy
Mary’s daughters and husband celebrate
her award in Kansas City.
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Preschool Reflections
By Tricia Windschitl
One Hundred Languages
“The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.” Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio schools.
We had the delight and honor of hosting visitors from the University of Northern Iowa this past year. Wendy Miller taught
at Preucil Preschool during our formative first year at North Campus, then left to pursue a Ph.D. She is now a professor of art at
UNI. Wendy introduced us to Sohyun (Soh) Meacham. Soh is a professor of education at UNI with expertise in early childhood education and the Reggio Emilia approach. When designing our facility at the North Campus, those involved were inspired by the Reggio approach and felt that it aligned very well with the Suzuki philosophy. Though we have been guided by the Reggio approach all
these years, working with Soh has been a reminder of our roots. We look forward to our collaboration with Soh and our many Reggio-inspired ventures together in the upcoming year.
“Preucil Preschool reflects what I learned from Reggio educators in many ways. The children engage in meaningful dialogue among peers and grown-ups, which is truly educational. Teachers are dedicated to supporting children’s learning.
They wholeheartedly listen to the children’s interests. They provide creative materials being attuned to the children’s own
research processes.Their documentation of children’s research is truly phenomenal! As a Reggio-inspired professor of
education at University of Northern Iowa, I am honored to work with the children and the teachers of Preucil. I look forward to more collaboration involving our strong teacher education students in the near future.” --Sohyun
What is Reggio?
The Reggio Emilia schools were developed post WWII by parents and educator Loris Malaguzzi. The schools have become
world renown for their innovative methods and were named by Newsweek as one of the ten best schools in the world in 1991.
Some basic principles of the Reggio approach include:
Image of the child: Children are viewed as competent and strong, having enormous potential. Children are seen as collaborators
and active participants in constructing knowledge as they negotiate the environment and build relationships.
Role of Teacher: Teachers are seen as collaborators and guides rather than all-knowing. Teacher and child learn together. Teachers
observe, listen, and actively problem-solve and problem-teach alongside children.
Role of the Environment: The environment is seen as the 3rd teacher as children interact and negotiate their space. Classrooms
are aesthetically pleasing and support the experiences and ideas of the children. The space fosters social relationships and collaboration.
Atelierista: Schools are equipped with an art studio in which a multitude of materials are available for creative expression and cognitive freedom. The atelier (art teacher) has a background in visual arts and works closely with classroom teachers.
Emergent Curriculum and Project Work: There is not a pre-set determined curriculum. Rather, curriculum emerges based on the
teachers’ observations of children’s interests, curiosities, and understanding of the world. Through questioning and observing,
teachers gain insight into children’s ideas and thinking processes. Based on observations, chance events, or teacher and child interest, projects emerge. Projects are in-depth, hands-on learning experiences lasting weeks to months.
Documentation: Giving value to children’s work and ideas, teachers document learning. Children’s hypothesis, theories, and
thought processes are recorded and documented along with photos and work samples. This documentation is used by teachers to
determine the direction of projects as well as to help others understand the children’s experiences.
The Hundred Languages: Children have many languages with which to express themselves and communicate their thoughts and
ideas. Drawing, painting, singing, sculpting, dancing, storytelling, playing are just a few examples. All languages are supported and
encouraged as a means of communication and as representation of learning.
One only needs to step into Preucil Preschool to see the influence of the Reggio schools. The teachers at Preucil Preschool
nurture these principles every day in our classrooms, art studio, and music rooms. As teachers, we continue on our learning journey and each of us speaks in one hundred languages as well. For I believe that the one hundred languages are always with us, if we
are just willing to pull them out and explore them. So together, teachers and children at Preucil Preschool speak one hundred languages, maybe more.
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Music Together® Notes By Lauren Willberg
This year I had the privilege of going to New Jersey to train with Music Together’s founders
and personal heroes of mine, Ken Guilmartin, and Dr. Lili Levinowitz. I became a member of a
select group of teachers as I was awarded Certification Level II, by the Center for Music and
Young Children in Princeton, having demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy and parent education.
It was an honor to be able to work closely alongside Ken and Lili, who have worked for
years to thoughtfully develop the program that allowed me to fall in love with the Preucil
School of Music and with Iowa City. Ken utilizes his Dalcroze training and love of children to
bring an aspect of fun into the classroom, and Lili takes her experiences learning from Edwin
Gordon, the brilliant man who changed the way that we think about music learning as a whole,
and specifically how children learn music between one month and three years. Lili and Ken have worked to develop a research
based early childhood music program that provides families with all they need to develop and nurture a joyful love of music, and
a rich and solid musical foundation when they leave the Music Together classroom. This experience has allowed me to honor all
of the work, research, passion and love that goes into the Music Together program, and allows me to provide the very best Music
Together classes to the families of the Preucil School. As a part of the certification process, I was able to complete a research project connecting the Music Together program with Suzuki instrument lessons. I was able to shine a light on the similarities of the
philosophies, as well as highlight how beautifully these programs work together.
