Brass Of Peace Scholarship Program

The Brass of Peace Scholarship Program (BOP), sponsored by Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, is a tuition-fee program for talented high school brass players. Participants in BOP are from every economic, ethnic, and racial background. Over a period of 36 weeks during the school year, BOP scholars, a group of 11-15 gifted players, are given two-hour weekly coaching sessions with National Symphony Orchestra hornist and Eclipse Music Director, Sylvia Alimena. BOP provides a nurturing and intense training ground for its members so that they will be more likely to succeed in the competitive field of music. It also helps them build confidence in performing and public speaking.

The Brass of Peace Scholarship Program (BOP), sponsored by Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, is a tuition-fee program for talented high school brass players. Participants in BOP are from every economic, ethnic, and racial background. Over a period of 36 weeks during the school year, BOP scholars, a group of 11-15 gifted players, are given two-hour weekly coaching sessions with National Symphony Orchestra hornist and Eclipse Music Director, Sylvia Alimena. BOP provides a nurturing and intense training ground for its members so that they will be more likely to succeed in the competitive field of music. It also helps them build confidence in performing and public speaking. Other than serving as an important training ground in the lives of young musicians, Brass of Peace makes music accessible to children of all ages and provides much needed role models for children of all ages. BOP Scholars present several free community concerts during the year and, in partnership with the National Symphony Orchestra Education Program, provide live in-school “Kidshare” concerts for less privileged children in the District of Columbia Schools. Last year, the members of Brass of Peace gave their time and talents to over 3000 children of Malcolm X, Orr, Park View, Burrvile, Fletcher Johnson, Nalle and Beers Elementary Schools in the District of Columbia, the William Ramsay School in Alexandria and the Waterman Elementary School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Brass of Peace Scholarship Program encourages the“cycle of giving” by instilling in its members the value of giving back to other children less fortunate. French Horns: Mary Hannah Burlingame, Lake Braddock High School Joanna Gibson, Fairfax High School Eliot Salt, Woodson High School Trumpets: John Thomas Daniels, South Lakes High School William Gibson*, Hayfield Secondary School Carl Israelsson, The Maret School Zachary Limberis, Bishop Ireton High School Trombones: John Campbell, Maryland, Oxon Hill High School Justin Moore, West Sprinfield High School Bass trombones: James Trichilo*, James Madison High School Hakeem Bilal, DeMatha High School * section leaders Sylvia Alimena, a hornist with the National Symphony Orchestra, also has an active conducting schedule throughout the area as music director and conductor of the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Brass of Peace, and the McLean Orchestra. A native of Long Island, New York, she began playing the French horn in the Hicksville Public Schools at age nine. When she began private lessons at fifteen, she was awarded a full scholarship to study privately with Arthur E. Goldstein. Ms. Alimena continued her musical studies at Boston University as a pupil of Harry Shapiro. In 1981, she was a first place winner of the Boston University Concert Aria Competition and was awarded a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center that summer. In 1980, Ms. Alimena began her professional career in Boston as a member of the Boston Ballet Orchestra, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, and the Beacon Brass Quintet, and as Principal horn of the Boston Lyric Opera and the New Hampshire Symphony. After spending one season in the Utah Symphony, Ms. Alimena arrived in Washington in 1985 to take the post of second horn of the National Symphony Orchestra. Her conducting career began in January 1990 when she was asked to take over the helm of Brass of Peace. The 2005-2006 season marks her sixteenth season as music director of Brass of Peace. Now in her fourteenth season as music director of the critically acclaimed Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Ms. Alimena has conducted many world premiere performances, including many works commissioned by the ensemble. Ms. Alimena has appeared as guest conductor of the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Symphony and has conducted a series of "National Symphony Orchestra In Your Neighborhood" concerts with the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra on behalf of the National Symphony Orchestra. In 1999, she was the backstage conductor for an Aspen production of the final act of Die Gotterdammerung with James Conlon conducting as well as on-stage auxiliary conductor for a production of Wozzeck also with James Conlon conducting. In 2004, Ms. Alimena completed nine years as music director and conductor of the Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra with a performance of music from Wagner’s Das Ring des Nibelungen as part of the Wagner Society/Smithsonian Institute “Epic Ring” seminar. Her conducting teachers include Franz Welser-Moest, Murry Sidlin, David Zinman, Gunther Schuller, Marin Alsop, and Gustav Meier.

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11/16/05: Brass Of Peace Scholarship Program

“BOP,” a tuition-free program for talented high school students led by NSO hornist Sylvia Alimena, prepares its members for greater success in the field of music.

Brass Of Peace Scholarship Program

“BOP,” a tuition-free program for talented high school students led by NSO hornist Sylvia Alimena, prepares its members for greater success in the field of music.

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