HochStories

The Hochstein School announces the appointment of Hilary Field Respass as President & Executive Director as of July 1, 2022. 

On Tuesday evening, April 19, HYSO musicians on the tour gathered together at their hotel in Leipzig, Germany. They brought with them a wide variety of books in English destined for Ukrainian refugee children and teens who are living with German families. 

Dr. Suzanne Hattala Wasilewski started clarinet lessons at Hochstein in 6th grade and now teaches music as an elementary orchestra teacher in the Greece Central School District. Read on to find out how her journey from being a student to becoming a teacher was influenced by the experiences she had at Hochstein.

Two years ago, the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra was making plans to tour and perform in Germany and the Czech Republic when the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now they are once again poised to travel, with performances in Berlin, Leipzig, and Prague during spring break, April 16–24, 2022. Read on to find out more about the music they will be playing, a historic site they will be visiting, and how you can follow along with their adventures.

Hochstein piano student Uche Ofurum, who studies with Dr. Julia Goodwin, performed Florence Price’s “Ticklin’ Toes” at an all-school recital on February 12. Julia says, “I chose this piece for Uche because of its vibrant elegance. She responded to it with enthusiasm.” Watch a video of Uche playing.

Members of the Hochstein Youth Singers have been working on adding to the mural in Room 11, where the HYS rehearses. Before they left for Boston, Director Maryellen Giese shared some photos and a cool story with us.

This Sunday’s concert by the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra and Hochstein Philharmonia Orchestra features not only the talented student musicians, including cello soloist Joanna Frank, but it also is the debut of HYSO co-principal cellist Amy Feng as the HYSO Conductor Apprentice.

This week, nine members of Hochstein Youth Singers, directed by Maryellen Giese, and their families will travel to Boston to sing in one of the conference’s prestigious honor choirs at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Region Conference, taking place February 9-12. These students were chosen from hundreds of applicants from Virginia to Maine. 

Hochstein alum Youri Spindler came from a musical family of Eastman professors, and started his time at The Hochstein School as a clarinet player in the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra. However, after discovering a love for dance, Youri’s career path changed. Read on to find out how his experience with Hochstein shaped his future and fueled his passion for music and dance, and how he became one of the first American dancers to train in Cuba since the Cuban Revolution.

All four members of the Duan family – Kelly, 4 (Suzuki violin); Jason, 7 (Suzuki violin, piano); and parents Yunping (flute) and Zhiyao (violin) – are currently taking lessons at Hochstein. Over the holiday recess, they worked on a family music video to celebrate the New Year and Chinese New Year. Read on for more of their story, and to watch the video.