Hall of Fame
This page is devoted to showcasing the accomplishments of Oakland University Music Preparatory Division students. Please join us in congratulating these young musicians, who are just beginning their life-long journey with music!
May 2013
Congrats to the Music Prep students of Jenine Brown. Their music compositions were presented at Orchestra Hall on May 14th for the Education Partner Experience Concert. The composers involved were Ryan Stockhausen, Ireland Lee, Timothy Sterbenz and Michael Zumbaugh.
December 2012
Congrats to a very talented and ambitious group of our students called Synergy Soundz!
SYNERGY SOUNDZ is a teen trio made up of Andrew Irons (piano), Christina Irons (flute and piano) and Alex Marshalek (violin). They performed at numerous venues this holiday season including, Somerset Collection, Parisian, Fieldstone Winery and Waltonwood Assisted Living. It was friendship that brought the trio together and the music they play keeps them connected. They have been together for six months and were inspired by the music of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. During the holidays, they played songs like Christmas Canon, Christmas Eve Sarajevo and Mad Russian's Christmas. In between these numbers, they each played solos on the piano, and violin respectively. The trio is now working on traditional wedding repertoire in hopes of playing at wedding ceremonies and other special events in the near future.
July 22, 2012
Kyra Jozwiak, piano, received a "Champion" award at the American Guild of Music National Contest (age 8 division)
June 10, 2012
Andrew and Christina Irons performed at the Town Village of Sterling Heights Independent Living facility. They played piano solos as well as flute and piano duets. They've been asked to come back any time. They are currently working on a Christmas music to perform again in December.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Music Preparatory harp teacher Kerstin Allvin and her students performed a harp concert at St. John Fisher Chapel.
April 2012 - News from the students of vocal teacher Lisa Agazzi
Erinn Fredin was accepted into the prestigious Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.
Victoria Pace was invited for a life audition at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She was accepted into Oakland University's vocal program.
Stephanie Kehrig auditioned at Spring Arbor University (Michigan's largest Evangelical Christian University) and was given a $500 scholarship and an invitation to join their Music/Worship Arts Program.
Sarah Winterbottom was accepted into both Wayne State and Oakland University's vocal program.
Congratulations to Terry Combs (pictured above, with Bibianne Yu) for earning his 60-point gold cup from the National Federation of Music Clubs! This award was earned through consistent superior ratings in the annual Festival auditions in piano solo and piano concerto events. Terry’s teacher, Bibianne Yu, is very proud of his dedicated and musical work throughout the past ten years in his piano lessons and hopes that Terry will keep up with his piano playing and composing as he enters college studies in Florida in the fall!
Francine Moriguchi, a student of Bibianne Yu, participated in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Music Festival- District 4, in Middle/Junior Piano Solo and Ensemble. She received the highest rating and earned a Division I Medal.
Vocalist Marina Kondo, a student of Elizabeth Medvinsky and daughter of Shinko Kondo, performed November 1 with Ensemble Brillante at Faith Community Presbyterian Church in Novi. The program included performances by Ervin Monroe, principal flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for more than 40 years, Taka Konishi, flutist with the Ann Arbor Concert Band and Detroit Metropolitan Flute Choir.
Cellist Dooeun Lee, student of Nadine Deleury, attended Interlochen Summer Camp this summer and studied with Jeffrey Lastrapes from Texas Tech. University.
Three Oakland University Music Preparatory Division students - Hannah Yoo, Claire Davis and Klara Pokrzywa – entertained at a June 6 barn raisin’ harp concert at the Strubler’s Barn in Oakland, Michigan. They are students of harpist Kerstin Allvin, who is part of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance applied music faculty,
Claire Zavolta, a student of Alayne Rever, was a member of both the Michigan State Honors Band and the MSBOA All-State Honors Band in January, 2009, and the Central Michigan Honors Band in October 2008. She has played with two Oakland Youth Orchestra ensembles: first clarinet-Symphony (2008-2009) and principal clarinet-Philharmonia (2007-2008). She has received top honors in MSBOA District High School and Middle School solo and ensemble festivals, and is a member of the Notre Dame Pre High School symphonic band, jazz band and marching band. She has also played in the pit orchestra for several school musicals at Notre Dame Prep, where she was named Academic Scholar in Instrumental Music (2007, 2008) and Musical Theatre (2008).
David Pendock, student of Alayne Rever, has been accepted into the Central Michigan University Bassoon Studio, with an $8000 Music Scholarship; into the Grand Valley State University Bassoon Studio and Saxophone Studio, with an $8000 Music Scholarship. He will attend GVSU. David also received a $2000 GVSU Instrumentalist Award from the Director of Bands.
David has won a number of scholarship and competition awards, including:
2006, 2007, 2008 Adams Parents for Instrumental Music Scholarship - $100
2008 OYO Philharmonia Merit Scholarship - $125
2009 OYO Philharmonia Concerto Competition - $200 Jessica K. Rogers Award
2009 Rochester Tuesday Musicale $600 Scholarship Recipient
David has performed with the Oakland Youth Philharmonia Orchestra (2007-2009) and with the DSOCYE Civic Orchestra (2008-2009); the 2008 and 2009 MSBOA All-State Band and 2009 MSBOA All-State Orchestra; 2007 and 2008 MSBOA District XVI Honors Band and State Solo & Ensemble Festival. He participated in the 2008 Interlochen Advanced Bassoon Institute and Interlochen All-State Band.
Natalie Martell, a voice student of Candace deLattre, received her Grade 6 from Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto last spring.
http://www.rcmusic.ca
Calli Hornacek and Gabe Gibbs, students of Elizabeth Medvinsky, were cast as the leading roles of Mabel and Frederic in Rochester High School's 2008 production of "The Pirates of Penzannce".
Marina Kondo, a student of Elizabeth Medvinsky and daughter of Shinko Kondo, performed at the Easter Seals "10th Annal Celebrating Kids Gala" Friday, October 10, 2008 at Royal Park Hotel. She has been seen on Japanese television:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=wYK2PTSIMWU
and in concert in Japan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=JP&hl=ja&v=uEJRXa1T76E&feature=related