Music Together is stimulating and enriching for children birth to five years of age, and provides a solid musical foundation for
the future. This year, my son began instrument lessons at Preucil, and I get to see the similarities in the program philosophies first
hand. Both of these programs believe that music is not for the “talented few,” but rather a skill that can be developed. I see the
musical foundation that Music Together has provided my son. The habits of listening to your music, having your parent participate in your musical experience, and singing and loving music makes the next chapter in our musical journey all the more enjoyable. I get a closer look at the high quality of education that Preucil offers its students, and I am thrilled to watch these little people find a lifelong love of music.
I have been in the Music Together classroom for over 9 years -- as a nanny, a mom and as a teacher -- and I still adore being
there. The learning that happens in a playful way keeps me hooked. When the parents effortlessly sing harmony in a minor key,
or repeat a rhythm pattern in 5/4 time, they see the musicality they are providing for their children. Most importantly, they are
providing memories of musical fun, and as one dear family recently told me, “providing us the soundtrack to her childhood,”
which is something that will last a lifetime.
Congratulations to Sonja Zeithamel!
On May 9, 2016, Sonja was honored with other recipients in the 2016 OVATION: A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls. Following is an excerpt from the publication:
“The annual string concert of the Preucil School of Music is a marvel of orchestration—with the movements of swarms of
students choreographed down to the minute.
“Nervous pre-Twinklers stand in one line and astonishingly accomplished teenage virtuosos in another. Just a few feet, and
about 10 years of practice, separate the groups.
“Overseeing this spirited symphony of students and skills, as has been tru for decades, is Sonja Zeithamel, director of the
Preucil School of Music.
“Sonja understands the life of a pre-Twinkler. She’s lived it.
“Sonja was a student of Doris Preucil before the Preucil School was formed. She was the school’s first faculty member not
named “Preucil,” and when Doris retired Sonja stepped into her shoes—leading the faculty and staff, teaching lessons, conducting orchestras, working with boards, and making the life of the school her life.
“Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki method of musical instructions, taught “If love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
“Conductors guide their orchestras without ever playing a note of their own. It is by leading others that their own visions
come alive. At every concert, in every lesson, and at every practice session around a kitchen table, students are taking their cues
from Sonja Zeithamel.
“Over her lifetime Sonja has seen the Preucil School grow from a few one-on-one lessons to a two-campus Iowa City institution that has become the standard by which schools of music worldwide are measured.
“If love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
12
Annual String Concert At the Iowa Memorial Union on February 21, 2016
Left: Performance of Dvořák’s “Songs My
Mother Taught Me”
Above: Doris & Bill Preucil
Annual Orchestra Festival Held March 8, 2016 at City High School
Opus Orchestra
Janet Ault &
Linda Judiesch,
conductors
Concert Orchestra
Sonja Zeithamel,
conductor
Preucil School
String Orchestra
(PSSO)
Anthony Arnone,
conductor
THE PREUCIL SCHOOL OF MUSIC SINCERELY THANKS THE FOLLOWING CORPORATE SPONSORS:
Diamond Sponsor:
West Music
Platinum Sponsor:
UI Community Credit Union
Gold Sponsors:
Hills Bank & Trust Company
Iowa City Landscaping & Garden Center
Mercy Iowa City
F. Chip Murray & First Community Trust
Gifts in-kind:
Goodfellow Printing, Inc.
Every Bloomin’ Thing
13
Chamber Music Notes By Lisa Guttenberg
“Chamber music is perhaps the most personal and intimate genre in music. Not only is there a personal conversation
between each individual player, but because of the intimate nature of that conversation, the audience members feel like active
participants.”– Carey Bostian, PSM faculty. The Preucil School of Music is very fortunate to be able to offer many chamber music
opportunities to its students during the year. As part of these programs, students can share their experience with family, friends,
and the community.
A new program, The Early Chamber Music Program, was held for six weeks this fall as an introduction to chamber music
for our younger students. Five groups participated in weekly coachings and then presented an informal concert on November 2 nd.
The Winter Chamber Program took place in the second semester from January - April. Thirty-five students participated in
the ten-week Chamber Program and the fourteen-week Velay Certificate Chamber Program. Students were grouped in duos, trios,
and quartets and each group received a weekly coaching and the programs concluded with final performances on April 19 th and
21st. Thank you to the coaches of these programs: Hannah Altmaier, Ute Brandenburg, Colleen Ferguson, Sasha Garver, Lisa Guttenberg, Marit Hervig, Chiaki Kubota, Kathryn Langguth, Leonardo Perez, William Preucil, Tabitha Rasmussen, and Sonja Zeithamel.
In March, the Chamber Music Mosh 2016 was held at the North Campus on March 6 th as part of the ACMP Worldwide Play
-In Weekend. Two of the Winter Chamber Program groups participated in this event as well as several of our faculty members.
In April, there were two exciting chamber events. The Cavani Quartet presented a chamber music workshop on April 8 th
th
and 9 as part of a collaboration between the Preucil School and the University of Iowa String Quartet Residency Program. The
conclusion of the workshop was a Family Concert presented by the Cavani Quartet and Friends (UI/PSM faculty and students).
There was also an informal chamber concert on April 29th organized for the Friday group classes. Guest performers were the Diversion Quartet (coached by Ute Brandenburg), the Lucca Piano Quintet (coached by Linda Judiesch), and the Dvorak American Quartet (coached by William Preucil).
