What do you get when you put

ten grand pianos and ten tal-

ented pianists on the stage at

Benaroya Hall at the same

time?

That’s the amazing experience

presented by Ten Grands, an

annual spectacle that helps to

raise funds for arts education.

Every spring, Ten Grands

transforms the Benaroya Hall

stage, with lights, curtains,

flowers… and, of course, those

ten grand pianos!

This year, for the first time

ever, Redmond High School

students were invited to be

part of the event.

The Redmond High School

Dvorak and Tchaikovsky En-

sembles, as well as soloists

Albert Daschle (string bass),

Kyu Kim (cello), and Kyle

Wasson (viola) performed in

the Samuel and Althea Stroum

Grand Lobby at Benaroya Hall

during a reception before the

show. Then, as a thank you,

the students received free

tickets to watch the ten pian-

ists perform.

Congratulations to our per-

formers and many thanks to

Ten Grands!

Tchaikovsky Ensemble:

Adrianna Svitak, Amanda

Pang, Atticus Liu, Kaitlin

Puryear, Jessica Kwak, Dan

Park, Eric Lee, Kyle Wasson,

Jennie Kim, Ashley Martinez,

Aaron Dietrich, Kyu Kim, Chel-

sea Liu, Brian Shen, Inbo Shim,

Albert Daschle.

Dvorak Ensemble: Dan Park,

Amanda Pang, Atticus Liu, Kyu

Kim, Adrianna Svitak.

We’ll be back!

RHS Students Wow Ten Grands!

June 2012

Volume 4, Issue 2

RHS Students

Wow Ten Grands!

1

Fare Thee Well

Seniors

2-5

Opportunities

Next Year

6

Carnegie Hall! 6

Redmond Region Brag Bag

7

Save the Date: Orchestra BBQ on August 30th!

8

RROB Official

Business

8

Inside this issue:

Con

Brio! * An Italian music term meaning “With Brilliance”

P a g e 2 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Fare Thee Well, Seniors… We Will Miss You!

Sierra Allen Instrument: Clarinet, Mustang Sym-

phony

Orchestra career: Redmond High

School Mustang Symphony- two

years

Orchestra high points: There were

many memorable moments in the

wind section...it's impossible to pick

just one!

Plans after RHS: I will be going to

Biola University (CA) in the fall as a

Music Education major in the Music Conservatory .

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thanks for dedicating so

much time and effort to the new Mustang Symphony! I really

appreciate all you have done.

Rohit Arabind Instrument: Violin, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: Redmond Junior

High: 2006-2007 (7th grade), Red-

mond High School: 2009-2012

(10th grade-12th grade)

Orchestra high points: Disneyland

trip in 2011

Plans after RHS: University of Ox-

ford. Hopefully play in some sort of

college orchestra there

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson:

Mrs. Ferguson, you were definitely

the most relaxed and easy-going teacher I had. You allowed

orchestra to be one of the most fun classes of the day.

Rebecca Balantyne Instrument: Flute, Mustang Symphony

Orchestra career: I played in Mustang Sym-

phony Orchestra my sophomore year, and

again this year. I have been in band for six

years.

Orchestra high points: The crazy-fun crazy-

big Pirates arrangement that started the

Orchestra. :)

Plans after RHS: I will be studying Economics and Psychology

with a minor in Music Performance at the University of Penn-

sylvania .

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thank you so much for deal-

ing with my shoddy attendance. You are a great teacher and a

fabulous conductor, and I have enjoyed playing in Symphony .

Samraaj Bath Instrument: Trombone, Mustang Symphony

Megan Cote Instrument: French Horn, Mustang

Symphony

Orchestra career: Mustang Sym-

phony (2010-2012), Bellevue Youth

Symphony (2009-2011), Washington

All-State Symphony Orchestra (2011)

Orchestra high points: Working with

Gerard Schwarz

Plans after RHS: Studying Materials

Science and Engineering at the Uni-

versity of Washington

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Good luck with the addition

of 9th graders!

P a g e 3 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Karim Davis Instrument: Violin, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: RHS String Orchestra, 2009-2012

Orchestra high points: My favorite thing about orchestra was

the Overnight Trips

Plans after RHS: After high school, I’m going into the Army.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Mrs. Ferguson, you made

orchestra my favorite class throughout my high school career.

