Orpheus Music and Singing Group

Auditions for the Orpheus Music and Singing Group 2013-2014

Orpheus Music Ensemble Practice Schedule 2012-13

Benefits of participation in the Orpheus ensemble

Biographies

The Orpheus Music group established in 2007 and its goals of the ensemble are to introduce its members to the art of playing Greek folk music and accompany the various Orpheus Dance Troupes at various presentations. The ensemble meets weekly at the Orpheus practice facilities in Northbrook . See practice schedule below.
Registration fee is $250 for the year.

Instructional sessions are directed by Eve Monzingo, George Lawler and Danielle Economy. Their biographies are provided below.  We are excited to have instructors of this caliber available for the Orpheus sessions. Jim Stoynoff, a well know clarinet player within the Greek community, will also be assisting as a consultant in this program. 

Every year in June the Orpheus Music group conducts auditions for individuals that are interested in joining the ensemble. Please e-mail us or call 847-657-0958 if you are interested in auditioning or for more information.

Orpheus Singing and Music Auditions - 2013

June 13, Thursday, Northbrook 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• The Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society is pleased to announce a new series of auditions for new members.  We are pleased to announce that this year we will also hold auditions for people interesting in singing.
  The goals of the music ensemble are to introduce Greek American children to the art of playing Greek folk music and to accompany the various Orpheus Dance Troupes at festivals, performances and competitions.
   

• We are looking for students of all age levels who have achieved intermediate and advanced musical levels on the following instruments: clarinet, violin, percussion, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, trumpet, saxophone ,trombone, as well as any traditional Greek folk instrument.
   

• The ensemble will meet once a week at the Orpheus practice facilities in Northbrook . Practice times are 6:30-7:30, 7:30-9:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
  Practices will start on September 20, 2012 and last until May 16, 2013.  Extra practice sessions might be scheduled if needed.
   

• Registration fee is $250 for the year (Music).
  The fee for the singing group will be determined at a future date.
   

• Instructional sessions will be directed by Eve Monzingo, George Lawler and Danielle Economy. Their biographies are provided below.  We are excited to have instructors of this caliber available for the Orpheus sessions. Jim Stoynoff, a well known clarinet player within the Greek community, will also be assisting as a consultant in this program. 
   
•  Please e-mail us or call 847-657-0958 if you are interested in auditioning or for more information.

 Audition Requirements - Music

• Students who plan to audition on percussion should practice playing along with the CD and attempt to transcribe the rhythms in order to demonstrate an understanding of rhythms.  Greek percussion instruments will be introduced at the audition and will be available during class hours and for performances.
   
• Complete the following information and submit it at the time of the audition:

1. Name, Age, Address, Phone #, email
2. Instrument
3. How long have you been playing?
4. Do you play a second instrument?
5. Is this your first time playing by ear?
6. Have you had private or group lessons?
7. Do you play in band or orchestra? Where?
8. Have you ever participated in any contests or auditions?
9. Can you read music...if so, how long have you been reading music?
   
   Audition form:   pdf     doc

Audition Requirements - Singing

• Complete the following information and submit it at the time of the audition:

1. Name, Age, Address, Phone #, email
2. How long have you been singing?
3. Have you had private or group lessons?
4. Do you sing in an chorus or individually?  Where?
5. Have you ever participated in any contests or auditions?
6. Can you read music...if so, how long have you been reading music?
   
   Audition form:  pdf    doc

Orpheus Music Ensemble Practice Schedule 2012-13

Every Thursday, 6:30-9:00 p.m., classes start on Thursday, September 20
6:30-7:30 Junior group
7:30-8:15 Intemediate/Advanced group
8:15-9:00 Advanced group

See Eve, George or Danielle for specific breakup of sessions

All practices take place at the Northbrook practice facility
St. John Lutheran Church
3020 Milwaukee Ave.
Northbrook, IL 60062

Registration Form:   pdf    word

Payment can be made by clicking the button below ($250):

Important dates:

*December = Sunday, December 16, 2012 – Museum of Science and Industry, 4:00 p.m.

*January = Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Vasilopita Event at St. John Church

*May= Sunday, May 19, 2013 – Orpheus Youth group, End of Year Celebration at St. John Church, 2:00 p.m.

Benefits of participation in the Orpheus ensemble:

• Students will develop aural skills by learning songs by ear thus improving concentration, memorization and intonation.

• Students will develop an appreciation for, and an interest in, the musical traditions of the many varying regions of Greece.

• Students will develop a heightened sense of rhythm that will benefit all other aspects of their musical and dance development.  All students will learn basic percussion in order to understand and internalize the Greek dance rhythms.

• Students will experience a sense of accomplishment, achievement and stage presence as they develop technical and aural skills on their instruments that will benefit many other aspects of their lives.
  
  

Instructor Biographies

George Lawler and Eve Monzingo

Accomplished percussionist and drum maker, George Lawler, learned the art of Arabic, North African and Balkan percussion from his Tunisian teacher, Nagib Bahri. Over the years, George developed an apprenticeship /internist role with Mr. Bahri leading classes on percussion and drum making at his workshop in Chicago and touring the United States performing Arabic percussion for belly dance competitions.