In May, four of our seniors were recognized at graduation for their commitment to chamber music during their junior and
senior high school years at Preucil. Congratulations to Andrew Adamec, Sonali Durham, Claire Goodfellow, and Kirsten Nus who all
received ACMP Outstanding Chamber Music Awards. Also, the Lucca Piano Quintet (see “We Congratulate”) performed in the
Chamber Music masterclass at the 2016 SAA Conference in Minneapolis. This is a very prestigious honor and they were one of only
two quartets selected for this masterclass.
The Summer Chamber Fest was the grand finale of our chamber music journey this year. Forty-three students gathered at
the North Campus for a week of intensive study from June 27 - July 1. Students participated in masterclasses led by Carey Bostian,
Réne Lecuona, Doris Preucil, and William Preucil. Students also participated in daily coachings, supervised practice, conducting,
voice exploration, theory/music history, early keyboard, orchestra, and viola for violinists. The final concert was held on July 1 and
featured all thirteen groups, the voice exploration class, and the two orchestras. A huge thank you to all of the faculty and clinicians who made the week such a success: Hannah Altmaier, Carey Bostian, Ute Brandenburg, Hoi Ting Davidson, Gloria Galask,
Debra Hernstrom, Marit Hervig, Linda Judiesch, Kathryn Langguth, Réne Lecuona, Mary Neumann, Doris Preucil, William Preucil,
David Puderbaugh, and Aura Strohschein. We also would like to acknowledge the generosity of ACMP Associated Chamber Music
Players who provided partial funding for the 2016 program.
Here are the exciting chamber events planned for this fall:
Early Chamber Music Program, a six-week introduction to chamber music for our younger students. The program will
consist of weekly 45-minute coaching sessions from September 26 – November 6 and will conclude with an informal performance on Tuesday, November 8 at 7:00 in Walder Hall. Brochures are available at both Main and
North Campus offices as well as from private teachers. The registration deadline is August 27, 2016.
Winter Chamber Program: January – April. Final Concerts on April 18th and 20th.
ACMP Worldwide Play-In: Sunday, March 5th.
No Summer Chamber Fest Summer 2017 due to PSSO Tour. See you in Summer 2018!
Left: Summer Chamber Fest 2016
Below: Cavani Quartet Chamber Music Workshop Final Concert, April
9, 2016
14
The Power of Practice: 100 Days in Action By Lisa Guttenberg
Setting a goal and sticking to it is similar to making a New Year’s Resolution. And deciding to practice 100 days in a row is putting
the power of practice into action! Whether a beginner or advanced player, what’s important is the consistency of regular practice,
thus building a habit and reinforcing one’s skills on the instrument.
This year, 50 students did just that and committed to reaching a practice goal of 100 days. Some even went further and hit
200…300…and a year...and on multiple instruments! Congratulations to the following students for meeting their goal of 100 days (or
more!).
2015-16 Practice Club Members:
Alec Bowman
Drew Brown
Maylee Brown
Masha Buchkina
Tai Chang Caputo
Maya Cheng
Paul Cremer
Keira Cromwell
Emilio Estudillo
Emily Fillmore
Sadie Fillmore
Maria Henderson
Lisa Kawasaki
Mohan Kumar
Ella Hermann
Aubrey Leavenworth
Beau Leavenworth
McKenzie Lofgren
Anna Mascardo
Clara Meehan
Cian Meier-Gast
Rachel Meehan
Elizabeth Meier-Gast
Alice Meng
Nina Meng
Alia Miller
Elsa Morey
Jasper Morton
Noam Morton
Emre Orhon
Norah Orhon
Eleanor Plank
Sylvia Plank
Ava Prickman
Theodore Prickman
Anna Ramsey
Molly Ramsey
Michael Redhage
Callista Robertson
Will Seele
Abigail Sigafoose
Chihiro Sugiyama
Melissa Uc
Liam Venzke
Milla Wiechert
Louis Willberg
Seoyoung Yoon
Kent Zdan
Liao Zhu
Lien Zhu
We Congratulate…
Preucil students received many honors at area events in 2015-16. Congratulations to all who participated.
