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Gala marks symphony’s 50 years of music, achievement
(by Elizabeth Martin - April 09, 2008)
The Lakeland Youth Symphony, located in Mountain Lakes, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala concert and reception at Mountain Lakes High School. This anniversary makes quite an accomplishment for Lakeland, especially given its humble origins as a parent-and-teacher-run organization that existed to “complement and supplement the school music program.”
Through ticket sales, advertising and a 50/50 raffle, this concert also helped to establish a separate scholarship fund to help families in need. Prior to this, Lakeland used general operating expenses for scholarships.
This special concert was decided upon by the Gala Committee as a way to embrace the symphony’s history. In addition to a short documentary of the history of the group being shown at the start of the concert, former students were invited to participate. One of the founding members of the group, Margaret Zufall Roberts, a professional viola player and teacher, answered the request.
The original string ensemble, formed in May of 1958, had but a few high school students as members, under the direction of Christine Wilde.
Now, the half-century-old symphony boasts over 180 students from across northern New Jersey, a program for children as young as 5, and four progressive levels of orchestras based on their age and skill level for students of violin, viola, cello and string bass.
“Lakeland’s goal is, and always has been, to further enrich the lives of young people through music,” said Debra Seftel, Lakeland’s music director and a conductor with the group for the last 25 years.
Seftel is a large part of what makes Lakeland such a unique experience for children. She pioneered a modified Suzuki program that adapted techniques and materials of Shinichi Suzuki to American culture and the ages, 5-8, to whom Lakeland teaches these methods.
Shinichi Suzuki, who sought to use music as a means to help shape sensitive citizens, rather then creating musical prodigies, created the original Suzuki Method. He was impressed with the ease at which young children learn language and wondered if the same held true for instruments. He believed that all children could learn an instrument if it was scaled down for their size.
Some of his methods include: beginning instruction at a very young age (3-5), listening to music of a high caliber, learning by ear over notation at first, studying simple traditional pieces, a discouragement of competition, frequent public performance and a very high level of parental involvement.
Lakeland’s modified Suzuki program was started in 1983, originally to be a feeder program for the ensembles. They start children later than a pure Suzuki method. This way they can study both traditional music reading, along with the Suzuki rote method. Their program also moves quickly, since in just two years the student is considered ready to join the Prelude Orchestra.
The program is quite similar to Suzuki in several aspects as well. Performance is stressed; new students perform after only three months and parental involvement is key.
“It was immediately obvious that through this endeavor, young children and their parents were able to experience the joy of learning and making music while enhancing their self-discipline and self-esteem,” said Seftel.
Although Lakeland is a progressive program for students aged 5-18, there are no stars.
“Each ensemble exists as a team where every player is equally important,” said Seftel.
“For us to be winners, there need be no losers.”
For more information, visit LakelandYouth Symphony online at, www.lakelandyouthsymphony.org. Going forward, Lakeland plans to start cello instructions using their adapted Suzuki method and are exploring performing and touring in Europe.
Photos/Bill Clare
Photo 1: Some of the youngest members of the Lakeland Youth Symphony performing.
Photo 2: Debra Seftel, music director and conductor with Lakeland Youth Symphony for the past 25 years, uses a screen with notes on it to help lead the youngest players at their 50th Anniversary Gala held at Mountain Lakes High School.
Photo 3: Carol Meiseles conducts one of the orchestras at the Lakeland Youth Symphony’s 50th Anniversary Gala, as this young man is sure to keep his eyes on the music. Meiseles, who has been with Lakeland for the last 10 years, has conducted the Senior, Junior and Prelude Orchestras.
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