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Ann Arbor News Article

Conductor molds youth into a unified orchestra

Retired music educator enjoys working with young

Saturday, September 25, 2004

BY EMMA JACKSON News Staff Reporter

Stomping the rhythms with his Birkenstock-clad feet, his blue T-shirt drenched with sweat, conductor William Hayes exudes his passion for music before the young faces seeking his direction.

The Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra has completed a 90-minute first rehearsal and Hayes pronounces, "Stand up, take a bow. I'm happy. We can go nowhere but up."

So begins another season of taking walk-in musicians, with a range of experience, and molding the ragtag group into a unified orchestra. The members are middle school students to recent high school graduates who make the weekly commitment to combine talents for a long-term purpose.

"There's a joy and satisfaction in seeing younger students perform music at this level and helping to guide them toward a musical career," said Alexandria Doedon, 15, of Ypsilanti who has played violin with the orchestra for four years.

Mairin Chesney, 12, of Brighton is new to the orchestra and said the collective experience expands on what she's learning through private lessons. Her mother Jean Chesney said she was impressed with what was accomplished in the first session.

"He (Hayes) took them from playing a G major scale to classical music in 45 minutes," Chesney said. "Mairin's face lit up and I could tell she was excited."

Hayes said that eight of the two dozen students in the first rehearsal are new. But the core of the group lies in families like the Loeschers of Superior Township, who have children filling three of those seats, and the promise of more to come.

Luke, 15, Mira, 14, and Kristen, 11, Loescher are returning members. Their siblings, Paul, Stephen, Thomas, Amanda, Rebekah and John are waiting in the wings until they are old enough to join. Their mother Amy Loescher is pregnant and said it's likely number 10 will also be a part of the orchestra.

"All of my children have a big interest in music. I played in a high school band and wanted my children to have a group music experience," said Loescher, who home schools her children. "Mr. Hayes accepts any level and takes you where you're at. He also gives background information on the music, so you're getting the history, too."

The group is open to children throughout the area with the exception of students enrolled in the Ann Arbor public schools, which provides an orchestra experience for their students.

The music is primarily classical, but Hayes includes some jazz and more modern pieces to give students a taste of other musical arrangements.

Burnam Fleming, 18, is now a freshman at Eastern Michigan University and continues to play violin with the orchestra because it keeps his skills sharp and allows him to support the arts.

"The orchestra teaches you the fundamentals of music and it's a way to be involved in the community, to do something good," Fleming said.

After the first rehearsal when the group worked on the more intense "March of the Meistersingers" and concluded with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Hayes said he noticed a stronger musical knowledge among the students than in previous years. In the past, he has had to give instrument instruction along with teaching students to read notes.

Hayes is now retired from Ypsilanti Public Schools as an orchestra teacher but continues to work with the youth orchestra because, "I retired from teaching, but I didn't retire from these kids. It is good for me to do this."

He now has more time to devote to writing music, conducting and pouring his 37 years of music instruction into shaping young musicians.

"I want to see them become recognized musicians and for them to accept their talent and put that energy to use in a clean environment where they can demonstrate the beauty and importance of the arts," Hayes said.

Before dismissing the two dozen students, Hayes asks, "Are you going to come back next week? I promise it will be a lot more fun."