Iowa Music Teacher’s Association (Piano)
State Competition Winner: Callista Robertson
State Competition Runner-Up: Claire Lawler
District Winners who qualified for State: Claire Lawler,
Damien Kim, Callista Robertson, Mohan Kumar
Alternates: Isaac Kowal Bullwinkle, Nina Meng,
Thomas Pierce, Ethan Buck, Nina Bernat
Honorable Mention: Lisa Kawasaki, Alice Meng, Lauren Katz
Muscatine Symphony Young Artist’s Competition
Winner: Emily Fillmore, violin
3rd Place: Ella Wolle, cello
Central Iowa Symphony Young Artist’s Competition
Winner: Hannah Duncan, violin
Illinois All-State Music Festival
Violin: Bekah Javaux
Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference 2016
Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas: Kiera Cromwell,
cello; Yuning Shao, violin; Adam Zeithamel, cello
Harp Masterclass: Mara Maas
Chamber Music Masterclass: Ananth Shyamal, violin; Divya
Shyamal, violin; Maylee Brown, viola; Meleah Chang, cello;
Ethan Buck, piano
Iowa All-State Music Festival
Violins: Lara Celeghin, Sasha Chapnick-Sorokin, Eugenia Chen,
Sophia Chen, Jennifer Du, Emily Fillmore, Samantha Foerderer, Yiwen Gao, Louis Ho, Sonia Jeon, Mary Li, Bailey
Renfro, Rehanna Rexroat, Oriana Ross, Esme Rummelhart
Violas: Sonali Durham, Yuejia Gu, Edy Henning, Nova
Meurice, Lily Westemeyer
Cellos: Michael Berg, Claire Goodfellow (1st alternate), Chris
Low, Ella Wolle
Bass: Emi Bergman-Corbet (alternate), Tyler Montgomery
Iowa Junior Honors String Orchestra Festival
Violins: Oliver Bostian, Phoebe Chapnick-Sorokin, Sophia
Chen, Sadie Fillmore, Caleb Kwok, McKenzie Lofgren,
Leela Mahajan, Catie Miller, Oriana Ross, Lauren Rude,
Annalise Rummelhart, Ananth Shyamal, Divya Shyamal,
Joseph Wan, Jenna Wang, Julie Xian, Grace Yarrow
Cello: Julien Cook, Lucy Janssen, Daphne Knoop, Joe
Westemeyer
Bass: Paras Bassuk, John Bounds, Tyler Montgomery
15
Preucil Alum Wins International
Harp Competition! By Pam Weest-Carrasco
On June 18, 2016, I had the honor of watching my former student, Katherine Siochi,
Preucil Class of 2011, win the gold medal in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 people who
filled the Musical Arts Center at my alma mater, Indiana University, for the Final Stage of the
USA International Harp Competition. Katherine has won many other national harp competitions
including first prizes in the AHS Young Professional division, the Junior division of the American
String Teacher’s Association, the Anne Adams Awards, and the Aspen Music Festival harp competition. She currently resides in New York City where she is pursuing harp studies at the Juilliard
School as a recipient of The Kovner Fellowship. Katherine is
only the second American to win the gold medal of the
USAIHC since the competition’s inaugural year in 1989.
The competition began June 8 with 40 harpists
representing 16 countries. Each harpist had memorized over
two hours of required repertoire. Throughout 10 days of
performances, contestants competed in four stages: two
stages of required repertoire, one of a forty minute solo
program, and a fourth concerto stage, where the Jacobs
School of Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Brian Eads, accompanied the top three
finalists performing Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, Op. 25.
Left: Katherine with Preucil faculty, Pam Weest-Carrasco & Juilliard faculty, Nancy Allen
Reaching Out in the Community - "Bringing Music to
Life"
This year, the School’s Outreach Program provided a variety of community performances opportunities featuring students
and faculty. Musical presentations were given in nursing homes, retirement homes, hospitals, farmers’ markets and as a part of several special events.
A few of the many Outreach highlights include: providing entertainment at the Oaknoll Open House last fall; presenting four
noon performances (October-April) as part of “Music is the Word” series, hosted by the Iowa City Public Library, to welcome the University of Iowa School of Music into the downtown area; individual family performances at nursing homes; Preucil Fiddlers joining
Andy Carlson and the Iowa City Community String Orchestra for a special performance in the orchestra’s Family Concerts; performing
at “Brian Fest,” a fundraiser for the Brian Cretzmeyer Trust for Young Musicians (former piano student) and learning that one of the
pieces performed on piano, “Maple Leaf Rag,” was a favorite of Brian’s!
One of the responsibilities of the Preucil School of Music as a community music school, is to go out in the community and
share music with others. Our students, with the support and influence of their teacher and parents, learn they possess a special gift
that can bring comfort, happiness, a smile and sometimes tears to those that hear them play. No matter the age of the student, the
level of music being played, solos, groups or chamber music, people are moved when they hear students playing from the heart. Dr.
Suzuki would say they are growing a “beautiful heart and a beautiful soul!” Thank you to all who performed in an outreach event this
year.
The School welcomes inquiries into having students or a chamber group play for your event, organization or facility next
year. For more information, please contact [email protected].
“Music not played for others is like a seed forgotten in the corner of an envelope.” — Keiko Zdan, parent.
“Music is the Word”
Join us as the Iowa City Public Library continues its
series in 2016-17.
Preucil School will present noon programs on:
Wednesday, November 16
Friday, April 21
See you in meeting Room A!
Right: Kaya Zdan,
Emma Prostine,
Kent Zdan & Lee
Prostine give a
holiday performance in Anamosa.
16
Graduation 2016 By Preucil Alum Aishwarya Vijay
Preucil School’s Graduation Celebration was held May 1 in Wilson Auditorium. Following featured senior performances by the
Graduate String Ensemble and piano duets, Aishwarya Vijay presented a message to the graduates. Certificates and diplomas we re
awarded, followed by a reception hosted by the junior class. Following are Aishwarya’s bio and the graduation address:
Aishwarya is a 2010 graduate of West High School and the Preucil School of Music. She
studied violin with Doris Preucil and Linda Judiesch and piano with Lauree Christman. In 2014,
she received her B.S. with Distinction in Electrical Engineering from Yale University. As an undergraduate, Aishwarya continued her violin study with Professor Kyung Yu and served as 1st violinist in the Yale Symphony Orchestra. In her free time she founded Harmony@Yale, a musical
outreach group that places musicians from the Yale community into the greater New Haven
community to perform for those who do not have access to a Concert Hall. Currently Aishwarya
serves as a Post Graduate Research Fellow at Yale PET Center, continues to study the violin,
serves as Assistant Concertmaster of the Yale School of Medicine Symphony and is an active
chamber musician. Later in 2016, Aishwarya will begin her studies in medicine at the Yale School
of Medicine and will participate as a Fellow for the Immanuel & Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival.
