2012 International Youth Symphony Orchestra

November 17, 2011

Dear IYSO Members:
I would like to start by saying what a pleasure it was meeting you all at the first rehearsal AND how impressed I was with your talent and work ethic.  We covered every measure of the Tchaikovsky AND Glinka!  I look forward to our next meeting when we can work more in depth to make those pieces our own.

Please make sure you are making practice on your IYSO music a daily habit.  A great violinist friend of mine makes a jar with a list of ‘problem spots’ in her concert music and after her scales and careful warm-up, she picks a spot from the jar.  It can make practicing more fun and eventually remove the ‘stains’ from your music!  It only takes a few minutes a day and it will make our performances much more enjoyable for you AND the audience!

For the Glinka, we will attempt to reach quarter note equals 160 for our performances.  If you are able to play it accurately at 90 this month and then increase the speed by 10 each month – by June we’ll have it.  For the Tchaikovsky, please work slowly and accurately.  In my next letter, I will send approximate tempo markings for the entire symphony.

Finally, we still need players for IYSO.  Please talk to your talented friends about joining our group if they play:

Violin, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone or Tuba

I hope you enjoy our great American custom of Thanksgiving next week.   In a few short months,  we will enjoy customs in France and Germany!  YAY : )

Musically Yours,
Janis Shier Peterson

Janis Shier Peterson, Music Director

Janis Shier Peterson attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as a camper in 1969.  She has vivid memories of playing violin in the orchestra and being chosen to play a vibraphone part on Nelhybel’s Music for Orchestra.  It was an inspiring two weeks and the reason she jumped at the chance to return as a conductor twenty years later!  Since that time, Janis has conducted high school Concert, Symphony and Masterworks Orchestras.

Mrs. Peterson’s home is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she is currently the Director of Orchestras for the Marquette Area Public Schools.  During her 34 years in that position, the number of high school strings has grown from 9 to 90 players and the groups have been selected for numerous honors including performances at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Midwestern Music Educators’ Conference, EPCOT Center and the Kennedy Center.  She has also performed with her students in Boston, Toronto, Hawaii, Germany and France. 

Mrs. Peterson has held conductor positions at Northern Michigan University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Pine Mountain Music Festival and has served as a guest conductor for various groups including the 1999 Alaska State Honors Orchestra.   She has also been an active member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and the Michigan American String Teachers’ Association.  She is currently the MASTA Northern Initiatives representative.

“Top academic seniors” have selected Mrs. Peterson many times as Most Influential Educator and in the past decade, Ms. Peterson was awarded MSBOA Orchestra Teacher of the Year, Marquette Teacher of the Year, Michigan American Legion Teacher of the Year, Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year and UP Teacher of the Year.  She has many former students playing in professional ensembles and teaching at the college level.  Current and former students make up a majority of the string sections in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra for which Mrs. Peterson serves as rehearsal conductor, concertmaster and co-founder.  2012 will mark her first tour with the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra.