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The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) is a youth and family development program of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The program is designed to use the life skills learned in music instruction to engage youth in activities that discourage at-risk behaviors and keep them committed to staying in school.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Letter from Lauren


Lauren Busch graduated from MYO last year and is experiencing her first year at Patrick Henry College. This letter details her first week at school. Lauren, we're very proud of you!!
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Hello All!

Well, it's Sunday...which means I made it through my first week of college!!! And what an awesome week it has been. I have intensely enjoyed every minute of every day here at PHC this week.

Last Saturday, to close the week of orientation and get geared up for the first week of school PHC held the annual freshman talent show. There were about a dozen acts, ranging from musical to theatrical. I played a Celtic fiddle piece with my new-found violin friend Hannah and a guy named Tait on guitar. The grand finale was a guy who plays the bagpipes....and wow was he amazing! I've never seen anybody play bagpipes that fast. (Would you believe on a campus as small as ours that we have two bagpipe players?) The talent show was alot of fun and was a great way to get to know people.

Monday brought the long-awaited day...convocation and the first day of classes. Convocation was an exciting event. Everyone dresses up and all the faculty wear the full academic regalia. (If you want to see click on PHC Visuals on the main page of http://www.phc.edu/ and watch the little video.) The hymns and scripture reading had obviously been carefully selected and were filled with meaning. Our provost delivered a very insightful and challenging address and our chancellor led in a special time of prayer to dedicate faculty, students, and all we have and are to the Lord this year. It was a very special time for me.

As I mentioned, Monday also brought the first day of classes....logic, US history, and our PHC portfolio class to be specific.The famous Dr. Spinney teaches the US history...he is an incredibly knowledgeable guy and both he and his class are universal favorites. I have really enjoyed it so far, and it will probably end up being my favorite too.

Tuesday brought on history of western civ, theology, and research & writing. Western civ is an exciting class - absolutely fascinating and rather fast paced. Our professor is very enthusiastic. Surprisingly though, theology is the most entertaining class. Dr. Cox is so hilarious...not something I was necessarily expecting from a doctor of theology. Despite his humorous side, he takes God's word very seriously, and I have gleaned several profound thoughts from his class already. Research & writing is my least favorite class, though I'm sure it will be very beneficial. :)

I was very excited for Friday, because it brought my first chamber orchestra rehearsal. We have 10 violins, 2 violas, and 1 cello at this point (though I found another cellist and am going to press gang her into joining! :) I like the repertoire we are going to do this year, and I really like Dr. McCormick, the string director. Of course it helps him out that he has some Hoosier roots...he went to school at IU (So he is one of 2 people on campus who know where Martinsville is!)

Saturday I had my first experience working in the dining hall. Saturday morning is just a continental breakfast and most everybody sleeps in, so we weren't real busy. I mostly helped prep stuff for lunch and dinner. I peeled a bag of carrots the size of a duffel bag. It seemed to take forever, but Adalid (one of the chefs) said, in his delicious Costa-rican accent, "Oh, you are faster". :) I worked again this afternoon. It is definitely easier than waitressing, and everybody you have to deal with is super nice and polite, so it's a good job. (And by the way, the dining hall food is AMAZING! I'm going to have to be real careful. ;)

So the first week has definitely been a good one. I am all settled into my room, and get along well with my roommates, Emily and Mary Sue. (In case you didn't get the "orientation newsletter": I am in Mount Vernon, aka D1, the most conveniently located dorm, with a lovely view from my desk overlooking Lake Bob.) Every class has been so enjoyable that I haven't been ready for them to end when the professor dismisses us. All the students here are so intelligent and insightful...it is really exciting to be in a place where you can learn so much not only from your professors but your peers as well. (Funny story: A TV show host once asked Dr. Farris on air if it was easier to get into heaven than PHC...Dr. Farris said yes.) I am so glad to be here, even though I am starting to miss my family. I know God is going to grow me tremendously. This year is going to be alot of work, but if the weeks to come are anything like this one it will be well worth it.