_________________________________________________________
Thank you to the students, parents and faculty of the
Preucil School for being here and Doris Preucil and Sonja
Zeithamel for inviting me. I’m honored to be here today.
I’d like to start with a story about the most important concert
in my life. I’ve played a fair amount over the years. While at
Preucil, I performed in cathedrals and concert halls across
Prague, Budapest and Vienna – it was incredible. During college, I got the chance to perform in Carnegie Hall, a life-long
dream of mine – it was an amazing experience. But the most
important concert of my life actually took place in a nursing
home in a quiet suburb of Connecticut.
In college, I founded a group called Harmony@Yale –
our objective was to take the many talented musicians on the
Yale campus and put them into the community, especially in
places where people couldn’t reach concert venues as easily –
nursing homes, hospitals, health clinics. On one Monday evening, I set out with a friend of mine, also a violinist, to play at
the Mary Wade nursing home. Now, one of the goals of the
group is that the concerts are interactive - we often talk to
our audiences about the pieces we are going to play rather
than providing them with written program notes. But for this
piece, we decided to play without explanation – we played
Tango Por Una Cabeza, a beautiful piece by Carlos Gardel that
some of you may have heard in the 1992 movie Scent of a
Woman.
As we were playing, we noticed a lady in the back beginning
to weep silently. Before this, she had been very quiet and detached, and honestly, I thought she might leave soon into the
concert. We continued to play, and she stayed and at the end,
asked for the Tango one more time. I obliged and after the
concert, she came up to us to explain. “I’m sorry for crying,”
she said, “but that song, I haven’t heard it for so long that I
began to forget. It was the first song my late husband and I
danced to, on our very first date. I remember dancing with
him around a smoky room – I fell in love right away, and part
of it was this song. He passed away six years ago, and it’s been
so long since I’ve thought of that moment. Thank you, thank
you for not letting me forget.”
For me, that concert was some of the most important work I have ever done. Because sometimes we musicians
get stuck in the practice, the auditions, the so-called “career”
aspect, that we forget that music is, at its core, a humanitarian pursuit. It is part of the human spirit – it has the power to
evoke long-forgotten memories, unite groups of people in a
time of need, and provide a community of like-minded artistic
visionaries. The truth is, in being an artist, you have signed up
for an act of service. With every drawing of the bow and every
stroke of the keyboard, you are here to serve humanity and to
serve yourself.
Yes, music is, in part, about serving yourself. And I
wanted to elaborate on this, because serving yourself is not
something we often think about, but I think it’s applicable to
most aspects of the journey you are about to embark on.
You’re about to go to college- that is so exciting! I used to roll
my eyes when people said that college would be the best
years of your life, but here I am, 6 years later, saying the same
thing. It is true. It is the one time in your life when the world is
truly your oyster – you can choose to become anything your
heart desires, and still pursue your passions on the side. You
can get involved in the community without a 9-5 commitment
every weekday and take some time to learn something new perhaps you’ll sing in a theater production, or do research in a
lab, or join the juggling club. There are no “right ways” to do
college, and while that can seem daunting, it is one of the
greatest things you can have in life. I want to you take full
advantage of that, and offer some advice on how to achieve
this.
First, the journey ahead will be one of the most exciting times of your life, and it will also, at times, be the most
challenging. I urge you not to let the failures or hardships you
encounter discourage or exhaust you – rather, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed.
Learn from them and never be afraid to fail. It comes with
trying something new, and by trying something new, you
might find a new passion or, perhaps, a new life’s calling. So,
you see, making mistakes will be an essential component of
17
Graduation 2016 (cont.)
your life going forward.
Secondly, never be afraid to ask for help. College is
hard, and whether you’re staying here in Iowa City or moving
away, you are not going to know the answers to everything.
When I started college, 1,073 miles away from home, I had
not spent any meaningful time on a college campus. Before
that, I had never been away from home for an extended period of time. The classes moved at such a fast pace, and everything seemed so unstructured. I didn’t want to be too
stressed, but I also wanted to do well.
It’s so easy to feel like you’re alone in this, that you,
and you alone, are not sure what you’re doing. But as I got to
know my classmates, I realized that that’s a universal struggle
– when you have everything available and possible, how do
you pick and choose? I also realized that the people who were
really successful reached out. They asked for help. If they
didn’t understand something in class, they would raise their
hand and ask a question, then they’d go to professor’s office
hours and ask even more questions. They’d get a tutor just to
review materials. They’d go to clubs or talk to older students
who would become their mentors. And they were never embarrassed about it, not one bit. Because they knew that that’s
how you succeed in life – nobody does it alone. I guarantee
you will find people eager to help you, but they aren’t going to
come knocking on your door – you have to take the responsibility to find them.
