Welcome Gustavo Dudamel!

You have seen his wacky hair on television and splashed across the pages of newspapers and magazines. His name is on the tip of everyone's tongue.

Who is he? Gustavo Dudamel!

What's the buzz? He came to Los Angeles!

Does this have anything to do with PCYO? Uh huh!

This classical music legend is now the head conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and you can see him live. But it's his YOUTH ORCHESTRA that's made him who he is.

Just like you, he was smart and started his music education early. He liked violin and composition. Then, In 1999, he was appointed music director of the Orquestra Sinfonica Simon Bolivar, the national youth orchestra of Venezuela.

That's right, Venezuela rules because they have a national youth orchestra. Don't you wish Obama would set that kind of system in place? Start writing letters!

Gustavo Dudamel worked closely with his youth orchestra and tuned them into such astounding performers, they toured all around the world! Don't you wish you could do that? Skipping your home-cooked brussels sprouts for pizza...in Italy! For sushi...in Japan! For...well, you get the idea.

Gustavo Dudamel and his youth orchestra are a shining example of what we can be one day, if we keep practicing and remember to love what we do. Check out their unbelievable performance right HERE.

Welcome to Los Angeles Gustavo Dudamel!

Fall Season Starts this Saturday, September 19th!

Welcome back PCYO!

Saturday is almost here, and we're thrilled to have you back for a fresh new start this Autumn!

Some important reminders:

~ Rehearsal is now from 10 AM - 2 PM

~ We don't rehearse every Saturday, so check the "Calendar" page on the PCYO site by clicking HERE. We won't be making courtesy calls to remind you, but the schedule will always be posted online.

~ Economic relief! The cost of tuition will remain the same as last year! Now PCYO will charge on a per-season basis. This means $25 for the Fall season, (September - December) then again for the winter season, (January - May). It's only $10 for any additional family members.

~ If we loan you an instrument, we'll need a small deposit based on the percentage of the instrument's value. The deposit is 100% refundable.

~ Student and parent contracts will be handed out at the first rehearsal. Make sure to read before you sign!

~ Making music can sure build an appetite! PCYO will be supplying lunch at the first rehearsal, and there will be a sign-up sheet for parents at the front table. It's important to pitch in and feed our budding rock stars!

~ Mark your calendars! December 12th is the day of the final holiday concert. You'll be great. Break a leg. Heck, break both of them.

Love & music,
Fayeruz

Exclusive Interview with New Student Director...Sonja Einem!

Happy Fall season PCYO!

Our newly-crowned student leader is Miss Sonja Einem and I had a chance to interview her. Check it out below!

Hi Sonja! What's the first thing that went through your mind when you were asked to be Student Director for PCYO?

I thought 'This will look good on college applications.' Then I wondered if we could play something Baroque.

Ambitious! Sonja, you're a pretty quiet person. Would you be able to speak up if any of those PCYO brats start picking their noses?

You know, it's their own decision whether or not they want to pick their noses. But I guess it's my duty to tell them it's gross.

Speaking of picking noses, what is your most embarrassing moment?

Oh that would be me recently being lifted and flipped upside down...in a skirt.

Hey, consider yourself lucky that someone can lift and flip you! Back to PCYO, what do you think is your biggest challenge as Student Director for PCYO ?

What's more important than a lot of other things, is getting the children to be interested in the music.

Aside from the 2009 PCYO Band Camp, name three other cool things you did this summer.

I visited my grandmother in the Redwoods, went to our annual church camp and...Disneyland!

Stupendous! What music are you listening to right now?

I'm listening to my sister practicing piano. I have no idea what she's playing.

No, I meant what bands and musicians are you currently enjoying? Never mind, just tell me this: WHERE IN THE WORLD DOES CAMILLE GET ALL THAT ENERGY?

(silence) No comment.

There you have it, folks: the talented Miss Sonja Einem. And don't let her catch you picking your nose!

Love & music,

Fayeruz

PCYO Star on TV!

Hellooooooooo PCYO,

Hopefully you're enjoying the last few weeks of summer. I mentioned earlier in the season that one of our very own rock stars would be on TV. Justus Bradshaw sang back-up for pop star John Mayer on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien! To celebrate Conan O'Brien's move from New York to Los Angeles to take Jay Leno's place on the iconic program, John Mayer sang California Dreamin' - and so did Justus!

Not only did the LA Times write about the Los Angeles Children's Choir performance, but I have a video of the big night, so check him out. He's in the back row on the right, and looking sharp!

Just click HERE. Enjoy!

Love & music,
Fayeruz

What's All This Monkey Business?

I thought I was going to the concert on Friday to take some nice pictures. Just look at this madness! If you want to see all of the lovely photos taken, just scroll to the bottom of this email and click on the link.

To see the rest of the photos from the PCYO 2009 Summer Camp concert, (and the wacky sleepover) click HERE. You band campers blew everyone away with your hard work and skill. And never forget, character counts!

Love & music,

Fayeruz

Congratulations PCYO Band Campers!

Bravo! This was the best show to date. A round of applause for a job well done!



And let us not forget our dedicated director, Camille Barnes...



Expecting some pictures? Oh just you wait...

Love & music,
Fayeruz

Band Camp in Full Swing!

Eat your heart out slackers! While you sit at home watching the 58th rerun of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, your friends at PCYO Band Camp are working on a masterpiece, and it will be performed for friends and family this Friday the 14th at 4 pm. Don't miss it - unlike reruns, this is live entertainment!

PCYO band campers are not only blossoming as musicians, they are getting the star treatment. A real-life mariachi band will be performing for them, they get to play music trivia Jeopardy and they get to dine on scrumptious treats created by Glendale chef Safoa Abboa, from Safoa's Fare.

PCYO's rock stars also have a chance to score free Teriyaki Six Dollar Burgers from Carl's Jr., origami art paper airplanes, (ever heard of an instructor GIVING kids paper airplanes??) and much, much more!

Hope to see you at the concert this Friday!

Love & music,

Fayeruz