Going to class every day, minus a few, with a huge smile on my

face, on the inside. I hope the kids in orchestra after me will

have as much fun as Rohit and I. Its been an awesome three

years!

Jon Formantes

Instrument: Violin, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: Redmond Jr. High,

Redmond High School, 2006-2012

Orchestra high points: Disneyland

trip, every single day being able to

relax in class, every single overnight

trip where we broke curfew.

Plans after RHS: Studying at Univer-

sity of Washington Bothell, maybe a

road trip to California after gradua-

tion?

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thank you Mrs. Ferguson for

pushing me to be a better musician. You always made an envi-

ronment in which I could relax and play. It was wonderful com-

ing to orchestra everyday not having to stress over anything in

the class. It was also wonderful that I had fun with all my

friends and there was always a lot of freedom to be responsible

for our own actions. It was just wonderful that the environ-

ment you made left me with a lot of fun memories.

Jamie Kim

Instrument: Cello, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: Haggard Middle School (Dallas, TX): 6th

grade; Chinook Middle School: 7th-8th grade; Evergreen Junior

High School: 9th grade; Redmond High School: 10th-12th grade

Orchestra high points: Meeting all the rad, groove-tastic kids!

Plans after RHS: Go to college and earn a BA in communica-

tions, survive living on my own (... hopefully I won’t burn my

apartment down), and become famous. Watch out world be-

cause there is a new Chelsea Handler in town. Keep an eye out

for the next late night show starring your host, Jamie Kim.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Oh Fergie, Fergie, Fergie...

Sorry. Scratch that. I’ll start this out more formally.

Dear Mrs. Ferguson.

Actually, lets cut the formalities. I need to be real with you and

lets face it, me being real doesn’t usually include formal man-

ners.

Throughout all of my high school years I took orchestra and had

you as the teacher. Orchestra was always the highlight of my

day. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? Everyone just sat and played

their instruments. Everyone knew (or knows? I’m not good

with tenses) each other. Everyone felt comfortable around one

another; laughing and talking freely; something I’m sure you

wish we all could’ve toned down. Maybe one of those people

that should’ve could’ve been me... but that’s only a modest

guess.

But, nonetheless, the happy environment always added a high-

light to my day. I know for a fact that if I had any other teacher

I would have not enjoyed orchestra as much as I did.

You also contributed to that highlight.

I know for a fact that if I had any other teacher I would have

not enjoyed orchestra as much as I did. Any other teacher

would have shut me up for my random blabs of blibber smath.

Any other teacher would have been strict to the bones towards

our class. Any other teacher would have had their patience

thinned out till they flipped a table and gave up. But not you.

You gave us free will; giving us the freedom to be ourselves and

have fun. You were our Fergie.

I know you hear these words often from graduating students:

“I’m will miss you.” I hope you don’t forget me saying them

because truly, I am going to miss you.

Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for being an

amazing conductor. Thank you for being you and letting us be

us; letting me be me. I will miss you.

P a g e 4 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Rachel Kim

Instrument: Cello, Mustang Sym-

phony

Orchestra career: RJH and RHS,

2006-2012

Orchestra high points: Kevinito y

Las Chiquitas winning first place

for best small ensemble at State

and performing and Carnegie Hall

Plans after RHS: Whitman Col-

lege in Walla Walla, WA

Parting Words to Mrs. Ferguson:

Thank you for putting up with the chaotic orchestra students

everyday, your patience is much appreciated. The last six years

have gone by so fast and I will miss you next year!

Michelle La Instrument: Violin, String Orches-

tra

Orchestra career: Audubon Ele-

mentary 2003 - 2006, Redmond

Junior High School 2007 - 2009,

Redmond High School 2010 -

2012

Orchestra high points: I enjoyed

playing with people I've known

since junior high

Plans after RHS: I plan on going

to Western Washington Univer-

sity to further my studies in mathematics.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: I've always liked the songs

you picked for our class. They sound nice, except for Finale. But

anyways, I'll miss you a lot Mrs. Ferguson. I hope you don't

forget me.