Indeed, you are sitting here today yes primarily because of your own dedication and achievements, but also because of all the people behind you. Your parents who signed
you up for lessons, who bought you your first instrument.
Your teacher, who patiently sat through line after line of Twinkle Twinkle and bailed you out when you might have had a
memory slip in a recital. Your friends, who you played in orchestra or performance groups with – maybe you even went
on PSSO tour with them and traveled the world! These are the
people that motivated you, maybe consciously but definitely
subconsciously, to pursue your studies, to keep playing and to
end up here today. You will find the same support in the years
to come if you only look.
For those of you going into music in the future, I’m
sure you’ve worried at points about whether you can make a
living off of it. For sure, that’s important, but don’t let that be
your inspiration or aspiration. Karl Paulnack, a great pianist
and professor at the Boston Conservatory, put it well when he
said, "The truth is that as a musician, you don’t have anything
to sell. It’s not about dispensing a product. Musicians are actually a lot closer to the job of paramedics, firefighters or rescue
workers. Musicians are like therapists for the human soul,
someone who works with our insides to see if they get things
to line up, to see if we can come into harmony with ourselves
and be healthy and happy and well. “
I began playing violin at the age of four and soon after started piano. I went to my first lesson and asked my
teacher if he could play like Itzhak Perlman – I was horrified
when he responded that he couldn’t. Why on earth would
anybody lower than the skill level of Itzhak Perlman be teaching me? And it was because as a newcomer to music, I only
saw the black and white. Either you were me, with tapes on
the fingerboards and still learning to hold the bow, or you
were professional and playing in Carnegie Hall regularly. But
as I have gone through the years, I have come to realize that
there are so many degrees in between. You can play once a
week in an orchestra, or take a few lessons every now and
then. You can start or join a community initiative, and bring
the joy of music to those less fortunate than you. And yes,
with passion and drive, maybe you can become the next
Perlman. But any way you choose to go, the desire to succeed
and improve must come from within you.
And while on the exterior that may sound like work,
remember that by pursuing music to this level and hopefully
beyond, you are serving, in addition to your community, one
other person: yourself. You are serving the force within you
that longs to grow and expand and feel and connect and create; that part of you that craves a way to express raw elation
and passion, and perhaps most importantly, to have fun!
Don’t ever abandon that sense of fun in your art, whether it’s
on your own, in a chamber music group or a band, or in a
large symphony orchestra. Let the fun and passion that you’ve
experienced here at the Preucil School in your musical studies
guide you in every moment of your journey. If you can find
that, you have everything.
So for those of you who decide to choose another
path in life, I urge you to hold on to music for as long as you
can – I did, and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.
And don’t do it for the tangible – the resume builder, the required “extracurricular” activity. Do it for yourself, for your
own ego, gratification, fulfillment and happiness – that is what
truly beautiful music comes out of. Being a skilled musician is
such a rare gift to have, and one with unparalleled longevity.
You can find a community outside of your profession – I play
in an orchestra that is comprised almost entirely of doctors
and medical students, who see it as a place to escape from the
often harsh realities of life in a hospital. You can use it to have
an immersive experience outside of your studies or your career – I have been accepted as a fellow at an intensive music
camp, and will be the only non-conservatory, non-professional
musician there – I couldn’t be more excited to do this before
starting medical school. You can contribute to your friends’
and families’ life in a unique and enriching ways – in addition
to being a bridesmaid, I played the violin at my sister’s wedding, at my best friends from high school’s wedding. And just
think - have you ever been to a wedding without music? It just
goes to show how central a role you can play in the most important moments in people’s life just based on a skill you already have.
I can't think of one person I've ever met who didn't
like some type of music and that is because music is universally accessible. You are uniquely positioned to not only have
a gift of being able to express yourself without words, but to
share that gift with others. And I want you to take that mis-
18
Graduation 2016 (cont.)
sion seriously. If I may, I want to draw an analogy. If I’m
spending time practicing endotracheal intubation, I’m going
to take it very seriously, because I expect that one day, somebody will walk into the emergency room at 2 am in severe
respiratory distress, I’m going to need to perform that procedure on them to save their life. Well, music is no different in
some way – one day, somebody is going to walk into the concert hall, or the nursing home, or wherever you choose to
perform, and they’re going to have lost memories, or a broken heart, or a tired soul. It’s up to you to make sure they
leave whole again, and that is the noblest mission I could
think of.
So to all of you, congratulations and good luck!
2016 SAA Conference By Lisa Guttenberg
In May, nine Preucil students participated in the Suzuki
Association of America (SAA) Biennial Conference in Minneapolis.
These students took part in the Suzuki Youth Orchestras of America (SYOA), the Harp Masterclass, and the Chamber Music Masterclass. These students were chosen by video audition from hundreds of applicants. Congratulations to Maylee Brown, Ethan Buck,
Meleah Chang, Keira Cromwell, Mara Maas, Yuning Shao, Ananth
Shyamal, Divya Shyamal, and Adam Zeithamel.
