Cues from the Podium  "A Year in Review"
by Olivia W. Gutoff - Music Director

MCYO has had a stellar year! The year 1999-2000 has been good to us in many ways. We started out with record numbers at the September auditions, an invitation for the Philharmonic Orchestra to perform at the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and a premiere of a new composition in the offing. We then had our "surprise" String Ensemble performance that launched our concert season in December.

The standard of performance for Prep and Symphony was amazing for the first concert, and the Philharmonic Orchestra didn't disappoint anyone with its thrilling performance. The WMAL broadcast, "Live from the Kennedy Center" was a memorable concert and then our March concert series was upon us.

The MENC conference was a huge success. Performers and audiences, alike, thrilled to the exciting premier of Joseph Jay McIntyre's "Echoes of a Forgotten Dream".  The March and May concerts could hardly be surpassed. 

Now, it is hard to believe another season is about to conclude and 43 Philharmonics, many of whom have been with MCYO for 5, 6, or 7 years, will be graduating. What wonderful young people we conductors get to work with!

Our hope is that the Philharmonics will go on in their lives to achieve many successes in academics and in their personal lives, as well as their careers. These young people have been committed and have courageously tapped into their creative talents enabling them to experience some moments of incredible, unsurpassed beauty. We hope the enrichment theyhave received in MCYO, the skills they have attained to achieve the high standard of excellence for which MCYO has become known, and the incredible beauty they have experienced and thrilled their audiences with, will remain memorable throughout their lives.

I challenge the younger musicians in our program to continue to strive for excellence and work hard this summer in preparation for auditions for next season. The beauty of our program is that staying in an orchestra for several years gives the musician a wonderful music education in preparation for the next level. Those ready to move on to the next level will be rewarded by their hard work and achievement, and will undoubtedly be challenged at the next level.

Remember, being in an orchestra this year does not automatically qualify one for an orchestra next year! Everyone needs to earn the honor, so start thinking about a solo for next September!

It is also time to make scales more fluent, in-tune, and beautiful. And don't forget that chromatic scale! Take music books you don't generally work out of, and sight-read often. Ask your teacher to help you sight-read. It also helps to play duets, either with your teacher or with a friend.

One can never be over-prepared for an audition! Keep in mind that obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

Have a wonderful and productive summer and we conductors look forward to seeing you and hearing you next fall!