An Education Update from Barbara Brown
A heartfelt thank you to the Rochester Philharmonic League for your incredible generosity in supporting the Education Department! You truly made our wishes come true through the Amazon Wish List, and we’re so grateful for the time, care, and enthusiasm that League volunteers continue to bring to our programs. Your partnership helps make so much possible for our students, families, and musicians.
We’re also excited to share that RPO Education can now be supported in a new way - through Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) merchandise. A portion of proceeds will go toward future RPYO tours, helping our young musicians continue to learn and perform together in meaningful ways. Orders are open through November 16. RYPO Merchandise Pre-Sale
And speaking of the RPYO, their first major concert of the season is right around the corner! Join us on Saturday, November 23rd at Hochstein for an all-Pops program featuring Jeff Tyzik and Herb Smith sharing the podium. Tickets are pay what you wish, and all proceeds benefit the RPYO. It promises to be a wonderful evening of music and community. We’d love to see you there!
Barbara Brown
RPO Vice President of Education
Jeff Tyzik, RPO Principal Pops Conductor rehearsing with the RPYO.
Volunteer Spotlight – Bonnie Yannie
My Interview with Bonnie Yannie
I had the privilege of chatting with Bonnie Yannie. She is very friendly and enthusiastic about her volunteer work with the RPL. She has been an usher for 3 seasons.
Bonnie's been a Rochester resident for 14 years. She moved here from Perkinsville, a small town in Steuben County. She's had a 50-year career as a nurse. It spanned a wide variety of settings. Bonnie worked in doctor's offices, public health, emergency rooms, and hospice. Bonnie is also the mother of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. She feels blessed because she can see most of her family often, since they only live 1.5 hours away.
Stained glass art is Bonnie's hobby. She finds it relaxing and it gives her an outlet for her creative ideas. Some of her artwork can be found at a local craft shop.
In the past, Bonnie would go to concerts randomly. However, at a concert one night, an usher talked to her about becoming an usher and the opportunities it provided (for example, you come more often to concerts, you can bring a friend because you can get a guest ticket, it allows you to hear different music than you might otherwise select, and more). She discovered that being an usher has a feeling of camaraderie. It's also so much better than watching TV. She enjoys seeing the patrons and how much they appreciate the RPO's expertise. She likes how experiencing the music is just right for her mind and soul. Her favorite concert was Andy Akiho's Ricochet (Ping Pong Concerto). It was creative and very memorable.
Here's a quote from Bonnie expressing her thoughts about volunteering: “Being an RPO usher is a great volunteer event. It's a WOW! Hearing amazingly talented musicians play world class music is wonderful. The audience appreciates the RPO talent, usually leaving the theater in an up-beat mood. People are smiling and saying thank you. In my opinion, everybody needs to attend an RPO performance and experience feeling enthralled.”
All of us in the League are smiling and saying thank you to *you,* Bonnie, for volunteering with the RPO!
By Anita Hawkins
Bonnie Yannie
