Our Conductors
Zeljko Milicevic Symphony Orchestra
Zeljko Milicevic received his Bachelor of Music degree
in Music Education and Violin Performance from
Wayne State University and his Master of Music in
Education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
In 2007, he completed the requirements for Certificate
in Orchestral Studies from Wayne State University with
an emphasis in Conducting and Violin Performance.
Milicevic began his public school teaching career in 1990 and is currently
Director of Orchestras at Farmington High School. In addition to his public school responsibilities, he is Adjunct Professor of String Pedagogy at
Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Since 2003, Milicevic has held the
position of Music Director and Conductor of the Lake St. Clair Symphony
Orchestra. Recently, he has been named Music Director of a new venture
serving greater Oakland County, Symphony of the Lakes, also formerly
known as the Pontiac-Oakland Symphony Orchestra.
Formerly leading the Bijou Orchestra since 2003 as Concertmaster, this fall
brings a new performance opportunity for Milicevic as he begins his new
appointment with the Flint Symphony Orchestra as Associate Concertmaster. Locally, he is currently Concertmaster of the Macomb Symphony
Orchestra and can be spotted filling in many of the areas community
orchestras and occasional events at the Fox Theatre and other Detroit
venues. An avid chamber musician, his career has included performing
with numerous chamber ensembles including the Classic Impressions
Quartet comprised of principals of the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Ivy Brook
Piano Trio as well as various local solo appearances. Serving Oakland Youth
Orchestras, this year marks Milicevic’s 18th season as Senior Conductor
with the OYO Symphony Orchestra.
Wendy Stuart Philharmonia Orchestra
Wendy Stuart is the Orchestra Director for the
Clarkston Community Schools. She is currently in her
thirteenth year of teaching in Clarkston, where she
directs all the Orchestras, grades six through twelve.
Prior to joining the music faculty in Clarkston, she
spent a year starting a new string program in a district
east of Cincinnati, OH.
Ms. Stuart earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance from
Eastern Michigan University and her teaching certification and Masters of
Music in Music Education from the University of Michigan. In addition to
her degrees, she studied orchestral conducting while attending the ASTA
International Workshops in Norway and France.
Our Conductors
John Kennedy String Orchestra
String Orchestra Director John Kennedy is excited to
return for his tenth year with the Oakland Youth Orchestras. During the days, he is an Orchestra Director
in the Farmington Public Schools, and has previously
taught in Detroit, Chelsea and Iowa City, IA. In 2005,
he was nominated for Orchestra Teacher of the Year
for the state of Michigan.
In addition to his teaching and conducting, Mr. Kennedy is internationally
recognized as a bassist, clinician and teacher of young string bassists. He
is currently President of the International Society of Bassists, the largest
worldwide organization dedicated to the upright bass. He is also a regular
clinician at the Golden Gate Bass Camp, the Richard Davis Workshop in
Madison, Wisconsin, the Troy Bass Workshop in Michigan, the Colorado
Suzuki Institute and the Elgin Suzuki Workshop in Illinois. Mr. Kennedy is
Principal Bass of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, and
was formerly Associate Principal Bass of the Honolulu Symphony. He has
performed with the Detroit, Ann Arbor, Toledo, Kalamazoo, New Mexico,
and Cedar Rapids symphonies.
As a composer and arranger, John has written dozens of works, both arrangements and original compositions, for young bass ensembles and for
youth orchestras. He holds his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in String
Bass Performance from the University of Michigan.
Nick Karpinsky Studio String Orchestra
Nick Karpinsky graduated from Wayne State University in 2009 receiving a Bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education. He has studied with various
violinists over the years including Geoffrey Applegate
and Jim Waring. As a violinist, Nick performs with
many community orchestras including the Macomb
Symphony and the Lake St. Clair Symphony. He has
also performed with several artists including Il Divo and Eddie Daniels.
Nick has performed with artists at the Fox Theater, Orchestra Hall, DTE
Energy Music Theater, and Joe Louis Arena.
Nick Karpinsky is in the third year of his public school teaching career. This
year he has accepted a new position in the Waterford School District as the
orchestra director of Mott High School and Pierce Middle School. For the
previous two years Nick taught in Warren Consolidated Schools at Green
Acres Elementary. In addition to public school teaching, Nick also conducts
the Advanced String Orchestra for the Detroit Civic Youth Ensembles. He is
excited to be a part of the Studio String Orchestra’s third season with the
Oakland Youth Orchestras.