George has performed in France, Spain, Turkey, Bulgaria and the Netherlands with his Middle East/Balkan ensemble, Lamajamal, and has toured the U.S. and appeared on the Conan O'Brien Show with the 30 piece, self described, 'circus-punk' marching band, Mucca Pazza. George has also toured the U.S. with the rock festival tour "Warped".

Here in Chicago, George plays Greek folk percussion with clarinetist and local legend, Jim Stoynoff. He also plays congas and bongos with the African band, The Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, drum kit and gongs with the Chinese surf group, Red Chamber, and finally, Indian Tablas with the the DJ group, Bombay Beatbox.

George specialized in custom made frame drums and tambourines (defis) and is currently working with Loyola University Ceramics Professor, Vesna Jovanovich on handmade clay drums commonly known as daraboukas or touberlekis. His workmanship can be read about and viewed at his website, Jamoflage.com.

George Lawler is a veteran of world and American music. He has performed on over 40 recording of rock, jazz, reggae, Arabic, and Balkan music going back to the 1980s. He produces and records in his home studio as well. George teaches private lessons on percussion, drum kit and guitar. George holds a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Illinois.

Eve Monzingo is a talented multi-instrumentalist who specializes in folk music of the Balkans, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. She was recently featured playing clarinet, santouri, flute and percussion in the Goodman Theatre production of Mirror of the Invisible World, directed and adapted by Tony Award winning director Mary Zimmerman.

Eve has performed in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, England and France with the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Die Naye Kaplye, (both Jewish folk music groups) and Lamajamal (mid-eastern/balkan music). Eve has also toured various parts of the U.S. with the comedic marching band Mucca Pazza (Italian for Mad Cow).
Eve began her journey into folk music by earning the Ethnic Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant from the Illinois Art Council to study Greek clarinet music under Jim Stoynoff when she was still a teenager. She then went on to earn scholarships to attend various folk music conferences, including the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and Culture (commonly call Klezcamps), the Eastern European Folklife Group's Balkan Music and Dance Camps, and Simon Shaheen's Arabic Music Retreat.

Eve received a bachelor of arts degree from Roosevelt University where she studied classical composition and music theory with Dr. Robert Lombardo. Her composition credits include 1st prize in the American Jewish Song Festival (1994), 2nd prize in the Midwest American Chapter of Women Composers competition (1996), and 2nd prize for her string quartet in the Virginia and Seymour LaRock Composition Competition (2001). Her compositions are featured on the recordings "Sweet Home Bukovina" by the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble (1996) and “Trumpets" by the Amsterdam based klezmer group, DiFidl-Kapelye(2006).

Eve has taught group ensembles and workshops at the Old Town School of Music, KlezKanada in Montreal, the University of Chicago and Roosevelt University. She taught private lessons on piano, clarinet, flute and saxophone at Leapin' Lyrics Music School in Geneva Illinois for over five years and currently teaches private lessons from her home in Chicago.

Danielle Economy has been pursuing musical studies on the violin since the age of four. During high school, her violin performances led to touring the U.S. and Europe. Highlights include premiering "Spirituals for Violin and Orchestra" by composer Robert Ian Winstin as the soloist at Carnegie Hall, then later recording the piece with the Bulgarian Philharmonic.

She was awarded her Bachelors in Music from DePaul University in Violin Performance and Music Education in 2009, where she studied violin with Robert Waters, the violinist from the award-winning Jupiter Trio. While at DePaul she had the opportunity to perform with the DePaul Concert Orchestra, DePaul Symphony Orchestra, as well as various chamber groups. Danielle also earned her Kodaly Level I and Orff Level I certificates while studying at DePaul.

Since graduation, Danielle has dedicated her life to teaching. She has taught general music at a Chicago Public Fine Arts Magnet school, as well as in North Shore School District 112, and violin at the Betty Haag Academy. She also teaches private traditional and Suzuki violin lessons. Danielle performs Greek folk music with the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society's music group, as well as teaching the junior music ensemble. During summers, she performs with the Northwestern Summer Orchestra.
Danielle is currently studying Suzuki and violin pedagogy extensively with world-renowned violin teacher Betty Haag-Kuhnke, who once worked directly with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in Japan.

Jim Stoynoff (Guest instructor)

Jim is a native Chicagoan who began studying the clarinet in 1962. Since that time he has specialized in the research, preservation and performance of Greek Folk Music, with particular emphasis on the regional folk clarinet styles of Epiros, Macedonia, Central Greece and Turkey.

Since 1965 Jim has performed regularly at major functions within these ethnic communities and has appeared with various groups throughout the U.S. He also gives lecture/performances and authors articles on the Balkan clarinet for various publications. Since 1986 he has appeared annually at various events sponsored by the Chicago Cultural Center, and performs with the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra. He is performing as part of the Silk Road residency, 9/06 thru 9/07 in Chicago, and recently made two appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for the opening of the Chicago World Music Festival.

He has designed and is co-curetting the Hellenic Museum & Cultural Center’s exhibit Road to Rembetika (June 06 through January 07), and is building HMCC’s archive and permanent exhibit of instruments and discography for it’s new facilities.