Above left: Adam Zeithamel & Keira Cromwell
Above right: Keira Cromwell
Left: Yuning Shao performs with SYOA I
Below right: Quintet Masterclass with Maylee Brown, Ethan Buck Meleah
Chang, Ananth Shyamal & Divya Shyamal
Below: SYOA I
19
Seated: Natalie Shoultz, Evelyn Galstad, Rebekah Javaux, Rehanna Rexroat, Claire Goodfellow, Maia Bennett, Angela Erusha,
Kirsten Nus, Alexandra Sharp
Standing: Liza Casella, Sonali Durham, Andrew Adamec, Yuejia Gu, Derek Choi, Louis Ho, Edmond Henning, Thomas Barker, Mary
Li
Not Pictured: Alexandra Davis, Isaac Davis, Adeline Horst, Sonia Jeon, Ela Pemmaraju, Sophia Schlesinger
Following is the list of graduating seniors:
Andrew Adamec (piano, viola): PSM 14 years, Regina High
School
High School Highlights:
Regina Honor Roll
Certificate Program
President’s Education Award
Regina baseball
Regina basketball
Future plans: Attending UNI and continue to pursue piano
Thomas Barker (violin): PSM 12 years, Iowa City West High
School
High School Highlights:
Iowa Ambassadors of Music Symphonic Band
Europe Tour
Theater
Marching Band trips to Florida
Playing in band
Playing in jazz band
Future plans: Attending St. Lawrence University in New
York to study conversation biology
Maia Bennett (violin, piano): PSM 10 years, Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School
High School Highlights:
All-State Orchestra 2012
All-State Choir 2014-2015
Kennedy Drama & Theater Department
Happiness, Inc. Varsity Showchoir
AP Scholar with Distinction
Future plans: Studying macroeconomics & political science
Liza Casella (violin): PSM 12 years, Homeschool/Iowa City High
School
School Highlights:
Conducting astrophysics research at the University
of Iowa
Volunteering at a school for the arts in Guatemala
3 years of PSSO
Future plans: Attend college to study physics and pre-med
Derek Choi (violin): PSM 10 years, Iowa City West High School
High School Highlights:
Math Competitions
Playing games
Learning
Future plans: Attending The University of Iowa
Alexandra Davis (violin): PSM 12 years, Homeschool
High School Highlights:
Varsity basketball
International travel
National Honor Society
Track & Field letterwinner
Cross Country letterwinner
Future plans: Attend college to study nursing
20
Isaac Davis (violin): PSM 12 years, Homeschool
High School Highlights:
Varsity Football letterwinner
Marching Band
Volunteer work
International travel
National Honor Society
Future plans: Impact 360 Gap Year program; TCU in the
fall of 2017
Sonali Durham (viola): PSM 8 years, Iowa City High School
High School Highlights:
4 year Cross Country
National pacemaker award with Little Hawk’s staff
Tour of Europe with City High Orchestra
All-State Orchestra
National Merit Semifinalist
Future plans: Attend Yale University to study computer
science or chemistry
Angela Erusha (violin): PSM 13 years, Solon High School
High School Highlights:
National Honor Society
Football & basketball cheerleading
Youth Salute-National Council on Youth Leadership
Soccer
Cross Country
Future plans: Attend Benedictine College
Evelyn Galstad (viola): PSM 14 years, Iowa City High School
High School Highlights:
All-State Choir 2013 & 2014; soloist in 2014
“Mary Poppins” in City High’s production
PSSO trip to China
City High Orchestra trip to Europe
4th Avenue Jazz Company
Future plans: College & travel
Claire Goodfellow (cello): PSM 14 years, Iowa City High
School
High School Highlights:
All-State Orchestra
City High Orchestra trip to Europe
City High Journalism trips to Boston, Washington,
D.C. & Orlando
Preucil Chamber Group
Community Theatre pit orchestras
Future plans: Attend college to study music education
and/or English
Yuejia Gu (viola): PSM 7 years, Iowa City West High School
High School Highlights:
West High Orchestra for 4 years
West High swim team for 4 years; varsity 2 years
All-State Orchestra for 3 years
Future plans: Attending college to study something involving music
Edmond Henning (viola, piano): PSM 14 years, HLV
High School Highlights:
Wrestling, Track & Football (state championship
game)
4 year All-State Orchestra (1st in school history)
Honors Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
PSSO trip to China
MFA Honors Orchestra in Indianapolis, IN
Future plans: Study business while playing football and participating in orchestra
Louis Ho (violin): PSM 11 years, Iowa City West High School
High School Highlights:
PSSO trip to China
All-State Orchestra
West High Soccer
Performing with my band
Performing with Orchestra Iowa
Future plans: Attending college to become a computer
engineer.
Adeline Horst (violin): PSM 6 years, Homeschool
High School Highlights:
Corridor Honors Orchestra
Master class with Dr. Myron Kartman
Performing with Orchestra Iowa
Family trip to South Dakota
Learning French & Hebrew
Future plans: Attending college to study art/graphic design,
writing, music, language & theatre
Rebekah Javaux (violin): PSM 4 years, Homeschool
High School Highlights:
Job shadowing at Blessing Hospital
Swim team
Espressivo
Church Worship Team
Missions trip to New Mexico
Future plans: Attend college to study pre-med.