Ms. Stuart served three terms as Secretary for the Michigan Chapter of the
American String Teacher Association and was the Director of the MASTA
String Camp, Session III, for six years.
Wendy maintains an active performance schedule in addition to teaching.
She is the principal cellist for the-Oakland Symphony Orchestra, a member
of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with string
ensembles and orchestras throughout southeast Michigan.
She is excited and honored to begin her first season with OYO and the
Philharmonia Orchestra.
For questions or more information:
248-988-7561
[email protected]
www.oyomi.org
An Orchestra
Performance Program
Through OYO SCORE we endeavor to
reach talented young musicians from all
socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds
in our community who wish to embrace
the challenges of learning and performing
orchestral music.
We are OYO
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) is a four-tiered teaching orchestra
program serving students in grades 2 through 12 from numerous
communities in southeast Michigan. Each year we attract over 300
students who want to be challenged beyond their school music experience. Our conductors are accomplished musicians with extensive
backgrounds in performance and music education.
We provide an open environment for students to learn about
orchestral music in an atmosphere where overt competition is deemphasized. Students have the chance to develop lifelong skills
of teamwork, commitment, organization and presentation skills
through their orchestral education and concert performances.
We offer 4 levels of orchestras:
Studio String Orchestra
Advanced beginner level; string instruments only
String Orchestra
Intermediate level; string instruments only
OYO Rehearsals
& Performances
Rehearsal Schedule
Symphony Orchestra
Oakland University,
Varner Hall Room 110*
Thursdays, 7:15 - 9:15 pm
Philharmonia Orchestra
Oakland University,
Varner Hall Room 134*
Thursdays, 7:15 - 9:15 pm
String Orchestra
University Presbyterian Church,
Adams Road, S. of Avon
Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:45 pm
Philharmonia
Advanced intermediate level; strings, brass, woodwind, percussion
Studio String Orchestra
University Presbyterian Church, Adams Road, S. of Avon
Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Symphony
Advanced level; strings, brass, woodwind, percussion
* Some rehearsals may be held off-site at Rochester High Schools.
Performances
All orchestras will perform in concerts held in November, February
and May at the Lake Orion Performing Arts Center.
Membership, Tuition and Aid
Students accepted into OYO SCORE will be expected to attend weekly Thursday rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and concerts. Both student
and parents will be asked to sign the OYO Musician Contract.
We are Community
Oakland Youth Orchestras is much more than dedicated student
musicians led by dynamite conductors – although that’s pretty
great. We are community.
We are:
Students – Who come together through their love of music; who
learn, laugh, and make friendships that last for years.
Parents – Who see their children grow and excel; who meet other
parents through OYO volunteer and fundraising activities.
Conductors – Professional musicians and experienced music
educators who understand that making music is a gift that lasts
a lifetime.
Board members – who provide their time and talents to see that
OYO is guided by sound policies. Our board members are parents
of OYO student musicians.
Yearly tuition is as follows:
$200 – Studio String Orchestra
$250 – String, Philharmonia and Symphony Orchestras
All students accepted into the OYO SCORE program will be eligible
to apply for tuition aid though OYO and/or their local Youth Assistance Program.
Auditions
Auditions allow us to better assess the student’s talents to properly
place them in the orchestra in which their musical abilities will be
fostered and appropriately challenged.
Auditions for OYO SCORE will take place at your school on an
assigned date. Students will be heard by our orchestra conductors
and will be promptly notified of their audition results. Students
will begin rehearsals following their audition and acceptance into
OYO SCORE and upon completion of any application, review and
determination of tuition aid.
Final orchestra placement is at the discretion of the orchestra
conductors.
Audition Requirements
All students are required to prepare a 2-3 minute music selection
of their choice.The piece will be heard unaccompanied and does
not need to be memorized.
For percussionists: You must supply your own mallets and sticks
and prepare a solo using onsite instruments.
Sight reading: Materials will be chosen by the conductors for all
levels of auditions.
If you would like to audition on more than one instrument you
must be prepared to perform a solo on each instrument you would
like to play in the orchestra, and schedule an audition time for each
instrument.
Scales are not required for any audition.