Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert
For most high school musicians, participating in the high school orchestra and band is an all-consuming activity. But some, including clarinetist Andrew Delman, a senior at High School North, take on additional challenges. Delman, a member of the Youth Orchestra of New Jersey (YOCJ) since his middle school days, now has one more orchestral credit — he has qualified for the All-Eastern Band, the first student from High School North to do so.
Delman and the YOCJ perform the annual winter concert Sunday, January 30, at the High School North school auditorium at 3 and 7 p.m. “Things will be coming to a close soon,” says Delman. “Being in the orchestra has allowed me a great opportunity to experience some extraordinary symphonies and pieces of music that you don’t normally get to try.” He says that his favorite was the “New World Symphony” by Antonin Dvorak in 2002.
The January 30 concert will feature “It Takes Four to Tango” by Daniel Dorff. “It is an interesting piece and has been a lot of fun to put together,” says Delman. He will perform as principal clarinetist for “It Takes Four to Tango,” along with fellow seniors David Lin (co-principal clarinetist); clarinetist Christine Scafa; E-flat and B-flat clarinetist Minjung Sohn; and bass clarinetist Megan Hillsdon, a junior.
In addition, the 3 p.m. performance will include YOCJ’s Symphonic Orchestra as well as small ensembles for Wind, Brass, Percussion and Saxophone who will perform selections by Beethoven, Mendelsohn, and Respighi and some works of contemporary and jazz composers. At 7 p.m., the String Preparatory Orchestra, Pro Arte Strings and Wind Symphony will perform works by Bizet, Handel, and Mozart.
Delman and his family live in West Windsor. Both parents work in New York — his father as a corporate attorney and his mother in an advertising agency. “They both have to make that long train commute every single day,” says Delman. He also has several older half-siblings. “They are all out of the house and I’m the only one at home,” he says.
About 175 musicians from central New Jersey schools make up the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey (the next audition date is Tuesday, February 1 — see https://yocj.org for specifics and an application form). Of those musicians, 21 have been selected to perform in the state’s Region II bands and orchestra. Delman, Sohn, and Lin are among them.
As a member of the All-East Honor Band, Delman will perform at the Baltimore Convention Center in March. Last year he played second clarinet in the New Jersey All-State Orchestra, and he has also been principal clarinetist of the Concert Band/Wind Ensemble and Concert Orchestra at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. Delman has also studied with Ethan Sloane at the Tanglewood Institute and with Ellis Marsalis at the New Jersey Fame Festival.
Delman, a National Merit semi-finalist, has also begun composing music. “I’ve only started a few things,” he says. “But I guess I won’t really able to finish them until I get some more spare time.”
For all his musical interests, Delman’s formal activities in the field may diminish as he moves on to college. “Music is possible for me as a minor in college and I always plan to keep music in my life, perhaps by joining a community orchestra,” says Delman. But “I want to someday do important research that could save the world, or that kind of thing.” Delman will attend Yale University in the fall. His likely major: Environmental Science.
— Jack Florek
Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, Winter Concert, High School North auditorium. Sunday, January 30, at 3 and 7 p.m. $10, $5 for students, children, and seniors. For information, visit www.yocj.org or call 609-799-2889.