Sonia Jeon (violin): PSM 3 years, Iowa City West High School
High School Highlights:
AP Scholar
All-State Orchestra
Virtuoso Music Club
Future plans: Attending Vanderbilt University Blair School
of Music
Mary Li (violin): PSM 12 years, Iowa City West High School
High School Highlights:
All-State Orchestra
Managing Editor, Grapevine Literary Magazine
Cleft Lip & Palate Research Lab
Volunteer on the Lifeline Express Train
West High Swimming & Diving
Future plans: Attend college to study psychology
21
Kirsten Nus (violin): PSM 6 years, Homeschool
High School Highlights:
Lessons with Doris Preucil
Credo Summer Chamber Program
Espressivo playing with Orchestra iowa
FPS (Future Problem Solvers) International Competitions
Pastry Chef Internship at New Pioneer Food Co-op
Future plans: Attend college to pursue bakery/pastry arts;
complete Suzuki teacher training
Ela Pemmaraju (cello): PSM 13 years, Iowa City West High
School
High School Highlights:
University of Iowa Dance Marathon
West High Soccer
Volunteering at UIHC
Volunteering for Table to Table
Commendation from National Merit Society
Future plans: Attending Mount Holyoke College
Rehanna Rexroat (violin): PSM 14 years, Mt. Vernon High
School
High School Highlights:
State Thespian Festival Mainstage Performer
PSSO tour to China
Director of Senior Show at MVHS
MVHS Chamber Choir
Performing at Jazz Championships
Future plans: Attending Lawrence University Conservatory
of Music to study Music Education
Alix Sharp (piano): PSM 6 years, Iowa City High School
High School Highlights:
National Honor Society
Honor Roll of Excellence (4 years)
All-State Orchestra 2 years (violin
Swimming: state qualifier 3 years, team captain 2
years, varsity letter 4 years, school record holder
(200 medley relay)
Future plans: Attending college
Natalie Shoultz (viola): PSM 13 years, Iowa City West High
School
High School Highlights:
Legislative page for 2016 session
Swim Team Captaion
National Honor Society
West High Orchestra
Future plans: Attending Luther College to study life sciences
Also graduating: Sophia Schlesinger
WAYS TO HELP PREUCIL
SCHOOL OF MUSIC!
STUFF ETC.—ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF YOUR DONATED ITEMS GO
TO THE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID FUND.
OFFICE DEPOT—WHEN YOU SHOP AT OFFICE DEPOT, ASK THE CLERK AT
CHECK-OUT TO APPLY YOUR PURCHASE TO PREUCIL SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
OFFICE DEPOT WILL AWARD PREUCIL SCHOOL 5% OF THE QUALIFYING
PURCHASES IN MERCHANDISE CREDIT THAT CAN BE USED TOWARDS FREE
SUPPLIES!
AMAZONSMILE—WHEN YOU SHOP AT SMILE.AMAZON.COM, YOU’LL FIND
THE EXACT SAME LOW PRICES, VAST SELECTION AND CONVENIENT SHOPPING
EXPERIENCE AS
AMAZON.COM, WITH THE ADDED BONUS THAT AMAZON
WILL DONATE 5% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE TO PREUCIL SCHOOL.
Composition Winner:
Jeremiah Siochi
Jeremiah Siochi, (PSM
Class of 2010), former piano
student of Barb Michaelson
and bass student of Jeanette
Welch, was honored at the
USA International Harp Competition (USAIHC) in Bloomington, Indiana, in June.
His
composition,
“Sublimation,” won first place
at the 2015 USAIHC Composition Competition. The award included the performance of
his piece by all of the harpists in the 3rd round of the 2016
USAIHC.
.
22
You are invited to the:
When:
Where:
Rain Date:
Bring:
Sunday, September 25, 4:30pm
North Market Square Park & Wilson Auditorium
Sunday, October 9, 4:30pm
Table service and drinks for your family
and a dish to share!
If you would like to help with this event, please contact:
Tom Birkenholz at 319.337.4156 x101 or [email protected].
Show your School Pride!
Wear your 40th-Anniversary T-shirt!
T-shirts: $10
Totes: $15
Available from either office
24
Preucil School of Music
524 N. Johnson Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
2016-17 Calendar
Highlights
August 20
August 22
August 24
September 1
Wk of Sept 12
Lesson Registration Day, 9am-1pm
Instrument Lessons/Cello Choir/Espressivo begin
Preschool begins
Certificate Program begins
Piano Groups/Tues, Thurs, Fri groups & orchestras/
Music Together®/begin
September 17 Piano Play-Ins
September 19 Con Brio begins
September 25 Family Picnic & Faculty Show— see p. 22 for details
September 26 Concert Orchestra/Jr. Cello Choir/Early Chamber
Music Program begin
October 2
PSSO Sinfonietta Auditions
October 21
The Great ILIA Cello Exchange
Oct 27 & 28
String Halloween Play-Ins
Oct 28, 29 & 30 Piano Play-Ins
November 7
PSSO Philharmonia & Sinfonietta begin
November 8
Early Chamber Music Program Concert
December 11
Multiple Piano Festival
February 12
Annual String Concert
March 3,4,5
Piano Workshop, Bk. 1&2
March 7
Orchestra Festival
Wk of April 3
Piano Musical Achievement
April 18
Winter Chamber Concert
April 20
Certificate Program Concert
May 7
Senior Graduation
May 7-13
String Musical Achievement
June 18-27
PSSO Tour