Rey Ramirez and Carol Minter share highlights from the 2023 calendar year.
End of Year 2023
December 20, 2023
Category: Videos
La Vida
November 28, 2023
La Vida is a PYO student composition reflecting the realities, challenges, and joys of growing up and beginning to face new responsibilities.
The Process: In January of 2023, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Symphony Orchestra worked with Soundscapes Creative Content Manager Joe Hamm to collectively compose a piece of music. Students learned to and were guided to build a subject theme, determine an instrumentation, write words, and compose instrumental melodies. These elements were assembled over the course of five weeks for a total of about 6 total hours of instructional time including rehearsal.
Teaching Artist Team:
Joe Hamm
Westley Benson
Suzanne Warner
Rey Ramirez
A collective composition project of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.
Soundscapes in 40 Seconds
September 13, 2023
At Soundscapes we invest in our communities by providing immersive, engaging, music-making, and ensemble performance opportunities for young people to strengthen social, emotional, creative, and critical thinking skills. We make music learning accessible and fun for students from early elementary school through early adulthood. Soundscapes offers free daily after-school music programs, an affordable regional youth orchestra, and several week-long summer camps. Learn more at www.Soundscapes.org
Voices:
Noah Hill – Floutist, 6th Grade
CJ Baker – Trumpeter, 2nd Grade
Jemon Windham – Percussionist and Trombonist, 8th Grade
Jordan Hill – Cellist, PYO 12th Grade
Westley Benson – Wind Band Director
Alana Lunsford – Violinist, 5th Grade
Elijah Johnson – Percussionist, PYO 11th Grade
Krystal Stokes – Violinist, 8th Grade
Catina Billups – Connection Specialist
Joe Hamm – Creative Content Manager
Karma Karter – Cellist, PYO 12th Grade
Sara Balgoyen – Development Director
Carol Minter – Executive Director
Rey Ramirez – Program Director
“I Hear Mama’s Voice” with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra
May 31, 2023
Blues legend Bobby BlackHat joins the Peninsula Youth Orchestra on stage to perform his original song “I Hear Mama’s Voice” at the American Theater in Hampton, Virginia.
Written by Bobby BlackHat Arranged by Hamed Barbarji Edited by Rebecca Brown Orchestra Conducted by Rey Ramirez
Teal Table Talks Episode 3: Congressman Bobby Scott
April 4, 2023
Congressman Bobby Scott joins Carol at the traveling teal table for a conversation at The American Theatre in Hampton, just before a Peninsula Youth Orchestra concert. Hear the big announcement Congressman Scott made during the concert and find out what it means for the future of Soundscapes! Join us for an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at Soundscapes and the community it serves. Soundscapes is a nonprofit organization in Newport News, Virginia that uses music education and performance to strengthen social, emotional, creative, and critical thinking skills in young people from early elementary school through age 25. Programming is provided for free or on a sliding scale, making the benefits of music accessible to all. Learn more at soundscapes.org.
Catina Connects
January 23, 2023
Meet Catina Billups, the Connection Specialist with Soundscapes, and learn about what she does at the Carver Elementary daily program.
Thomas Wilkins Visits Soundscapes
October 31, 2022
The great Meastro Thomas Wilkins (Principal Guest Conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and Artistic Advisor for Education and Community Engagement for the Boston Symphony Orchestra) visited Soundscapes today. He started out by listening to our Performance Quintet, joined in our Bucket Band, visited our Level 2 classes, and conducted our full orchestra.
Ensemble 7/4 at Soundscapes
October 17, 2022
During their residency, members from Ensemble 7/4 dropped in to comment about El Sistema, and the value of music making in Newport News at Soundscapes, and around the world.
Reunite in our Community
June 27, 2022
A Soundscapes collective composition in collaboration with Play USA and Carnegie Hall’s Reflection on Resilience prompt. Soundscapes musicians reflected on the necessity for resilience, and the mechanisms in response to that resiliency. “Reunite in Our Community” is their musical and poetic expression of this prompt. “Reunite in Our Community” was shared at the PlayUSA National Convening at Carnegie Hall on June 27th, 2022.
Creative Leaders:
Joe Hamm
Rebecca Kim
Westley Benson
Catina Billups
Student Musicians: Kawtar Ajlani-Violin, Lee Benton-Viola, Tracie Epps-Cello, Raelyn Flanagan-Flute, Julie Hayes-Violin, Noah Hill-Flute, Valentina Huayhualla-Cello, Saniya Hundley-Sweeney-Trumpet, Yarelie Lopez-Gomez-Violin, Chloe Park-Violin, Claire Park-Cello, Krystal Stokes-Violin, Aniya Walker-Violin, Deandre Ward-Trumpet, Parker Wilson-Flute, Jemon Windham-Trombone.
Citizen Artist Award Presentation – Lance Fox
May 26, 2022
In this video recorded from the audience during the finale of Peninsula Youth Orchestra’s 62nd Season, we see the presentation of Soundscapes’ first-ever Citizen Artist Award to Lance Fox for exemplifying the values of Soundscapes.
Featured on WHRO Curate
December 21, 2021
WHRO highlighted Soundscapes in a December episode of Curate, a series that explores the thriving art scene in our own backyard and across America. Click the video above to watch the whole episode! The segment featuring Soundscapes begins at the 10:36 mark, and Peninsula Youth Orchestra is featured during the closing credits.
We think you’ll agree, the students and teaching artists who were interviewed did an amazing job representing the organization!
December PYO Concert
December 12, 2021
PYO prepares for the final performance of the evening. Thank you to everyone who attended. We are so proud of our students!
Greenwood Open House
September 8, 2021
View a welcome video from Lynn!
Carver Open House
September 3, 2021
View a welcome video from Joe!
Libertango
April 5, 2021
Facebook Feed
🚨 We are SO close. 🚨Our Back to School campaign is almost at our $12,000 goal, and we can see the finish line! 🎶💛Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared stories from students and families about what happens when young people have access to music, mentorship, and a place where they belong.More confidence. New friendships. New skills. New possibilities.Now we just need a little push to get us across the finish line.If you’ve been meaning to give, this is your moment. Every gift gets us closer to $12,000 and helps make sure Soundscapes students have what they need to start the school year.👉 Help us finish strong: soundscapes.org/donate
6 years ago, a Soundscapes student told Another View what they loved about the program.Their answer? A place where people are welcome to come in and just have fun.Sixteen years later, we’re still making room for that. 🎶💛
🎶 Come hear the Soundscapes Performance Ensemble!Our Performance Ensemble will perform as part of the Mildred McDaniel Concert Series on Sunday, October 11, from 4–5 PM.📍 Reformation Lutheran Church13100 Warwick Blvd., Newport NewsThe concert is free and open to the public, so bring a friend and come enjoy an afternoon of live music from our talented young musicians!A special thank you to BayPort Credit Union for supporting the Performance Ensemble as this season’s sponsor. 💛🎶
⛳️ A big thank you to the Earl & Waverly Charitable Fund for joining us as a Champion Sponsor of our Rhythm & Greens Golf Tournament!We’re grateful for your generous support of Soundscapes and our young musicians. We’ll see you on the green! 🎶💛
What if learning music was also a lesson in leadership, communication, and responsibility?For Soundscapes Performance Ensemble Coach Mateo Ayala, music is the foundation. Students learn to listen to one another, solve problems together, take responsibility for their part, and support the people around them.“It is not just about music.”That’s the bigger purpose behind what happens in a Soundscapes rehearsal.#Soundscapes #MusicChangesLives #MusicEducation #YouthDevelopment #Leadership #PerformanceEnsemble
