Up and Running

Hello Credo Alumni!

Welcome to the "official" Credo Alumni blog! We have had a few posts in the past year or so, but I am hoping to really get this blog going to its full potential within the next few months. The thing is, I'm going to need help doing it! How can you help??

Well, first of all...make sure you send any updates about your life to me. These can be musical, work/church related, any achievements or generalized announcements...i.e. weddings, engagements, competitions you might be involved in, professional appointments...so basically anything you would like for the Credo community to know about! Make sure to send them to me at:

nicole.gnatek@gmail.com

I will make sure to keep it as updated as I possibly can!

Also, I sent out an email a couple of weeks ago wondering if anyone would be interested in an email morning-sing. Given the positive response to this, but also paying mind to convenience and lack of clogging people's in-boxes, I think it would be best to try doing this on the blog, instead. I'm hoping to have about one a week(possibly one every two weeks as we're getting started)...and most importantly, I need people who are willing to write them! If you are interested, it should be a relatively small commitment. I'm hoping to have about 8 (or more!) people, so it would be writing one post every 2 months. Again, please email me if you would like to help with this!

One more thing! This blog does not just have to be limited to morning-sing posts and updates. If you know of any issues that might affect Credites, feel free to either email it to me, OR feel free to write up your own post and email it to me! In no way shape or form is this blog limited to just me posting on it. If you have something to say, please do! One of the awesome things about this blog is that it is open for anyone to comment on the post. At the end of each post there is an icon saying "0 Comments" (unless someone beat you to the first comment, in which case it would say "1 comment" etc) and if you click on it, you can add your own thoughts to the post. This way everyone can be involved!

Just remember...it's up to us to keep the blog going. There is nothing to small to add to it, I promise! The idea is to help Credites keep in touch throughout the year. We have hundreds of alumni, so it would be difficult to keep in close contact with all of them, but hopefully this way everyone can stay updated and informed.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

p.s. Congratulations to Rachel Howsmon! She won her youth orchestra concerto competition, so she gets to play the J.C. Bach Concerto in C Minor with her orchestra next March!

Engagement!

Credite Mallory Tabb is engaged to be married this summer! She and her fiance, Kurt Bray, have a website where you can check out all of the wedding and engagement details!

www.theknot.com/ourwedding/mallorytabb&kurtbray

Congratulations, Mallory!

Credo Violas Sweep Ohio Viola Society Competition!

Students from the best programs around the country gathered in Oberlin this weekend for the annual Ohio Viola Society Solo Competition. When the dust had settled, Credo violists SWEPT ALL the pre-collegiate prizes.

First prize in the HS division went to Matt Lipman. Aaron Mossburg won second, and Georgina McKay Lodge was named to the Bach Interpretation Prize. In the pre-HS division, Credo alumnus Nicholas Bobbs won first prize, while Credo newcomer (joining us for the first time this summer) Bethany Hargreaves won second prize. This amazing viola power is just one of the things that makes Credo great – we’re proud of all these amazing talents!

Congratulations!

In the South Bend Symphony Young Artist Competition (January, 2007), Credo alumna Korynne Bolt (04, 06) won first place in the string division, and alumni Josh Hunton (04, 06) and Austin Huntington (06) were finalists. Austin also received an honorable mention.

Great job, guys!

Credo 2007!

Applications are now available online for Credo 2007! Click on the link on the side of this page to find it. You can also go to www.credochambermusic.org for applications and more information.

Dates for Credo 2007 are:
“Opus 1” session: June 30-July 15
Three-week session: July 1-July 22

Recent Credo Alumni Accomplishments

Chaunte Ross (Opus 1 '04, '05) and Monique Ross (Opus 1 '04, '05) each earned an Honorable Mention in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition and joined with members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in their "Stars of Tomorrow" concert in May. Monique Ross also earned first place in the Wisconsin Cello Society competition last November in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

At the 2006 Ohio Viola Society Competition, Allison Lint (’02, ’06) won first place and Georgina McKay Lodge (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06) won second. Nicky Bobbs (’06) won second prize in the junior division.

Anne Ristorcelli (Credo ‘02, ‘03, ‘04), a member of the contemporary classical music ensemble Reach Fusion, toured with her quartet in Ohio and Illinois to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association in May, 2006.

Summer Lusk (Credo ’06) was named Young Artist of the Peoria Symphony Guild annual concerto competition, performing Edvard Grieg’s piano concerto with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra in April 2006.

Alexandra Thompson currently serves as principal cellist in Pittsburg Youth Symphony

Courtney Van Cleef (Credo 2005)—principal cellist in Florida Young Artists Chamber Orchestra (2005-06 season), selected for the 2006 Florida All State Orchestra.

Matthew Lipman (Credo 2005) won a concerto competition with the Southwest Symphony (Chicago area) and will be performing the Hoffmeister Viola Concerto with them on Feb. 11.

Natalie Kress got into the prestigious Temple Prep Chamber Orchestra conducted by Louis Biava, former assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She is on her way to the Regional Orchestra in February!

Violist Celia Hatton (Credo 2003 and 04) was one of 9 students selected nationally for the semi-finals for the Sphinx Competition (a national competition for black and Latino students).

Eric Welander performed Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Richmond Symphony.

Celia Hatton won second place in the Asian American String Competition 2004

Hanah Stuart (01-04) performed as a soloists with the Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra in Chicago's Symphony Center on November 21st, 2004

Josh Zojac was named principal cellist of the Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Allison Lint, a violinist and Credo alumnus, won the W. Alfred Gray Competition.

Corie Lint, a cellist and Credo alumnus, won the Marilyn Walters Competition and won second place in tge State of Ohio composition contest.

Emiko Matsumaru, a fellow at Credo 2004, recently won a seat in the Boston Philharmonic. She is also currently finishing up her masters at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Allie Rehn, a student at Credo 2004, received first chair in the Pennsylvania Music Educators of America Honors Orchestra.

Alex Sykes, another student at Credo 2004, performed at the annual Oberlin Piano Concerto Competition.