Alvin Loong Instrument: Violin, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: RJH String (7th/9th); RHS String (10th-12th);

RHS Symphony (11th-12th)

Orchestra high points: Going to Disneyland with around 200

High School kids- and the ensuing and ‘intriguing’ stories that

followed. Along with tales from the other three amusement

parks we went to. I guess being an ‘Orch Dork’ has its perks.

Not like I’m saying we’re an overly talkative,

erratic, or hyperactive group.

Definitely. Cause you know…

that’s like, Band, right?

Plans after RHS: Get some col-

lege, see some of the world, take

a break, and then maybe put my-

self somewhere in the middle of

it. Our world is comprised of

nearly 200 nations, each with

different languages. Music is just

one of them- a language that

can’t be expressed in words. No matter what I do, I’ll strive to

see many corners of our world, regardless of method.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: I’ll do my best in the future.

All of the experience I’ve garnered thus far I shall use with

great caution and expertise. I’ll bring forth all my earnest effort

into accomplish my long-awaited goal; of getting lower in the

bow.

Ananya Murali Instrument: Violin , Mustang

Symphony

Orchestra Career: 4th grade,

Glencliff Elementary in Albany,

NY (2003-2005), Emily Dickin-

son 6th grade (05-06), Ever-

green JH(06-09), RHS String

Orchestra 10th and 11th

grades, Symphony 11th and

12th grade (2009-2012).

Orchestra high points: I really enjoyed playing the Alien song at

Dickinson in which we had to "oooo" and stomp our feet and

make interesting sound effects. In junior high, I enjoyed sitting

next to Quak whilst Ms. Ferguson would stare at me (though

addressing the orchestra). Eleanor Rigby was a favorite song of

mine and I also enjoyed playing both Bach and Vivaldi, though

my favorite type of music was the fiddle tunes we played in

10th grade. I also enjoyed the many movies we watched from

Mulan to How To Train Your Dragon.

Plans after RHS: I plan to attend the UW and study biochemis-

try there and afterwards, hope to go to pharmacy school and

get a degree there and become a pharmacist.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thank you so much for teach-

ing me all these years :) I have enjoyed my days in orchestra,

and hope to continue to play my instrument as a hobby in the

future. Thank you for putting so much effort into helping all of

us succeed in orchestra <3

P a g e 5 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Tyler Nguyen Instrument: Viola, String Or-

chestra

Orchestra career: Kirkland

Junior High (2003-2005), Nor-

man Rockwell (2005-2006),

Redmond Junior High (2006-

2009), Redmond High School

(2009-2012)

Orchestra high points: Idaho

trip, Disneyland trip, Tacoma

trips, class every day

Plans after RHS: University of Washington Bothell

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thank you for the six years of

conducting. I owe it to you for keeping class fun and enjoyable

every day. It is because of your style of conducting and class

leading that I stuck with orchestra throughout my entire high

school career

Kaitlin Puryear Instrument: Violin, Chamber

Orchestra

Orchestra career: LWSD Re-

gion Elementary Orchestra

4th-6th grade; EJH Orchestra

7th-9th grade; RHS Chamber

Orchestra 10th-12th grade

Plans after RHS: Attending

Whitman College in Walla

Walla, and planning on major-

ing in Physics or Biology (and

a minor in music!)

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Thanks for all the time and

energy you have put into making us a great orchestra, Mrs.

Ferguson! I gained so much musicality by being in your classes,

and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life.

Jennifer Schumaker Instrument: Viola, Mustang Symphony

Orchestra career: I started orchestra in fourth grade at Horace

Mann, met Mrs. Ferguson in sixth grade for Honor Orchestra,

went to Redmond Junior High, and am finishing at Redmond

High School for a total of almost 10 years of orchestra.

Orchestra high points: Defi-

nitely going to Carnegie Hall.

My group totally tore up New

York and got ridiculous T-shirts

and made awesome memories.

Plans after RHS: I'm going to

University of Oregon next year

and even though I'm not doing

anything academic with music,

I hope to still play in their sym-

phony. I am looking forward to

a Japanese major with a Com-

puter Science minor, and plan on studying abroad.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: Mrs. Ferguson, you're the

only teacher I've had for six straight years, so you've obviously

had a pretty big impact on my growing up. Under your instruc-

tion, I became a very strong violist and met some of the most

encouraging and inspirational people. We've had good times

and tough times, but in the end I know we always make you

proud... which really says a lot about how you love us for peo-

ple and not just for musicians. I will remember my time spent

in orchestra for the rest of my life, and I look forward to keep-

ing tabs on the string players in the years to come. Thanks so

much for everything.