I don't plan on writing "epistle" length newsletters every week, but since this was the first one there was alot to say to get started. Thank you all who are praying for me as I continue to adjust to the college life and workload.

With Love,
Lauren

Friday, August 27, 2010

Krystle Ford In New York


We are proud of our MYO alums and MYO alumna Krystle Ford has been up to lots of cool things while living in NYC...

Krystle Ford, prodigy of MYO, (under the direction of Ms. Betty Perry), is a 2006 graduate of Butler University Jordan College of Fine Arts. Krystle has had many opportunities to showcase her talents, since graduating from Butler University and moving to New York, to pursue her passion for music as a jazz violinist. She also worked at the Lincoln Center for the past 2 years.


Playing with Indianapolis Jazz legend, Dr. Larry Ridley, who settled in New York years earlier and serving as her mentor, Krystle has had the opportunity to display her talent with Ridley and the Jazz Legacy Ensemble at Jazz Mobile in Harlem, International Association of Jazz Educators conference, Nubian Heritage concert series produced by the jazz Museum of Harlem, and at several jazz tribute concerts at the Schomburg Center. She also performed at the NAJRI (NCCU AAJC Jazz Research Institute) Jazz Conference at North Carolina Central University implemented by Ridley, which is dedicated to the preservation of Jazz, especially in the African American communities and universities.

Krystle was featured in Power Magazine last year as un upcoming inspiring Artist to watch out for.

She has played with the women’s jazz group SAGE, well known in the NY area, for various weddings, school programs, churches and fundraisers. Last year the group played a concert for the residents in Martha’s Vineyard. In addition to playing for various schools in Manhattan and Mt. Vernon NY, Krystle has also volunteered her time as a 3rd grade math and reading tutor for the Achiever’s First Academy, a Brooklyn charter school.
Krystle has played for the Southampton Film Fest, and recently opened for gospel artist, Kim Burrell in Southampton NY; She will be returning to the Hamptons this September to play for the Arts Harvest.

Last week she had the opportunity to play for small private congressional fundraiser for Kevin Powell, 10th congressional district candidate for the United State House of Representatives, in the home of Dorothy Siegel. The program also featured legendary poet Sonia Sanchez.


Constantly keeping busy, Krystle is currently working on writing and arranging, and studying jazz/bluegrass violin with Alan Grubner in Brooklyn. She is also planning to enroll in Columbia next fall to obtain a masters in music education.

Way to go Krystle! We're very proud of your ah-mazing accomplishments!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Sewanee Summer Music Festival - Awesome Experience!

To Our Family and Friends,

We would like to send a great big THANK YOU to everyone for their tremendous support allowing us (Joilyn, Julian and Jameel Martin) the opportunity to attend the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Any and all of the contributions provided, whether prayer, financial, personal items, or food were very much appreciated, as everything supported our efforts to have an awesome experience while at Sewanee, The University of the South Summer Music Festival.


We must say that this summer was a learning experience for us. While adjusting to a rigorous schedule of rehearsals, practices, private lessons, and performances, we were also expected to maintain and clean our rooms and keep up with our laundry and other belongings. This is no easy task at home; however, things went well while adjusting to campus life. There were a few missing or lost items – for example, we lost a key, music, and an ID and didn’t have them all summer, but they were discovered when we packed to go home or unpacked when we got home!


As expected, our passion for music has been taken to another level, along with the desire to continue on with our goals in the music/orchestra arena. Composers, compositions, and college-required audition pieces have now become a common topic for discussion in our home. We are now back to our daily lives with music being heard from sunrise to sunset, ongoing individual practicing, researching, and listening to performance on the computer and our trio music.

We’ve attached a few pictures of our time; hope you enjoy them.

Sincerely, Joilyn, Julian, and Jameel Martin