Junior Board
The NHSO Junior Board program is intended for motivated high school students with a demonstrated interest in orchestral music and a commitment to community service. The program provides its young members with the opportunity to gain understanding of the operation of a not-for-profit arts organization, and to develop leadership skills through meaningful volunteerism supporting the mission of the NHSO.
2009-10 Junior Board Members
Clair Babecki, Guilford High School
Renee Bollier, Guilford High School
Kara Fikrig, Guilford High School
Bryce Flamand, Our Lady of Mercy High School
Brandon Gomez, Notre Dame High School, West Haven
Gabrielle Grimmett, New Canaan Country School
John Hansen, Joseph A. Foran High School
Eleanor Killiam, Guilford High School
Alexa Kuberra, New Canaan High School
Jenny Liu, Amity Regional High School
Spencer McCauley, Guilford High School
Thomas Quagliano, Branford High School
Ben Scheer, Hopkins School
Katherine Sylvester, Joseph A. Foran High School
Lindsey Thompson, Cheshire School
Gemma Vardy, Guilford High School
In addition to working as volunteers at our symphony, pops and family concerts (where they also get to attend the performance) our Jr. Board members are afforded several experiences that they would not be able to get anywhere else.
11/8/09 – Brown Bag Supper with Maestro Boughton and Rehearsal with NHSO
The members of the Jr. Board had supper at Woolsey Hall with Maestro Boughton prior to the orchestra rehearsal for the Ritual Incantations concert. At the supper he went over the score of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The Jr. Board then attended the rehearsal where they sat on the stage with the musicians. A blog post about the event by Jr. Board member Ellie Killiam can be read here.
12/13/09 – Christmas Party
After the performance of our Holiday Pops Extravaganza at the Shelton Middle School on Jr. Board members attended a Christmas Party where they were able to mingle with the musicians of the NHSO.
2/21/10 – Meet the Composer
Jr. Board members will have a chance to meet with composer-in-residence Augusta Read Thomas to talk about the composition process and will be able to delve into Ms. Thomas’ unique compositional style.
3/21/10 – Roundtable Discussion: Involvement in the Arts Outside of Performance
All of our Jr. Board members play instruments; many take lessons from NHSO musicians. A career as an instrumentalist, though, may not be in the cards for many of them. However, that does not preclude a career or continued involvement in the arts. As such, we will have a roundtable discussion with panelists who are not making their living as performers (or at least not full-time musicians.) The panel will consist of NHSO Executive Director Natalie Forbes to represent arts administration, NHSO Board President Bill Gedge to represent the philanthropic side of arts involvement, Cellist Laura Usiskin who is a musicologist and educator, and will be moderated by Board Member Ron Ebrecht who is also a music educator.
4/12/10 – Meet the Composer
Jr. Board members will have a chance to meet with composer-in-residence Jin Hi Kim to learn about her compositions with a demonstration of Korean instruments and have hands on use of Korean percussion.
5/6/10 – Conducting Master Class with William Boughton
NHSO Music Director William Boughton will demonstrate conducting technique and preparation in conjunction with the NHSO’s upcoming performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
