News

January 15, 2019

CHIME and Schenectady Symphony Orchestra to Collaborate and Present Joint Concert on January 20, 2019 at Proctors

The Empire State Youth Orchestra CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) program has expanded to four program sites across two cities, serving more than 120 children, all within a three-year time frame. CHIME operates daily throughout the school year, providing children in underserved communities with two to three hours of free music instruction and rehearsal each afternoon; additionally, the program operates for four weeks each summer.  In order to effectively manage CHIME’s growth and ensure its sustainability, ESYO has put into place a new leadership team, dividing responsibilities between an administrative and an artistic leader. “We are thrilled to announce Monica Wilson Roach as our CHIME conductor and master teacher, and Jared Shortmeier as our CHIME administrative director. Monica and Jared are teaming together to provide strong artistic and administrative direction for the program, which continues to thrive under ESYO’s umbrella,” said Rebecca Calos who serves as executive director for the organization and was one of the creators of CHIME.

Monica Wilson Roach, who will serve as CHIME conductor and master teacher, has been affiliated with ESYO for nearly 40 years. She was a City Strings teacher since 2000 and was most recently the CHIME in-school strings teacher. Wilson Roach is also a composer, cellist and alumna of the organization. She is excited to rehearse the full orchestra with consistency throughout the year and put her ideas for CHIME into action. “My main goal is to expose students to as much of the performing arts as possible. This includes orchestral, theatrical, and contemporary musical forms. Being based at Proctors  provides ample opportunity for the students as we explore together. This includes our collaborative concert with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, the Melodies of Christmas concert and our work with repertoire that reflects music from theatrical productions featured this year. We would also love the entire community to see us at this year’s Playathon held on February 2nd at Crossgates Mall,” said Wilson Roach.

Tasked with ensuring Wilson Roach’s artistic vision for the program is realized, is CHIME’s new administrative director, Jared Shortmeier. Shortmeier has spent the past decade working as an arts administrator in Washington DC. Prior to joining the ESYO team he worked as community engagement manager for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, assistant director of education for Adventure Theatre MTC and director of choral activities with Appomattox County Public Schools.  “CHIME is an exemplary and ambitious program where students can express themselves while having an excellent artistic education.  Our goal is to continue to break down barriers to the arts and open up a world of opportunity for these young people. Monica and I have big dreams for CHIME. This program, and others like it across the nation, will change the face of the American orchestra scene. We are creating opportunities for young people who have historically been on the fringe of the classical music world. I want students to leave CHIME not only with the skills of an excellent artistic education, but with the excitement to stay involved in music throughout their lives – whether that’s as a teacher, audience member, or professional musician,” said Shortmeier.

ESYO Music Director Carlos Ágreda is enthusiastic about the new leadership team. “Our beloved CHIME Program has grown so much and I am very happy to see it go through a new stage of development. We are very lucky to have Monica Wilson Roach and Jared Shortmeier lead our CHIME team. Artistically speaking, we could not be more honored to count on someone like Monica, who, on top of her immense experience as a pedagogue and as an outreach artist, has the right vision to lead a program like this one. Monica and Jared both have the right mind-set and skills to create incredible possibilities for our program. I only see amazing things on the horizon,” he said.

In addition to the new leadership team, CHIME also has many talented musical instructors that include several alumni of the organization (see below for list). These are musicians who love ESYO and believe strongly in CHIME and its mission.

In the spirit of collaboration, CHIME will be performing side-by-side with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at Proctors. “We have a rich arts community with many talented classical groups, including the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra. It will be so exciting for our CHIME students to share not only the concert stage with these musicians but a strong love of music that is sure to touch the hearts of audience members,” said Calos. For additional information about the upcoming concert, visit http://www.esyo.org.

 CHIME Teaching Alumni 

  • Elyse Barna, Class of  2009: Woodwind Teaching Artist at Van Corlaer &
    Proctors; Office Assistant; Concertino Strings Manager.
  • Bridie Schnore, Class of 2011: Yates Site Leader & String Teaching Artist;
  • Esther Witherell, Class of 2014: String Teaching Artist at Carroll Hill (Troy);
  • Olivia Cox, Class of 2014: String Teaching Artist at Yates;
  • Matthew Johnson, Class of 1985 : Lead Strings Teaching Artist at Proctors;
  • Cathy Gatta, Class of 1984: String Teaching Artist at Yates;
  • Teresa Gatta Norton, Class of 1982; String Teaching Artist at Proctors;