at 7:00 am on the Saturday, may 31st ... the morning after Thanks go out to every clinician, every adjudicator, the volunteer team, the YEA! team, the folks from the Kimmel Center, Dr. Emily Threinen of Temple for her work with the Honors Band, Larry Markiewicz for his many hours creating a plan, and to Justin Heimbecker for managing the team, the people and the relationships. I know I should name every person one at a time, but that would be difficult for me There are lots of people !!!!!!!! The First Ever Concert Band Festival was without question a success. I know we are announcing expansion to more cities in 2015, as well as a return trip to the Kimmel Center next season ... an exciting development and a great step in program expansion for Youth Education in the Arts. That said, the first step is always critical and this first step was special ... very much so. We at YEA! are committed to, as the mission states, the development of young people to magnificent human beings, through their participation in the performing arts, and this day of concert bands was a shining example of what is possible. Thanks to all of the sponsors and a particular thanks to Yamaha Corporation, including Roger Eaton and John Wittmann for their help with clinicians and instrument support as we ventured forth to yet another new program. I am a lucky man ... last weekend I watched 160 members of XCAPE perform in Allentown to great enthusiasm and a great response; yesterday, we had over 1000 performers here at the Kimmel who did a fabulous job in one of the great performing venues in the country, and today, under a beautiful sky, we have the Cadets, and Cadets 2 rehearsing in preparation for a great summer of performances in 40 or more cities in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, family and alumni. YEA!, USBands, and all of our program look forward to doing what we do at higher levels each day, week, month and year .... and we look forward to the expansion of these very programs and new programs that have yet to launch. We have much to do to improve, We have much to do to be better. And well, I have much to do in order to provide the opportunity for teachers, and administrators the opportunity to do the very best job they can do at providing the place, the program and an experience where learning and personal growth can occur. But with an eye to what we must do to continue our service, I take a second to say Congratulations to everyone involved in YEA! over the past three or so decades. We have come a long way .... a very long way ... I am very proud of all of you and thankful as I am every day for the opportunities that are allowed me each day since I began work here and for the selfless work so many offer to the cause and the young people we serve. As i reflect ... it seems like success here at YEA! has come down to persistence. We have a knack for keeping at the work .... when sane men would stop. President Coolidge had it right: Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Congrats on the success of the concert band festival !! It was a day that I believe will define YEA! for years to come. Time for me to head to Johnstown, PA !!! The next challenge awaits !!! Happy weekend and best wishes for a fabulous summer to all Hop
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 11:51:09 +0000
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