Kaleb Smith Instrument: Violin, String Orchestra

Orchestra career: Norman Rockwell

4th-6th grade, Redmond Junior High

7th-9th grade, Redmond High School

10th-12th grade

Orchestra high points: Definitely the

Disneyland Trip. Between Jon scream-

ing on the Tower of Terror and Jon

screaming on the Matterhorn, I can't

remember any other time I laughed so

hard. Also, the first year of Mustang

Symphony was my favorite because that is where I began to

really like symphonic music.

Plans after RHS: University of Washington with a little bit of

American University in the middle for some internship opportu-

nities. I plan on still playing the violin in small groups and sym-

phonies. I plan on getting a degree in some combination of

Environmental Science and Engineering.

Parting words to Mrs. Ferguson: One of the reasons I stayed in

orchestra was just to watch you go crazy. One of them. The

other was because you are an awesome and fun teacher .

Carnegie Hall Encore: 2013!

P a g e 6 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Our Redmond High School

Orchestras made their Car-

negie Hall debut in Spring

2009… and took New York

by storm! Our performance

was so wonderful, in fact,

that we’ve been invited back

next spring.

Stay tuned for details of the

RHS Orchestra Spring 2013

trip to New York City. And

visit our web site at www.

redmondorchestras.org to

follow our 2013 Countdown

to Carnegie.

We’ll be organizing concerts,

events, and many opportu-

nities to strut our stuff!

Many Musical Opportunities in 2012-2013

RHS Welcomes Freshmen:

Orchestra Opportunities for All!

Attention high school students (including incoming fresh-

men): do you want the chance to make music a part of your

high school experience?

Redmond High School is definitely the place to be! Next

year, as the first year with four grade levels, RHS will be of-

fering several levels of string orchestra, as well as the return

of the Mustang Symphony.

The Mustang Symphony is open to all Orchestra and Band

students at Redmond HS. It is offered as a for-credit class

after school for 2 hours for just 2 days a week. Like the jazz

band and jazz choir, the only requirement is that you are a

part of one of the Orchestras or Bands (or Choirs) during the

regular class day.

Our string orchestras and symphony are all conducted by

our own Maestro Ferguson. All of them offer opportunities

for performance, competition, and travel. And Mustang

Symphony members get to be part of that big symphony

sound.

If you missed the sign-up for orchestra during spring regis-

tration, just let your counselor know that you want to add it

to your schedule.

P a g e 7 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2

Redmond Region Brag Bag

SUPPORT OUR ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS!

We have wonderful orchestra programs in the Redmond Region because of our outstanding teachers, hard-

working students, and very supportive families and friends! Help us keep our orchestras strong by making a

donation today to the Redmond Region Orchestra Boosters.

Celebrate your senior… or help us start the trek to Carnegie Hall. Mrs. Ferguson will handle the “practice, prac-

tice, practice” our orchestras need to get to Carnegie Hall, but we parents and friends are needed to help with

the “fundraise, fundraise, fundraise.”

Redmond Region Orchestra Boosters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Gifts are tax-deductible and we par-

ticipate in employer matching programs. Support our school orchestras today!

www.redmondorchestras.org

Our Redmond Region orchestra stu-

dents have been doing great things this

year!

WMEA HS All State

Albert Daschle - String Bass

Kyu Kim - Cello

Atticus Liu – Violin

Amanda Pang – Viola

Adrianna Svitak – Violin

Kyle Wasson – Viola

Hattie Yang – Viola

Jennifer Yeh – Violin – RJH

WMEA Jr All State

Adarsh Karnati – violin

Adrian Pang - cello

Kyung Yoon Yoo - violin

Northlake Solo/Ensemble Festival

February 12, 2012

Kyu Kim - Cello Solo Category

First alternate

Kyle Wasson – Viola Solo Category

First alternate

Albert Daschle – String Bass Solo

Winner

Dvorak Quintet – Small String Ensem-

ble—Winner: Dan Park, Atticus Liu,

Amanda Pang, Kyu Kim & Adrianna

Svitak

Tchaikovsky Ensemble – Large String

Ensemble—Winner: Albert Daschle,

Aaron Dietrich, Jennie Kim, Kyu Kim,

Jessica Kwak, Eric Lee, Atticus Liu, Chel-

sea Liu, Ashley Martinez, Amanda Pang,

Dan Park, Kaitlin Puryear, Brian Shen,

Inbo Shim, Adrianna Svitak and Kyle

Wasson

While none of our students placed at

the WMEA/WIAA State Solo/Ensemble

competition held April 27th & 28th at

Central Washington University, they all

received straight “Superior” ratings for

their performances.

