NEWS RELEASE: OSKALOOSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 04/06/2008
The Oskaloosa Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors has announced the names of student soloists selected to
perform with the Oskaloosa Symphony's "Young Performers Concert", Sunday, April 6th, 2008. The concert will be
presented at 4:00 P.M. at the George Daily Community Auditorium.
Sara Yoder, Soprano Vocal Soloist
Sara Yoder is a junior at Oskaloosa High School. She has been involved in music all of her life but has just recently started
focusing on her voice. Sara studies with Jorie O'Leary and Chris Weinreich. in her future, she plans to major in vocal performance.
She is actively involved in the Chamber and Jazzrigal choirs at the high school. Also, she is an active leader in the drama
program at the high school. You last was her in the Oskaloosa High School Drama Department's production of Little Shop of
Horrors as Audrey. This past fall, she was involved in the Iowa All-State Choir. Sara enjoys playing piano, dancing in the street,
eating lots of food, hanging out with friends, and being an adventurous teenager.
Ginny Lane, Cello Soloist
Ginny Lane is thirteen years old. She has been playing the piano from the age of five and the cello from age nine. Practicing is
therefore a part of her daily routine. The swim team and doing crafts of various kinds are also some of the activities that she
enjoys. Ginny began the cello from the Oskaloosa Schools System. She has participated in the elementary and middle school
orchestras and received a number of awards including the Master Musician Award. She likewise has participated in numerous
orchestral workshops and master classes around southeast Iowa. her dad, Stephen Lane, also a cellist, is Ginny's teacher.
Ben Davis, Viola
Ben Davis is a senior at Oskaloosa High School. He lives on a Christmas tree farm south of town with his parents, Andy and
Diane and older brother Nick. Along with being involved in music, Ben also runs on the Oskaloosa Cross Country team and the
boy's Track team. Distance running is something he enjoys both on a competitive level as well as recreational. Ben started playing
the viola in 4th grade. He has played since that time and has chosen to study viola performance in college. He loves music
and along with his viola he also plays trumpet and guitar. Ben has enjoyed making music on his viola for years now. During
middle school, he was selected for the Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra in both 8th & 9th grade.
Timothy Foster, Baritone Vocal Soloist
Timothy Foster is the son of Mike and Ginny Foster. Tim is currently a senior at Oskaloosa High School. He attends the Central
United Methodist Church where he sings in the Chancel Choir and accompanies the children's choir. Timothy has been active in
music throughout his life, singing and taking piano lessons since kindergarten. He was a part of the Greater Ottumwa Vocal Arts
Project for two years in elementary school, and was selected to the Iowa Choral Director's Association's Opus Honor Choir for
five years, 1999-2004. Also, Time was selected to the 2007 Iowa All-State Chorus and was first alternate in 2006. In addition to
music, Tim has been involved in many things at OSHS, including football, track & field, drama, Storybook, basketball, student
council, and National Honor Society. Tim would like to thank all of his music directors throughout the years including Cynthia
Zimmerman, Judy Bishop, Kyle Braundmeier, Dennis Wilhoit, Tylor Schulte, Carolyn and Quinton Tschetter, and Chris
Weinreich. In addition, Time would like th thank his fantastically supportive family.
OSKALOOSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 03/29/2007
The Oskaloosa Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors has announced the names of student soloists selected to
perform with the Oskaloosa Symphony's "Young Performers Concert", Sunday, April 22nd. The concert will be
presented at 3:00 P.M. at the George Daily Community Auditorium. Derek Hessing, trumpet player
and senior at Oskaloosa High School will perform the first movement of the Haydn Trumpet Concert in E flat Major. Sophomore
cellist, Matt McLellan will perform Allegro Appassionato by Saint-Saens, a single movement work
for cello and orchestra. These students were selected by auditioning for Tony Chang, Musical Director and Conductor of the
Oskaloosa Symphony. Maestro, Tony Chang is very excited to have both of these excellent music students showcase their
exceptional talents by performing at this concert. Although many talented students frequently perform as members of the
Oskaloosa Symphony, this concert will also be the first time that local high school students have performed as guest soloists
with the orchestra. "This is a wonderful opportunity for these students and it is also an opportunity for the community
to experience the very exceptional talents of their local music students", stated Bob Auld, executive director of The Oskaloosa
Symphony Orchestra. Auld said that the orchestra board and conductor Tony Chang hope to make this special concert presentation
into an annual event. " We hope that performing a solo with the symphony orchestra will give our local students a musical
goal to strive for", Auld explained.
