Emily Bovan

As our Operations Assistant and Librarian, Akari Ogawa moves on to her new job opportunity as Director of Operations at Chamber Music Pittsburgh, she leaves TRYPO students with this letter:   Dear TRYPO students,  I used to be where you are 15 years ago. I was a high school student attending marching band practices, youth orchestra rehearsals on weekends, auditioning for All State. I always loved performing, but I honestly could not see myself solely as a musician. I wanted to make an impact in the world, and I didn’t feel like I was doing too much with what I …

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! To show TRYPO’s importance in his life, current YPO musician, CJ Inkenhaus shared why he is encouraging others to support our “Give Back to the Future” campaign on Giving Tuesday.  Q: How has TRYPO influenced your musical journey and personal growth? TRYPO has made an outstanding impact on my musical journey and my entire life. From starting in 4th grade in Symphonette to being in YPO from 7th grade to now, I have seen so many musicians and myself grow tremendously, and I’ve been able to meet so many musicians throughout my time. …

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! To show TRYPO’s importance in her life, current YPO musician, Alycia Stier shared why she is encouraging others to support our “Give Back to the Future” campaign on Giving Tuesday.  Q: How has TRYPO influenced your musical journey and personal growth? TRYPO has by far been one of the greatest opportunities I’ve had and has allowed me to grow into the musician and person I am today in so many ways. I came in as a sophomore with no orchestral experience at all and I will never forget learning to transpose for the …

As Giving Tuesday approaches, we love hearing from TRYPO alumni about their fondest memories of playing in our ensembles. Today, we hear from TRYPO alum, Sarah Palermo:  TRYPO has a special place in my heart, and I truly believe it has shaped my life in so many ways. I joined Symphonette as a violinist in the 9th grade, and in the following years participated in YPO and YC2 until I graduated high school in 2018. I had always loved playing my instrument at school, but playing with groups of advanced musicians and performing challenging repertoire was eye-opening. These experiences ignited …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature cellist, Elizabeth Oaks! We’re so proud of her accomplishments!! Read all about Elizabeth’s time in TRYPO and what she is doing now: Elizabeth joined TRYPO in 2001 and played in TRYPO until the 2003-04 season. Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree at Baldwin Wallace Music Conservatory for Music Education and then earned a second degree in Veterinary Technology from Northern Virginia Community College. Elizabeth worked for Fairfax County Public Schools as an orchestra teacher before she started her career as a …

Auditions can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone, regardless of age or experience. Recently, I had to re-audition for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh since we just welcomed a new Music Director, Daniel Singer, to the organization, and the process made me reflect on the similar journey of our youth orchestra students as they undergo their seating auditions. It’s fascinating how the lessons I learned from my own audition can relate to and inspire these young musicians. The Preparation Process Before my audition, I dedicated countless hours to practicing, refining my vocal technique, and learning the music. The discipline and …

This weekend at Mini-Camp our TRYPO musicians got quality time to spend with each other to get the season off to a great start, but it wasn’t just students who came to Mini-Camp. We also had an awesome group of parent chaperones who made the weekend possible. After some initial conversations, it was clear that TRYPO’s impact is not just clear to the students, but to their parents as well. Here’s what they had to say about TRYPO: What is it about this weekend that made you want to volunteer to be here? Liz: Because my youngest is a senior …