All of the Redmond HS Orchestras’

Northlake Solo/Ensemble winners were

invited to perform, pre-concert, at the

Ten Grands Concert at Benaroya Hall

on May 12, 2012.

Northlake Orchestra Festival

March 27, 2012

String Orchestra

Overall Superior ratings (1)

Chamber Orchestra

Overall Superior ratings (1)

CWU Orchestra Festival

April 20, 2012

Outstanding performances from both

the RHS String Orchestra and the RHS

Mustang Symphony.

LWSD JH Orchestra Festival

March 13, 2012

Outstanding performances from all 3 JH

Orchestras.

Music in the Parks

June 2, 2012

Redmond JH Advanced Orchestra –

First Place JH AA Division and

First Place Overall MS/JH Orchestras

(7 Orchestras participating)

Evergreen JH Orchestra – Second Place

JH AA Division and Second Place Over-

all MS/JH Orchestras

Dr. Chip Kimball’s Farewell Reception

June 4, 2012

RHS Chamber Orchestra members were

asked to provide the music for Dr. Kim-

ball’s farewell reception being held at

the LWSD Resource Center.

REDMOND REGION ORCHESTRA

BOOSTERS (RROB) supports school

orchestra programs in the Redmond

Region of the Lake Washington

School District.

RROB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit or-

ganization. Donations are tax-

deductible to the full extent of the

law.

Join Us! All parents and legal guardi-

ans of students enrolled in an Or-

chestra class at Redmond HS, Ever-

green JH and Redmond JH are full,

voting members of RROB.

We meet on the second Monday of

every month during the school year

in the RHS choir room at 7:30 pm.

These are open meetings and all are

welcome to attend.

RROB Officers (2011-2012)

Co-President: Darren Lee

Co-President: Eric Geyser

Secretary: Mary Bourguignon

Treasurer: Vicki Krum

RROB Contact Information

www.RedmondOrchestras.org

RedmondOrchestras@gmail.com

RROB Mailing Address

16541 Redmond Way | PMB #385-C

Redmond, WA 98052-4482

RROB Financial Update

As of April 30, 2012, the RROB has a

balance of $9267.47.

RROB Orchestras and Pathways

High School

Redmond High School

Paula C. Ferguson, Director

Junior High School

Redmond Junior High

Paula C. Ferguson Director

Evergreen Junior High

Keira Ferguson, Director

Elementary

Alcott Elementary

Dickinson Elementary

Einstein Elementary

Wilder Elementary

Rosa Parks Elementary

Susan Krebs & Rachel Harris,

Directors

Audubon Elementary

Mann Elementary

Redmond Elementary

Rockwell Elementary

Nancy McKay & Olga Dolgaya,

Directors

Redmond Region Orchestra Boosters

Thursday, August 30th 6:00-8:00 PM

Perrigo Park Picnic Shelter

RROB invites all Redmond High

School, Evergreen Junior High and

Redmond Junior High orchestra and

symphony students and their fami-

lies to our 5th Annual Orchestra

Barbeque. Join us to eat, play volley-

ball and enjoy a nice summer eve-

ning with fellow students, their

families, Mrs. Ferguson, and Ms.

Ferguson! Alumni are welcome.

What to bring:

1. $5 per person or $15 per family to

cover hamburgers, veggie burgers,

hot-dogs, buns, condiments, paper

products and park rental fee.

2. Drinks, a salad or a dessert ac-

cording to the student’s last name:

A-I Desserts

J-O Chilled drinks (12 pack soda,

water or juice)

P-Z Salads

Save the Date: 5th Annual Orchestra BBQ!

P a g e 8 Con Brio ! J u n e 2 0 1 2