In addition to the selections to be performed by the student guest soloists, the orchestra will be performing several other
important masterworks for young audiences. One of these selections will be Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to
the Orchestra". This very popular work is designed to introduce all of the standard instruments of the symphony orchestra
from top to bottom. Britten has written the piece based on a musical theme written by another famous English composer, Henry
Purcell. Adult audiences of today still enjoy hearing this composition and it often remains a favorite of their childhood
musical memories. The orchestra will also perform selections from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite, including "In The Hall
Of The Mountain King". Students and adults will also be treated to some of their favorite movie themes as they listen to
musical scores of John Williams, famous for his "Star Wars" "Jurasic Park", and "ET" music.
Family tickets are available for this concert, which allow students and children family members to attend free of charge
if they accompany parents or adult family members who purchase tickets. Blocks of tickets are also available to groups and
organizations by contacting George Daily Auditorium Ticket Sales at 672-0799
NEWS: OSKALOOSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Oskaloosa Symphony Orchestra is conducting a search for talented young musicians from the Oskaloosa and Mahaska County area who would be interested in performing as a soloist with the symphony orchestra on this year's "Young Performers Concert" on Sunday April 22, 2007 at 3:00 pm. In past years, conductor, Tony Chang has selected exceptional young performers from all over the state of Iowa. This year the focus will be on exceptionally talented young performers from Oskaloosa and Mahaska County. This will include local students and recent graduates from high schools in Mahaska County as well.
These young performers can be singers or instrumentalists, including pianists, string players, and those who play woodwind and brass instruments. Selections to be performed will be traditional pieces for solo voice and orchestra or solo instrument and orchestra such as a movement of a concerto.
Students should be recommended by their music instructors, but local students who are studying with private instructors from other communities will be eligible to audition also.
Auditions will be arranged for individuals by contacting orchestra conductor, Tony Chang, executive director, Bob Auld or assistant concert master, Bruce Mclellan.
Individuals may call 673-9448 for information or email robertauld@mahaska.org.
Information is also available on the orchestra website oskaloosasymphony.com
Amanda is in the sixth grade at Oskaloosa Middle School and is the daughter of Kenny Jiang and Betty Cheng. Amanda began studying the violin in the fourth grade with Denise MeLellan with some private study with Tom Shadonix. Presently, her middle school violin instructor is Bruce McLellan. Amanda also has studied the piano beginning in grade four with her mother as her private teacher. Amanda's other interests include "reading her favorite books, making crafts, and listening to music". 
One of the soloists selected in the Senior Division is pianist, Molly Nobiling. Molly will be performing the second movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor. Molly is a senior at Oskaloosa High School and is the daughter of Mary and Denny Parks of Oskaloosa and Glen Nobiling of Lake City, Iowa. Molly started studying piano at age eight. She moved to Oskaloosa in 2004 and began studying with her current piano instructor, Sally Hart. Molly has consistently earned number I ratings while competing at the Southeast Iowa Piano Teachers Association's annual contests and in 2006 she was the winner of her division. Molly is an accompanist for the high school choir and also for St Mary's Catholic Church Christmas programs. Molly loves to swim, works part time at Hy-Vee, and is a life guard at the Edmundson Pool. She plans to attend Simpson College in the fall as she pursues a major in Music Education and Music Performance. She hopes to continue as an accompanist at Simpson and would also like to be involved in their swim programs.
The other soloist selected in the Senior Division is violinist, Avery Whitis. Avery will be performing the first movement of Mozart's Violin Concerto number IV in D Major. Avery is a senior at Oskaloosa High School. She is the daughter of Dr. Matt and Dr. Ann Whitis. Avery has been studying violin for a total of ten years with instructors, Cindy Riggs, then Charlee Eckhoff, and currently Bruce McLellan. Avery was honored to be selected as second alternate for the Iowa All-State Orchestra and has also won multiple division one ratings at state solo contests. Avery enjoys playing in string quartets for weddings, as well as playing for her church and family members. Avery has also studied piano for twelve years with teachers, Sally Hart and Cynthia Zimmerman. She is section leader for the drum line in the Oskaloosa High School Band. This fall, Avery plans to attend the University of Iowa as a pre-medicine student and she is also is preparing to audition for the University Orchestra.