Striking a Chord: Future educators mentor youth orchestra members

STORY BY CASS WAINWRIGHT | PHOTOS BY SIMON ZWART

Elena De Nooy, an oboist with visual impairments, participates in the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids.

During a recent rehearsal for an upcoming concert, GVSU music students played alongside Elena and other youth orchestra members, observing from behind different sections and providing live feedback.

"At the beginning of a song, my student mentor, Lea, counts and might tap my leg to let me know, 'All right, we're coming in a couple of beats,'" Elena said.

Grand Valley music education students began mentoring members of the St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) youth orchestra last year. Joel Schut, associate professor of music and director of the GVSU Symphony Orchestra, worked with SCMC leaders to develop the program, which was funded through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Voyage Experiential Learning Pilot Program.

Elena said the mentorship program has helped her develop new ways to participate in the orchestra and receive cues from the conductor. When practicing at home, she uses recordings by her aunt and uncle (both professional musicians) that display how her oboe part fits with the orchestra. The more Elena studies, the less dependent she is on her mentor.