The Sussex County Youth Orchestras
updated June, 2001

        The Sussex County Youth Orchestra first performed on June 14, 1987 in Newton, New Jersey.  The orchestra has performed over 35 free concerts and has grown to 75 members ranging in age from twelve to twenty-five.  These musicians, who come from Sussex, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties as well as nearby Pennsylvania and New York, represent 52 schools and are taught by over 45 private teachers.

        Dawn Tedesco, director and founder of the SCYO, began the orchestra in an effort to provide young musicians with a platform to perform orchestral music that was not available in most local school districts. The orchestra has not only enriched the lives of its many musicians, but has been integral in launching successful careers in music and music education.

        The Preparatory String Orchestra, an extension of the SCYO family, began six years ago as a vehicle to launch fresh talent at the primary and intermediate level into a productive junior orchestra.  These children, who range in age from eight to thirteen, gain valuable experiences and with seasoning and achievement, can proceed to the Youth Orchestra.

        We are pleased that the Sussex County Youth Orchestra has been well represented in Sussex County, North Jersey Area, Region One, and New Jersey All-State Band and Orchestra programs.  Our members have also performed with the New Jersey Youth Symphony, and the Manhattan School of Music, Preparatory Division.  An alumnus of The Sussex County Youth Orchestra is currently performing as Assistant Principal Trombone with The New York Philarmonic Orchestra.

        This year's spring concert marked the fourth performance of our "Little Fingers Orchestra - "The Rocking Strings" which gives our youngest string players who are just beginning to read music a chance to play in harmony and play independently in a small group setting. Members range in age from 5 years to 11 years old.

        Our goals are set high and the performance level of the orchestra continues to rise as we bring orchestral music to the community through our concerts. Grants from the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council through the N.J. State Council on the Arts, the Sussex County Music Foundation and the Pfizer Corporation along with fund-raisers, have enabled the orchestras to provide programs to educate and enhance the musical and cultural experiences of our members.

        The SCYO participated in the New Jersey Youth Orchestra Workshop sponsored by NJPAC with six other specially selected youth orchestras from all over the state. Performing on that beautiful, acoustically wonderful stage was a thrill for us all. We were critiqued by three professional judges whose comments about our performance included such descriptions as: "impressive", "exciting", "full string sound" and "excellent brass."

        Our holiday concert held at LVRHS showcased three very talented members of our orchestra: Sarah Silverman performing Beethoven's "Romance for Violin and Orchestra,: Mark Goldin and Alan Tedesco playing piccolo trumpets on vivaldi's "Concert for Two Trumpets and Brass Choir." Ryan ter Meulen, a high school senior, was the highlight of our ensemble concert performing on the cello Torelli's "Sinphonia Con Tromba." This spring concert features John Totten, a high school senior, on tuba, Christie Spriggs, a junior in college, and Alan Tedesco, graduate school, both on trumpet, all performing a solo or duet with the youth orchestra.

        In early spring, a unique experience was had by all who participated in the Electric Stringed Instrument Workshop featuring renowned recording artist, Martha Mooke, who shared her talents on electric viola with everyone. She recently performed with David Bowie and the Dave Matthews Band at Carnegie Hall. This workshop was sponsored in part by the Yamaha Corporation and the Music Den of Landing, N.J.

        As members of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, ensembles from the SCYO performed at a benefit dinner at the Lake Mohawk Country Club and recently at an exhibition entitled "Taste of the Chambers" under the tent at the Wyndham Hotel in the International Trade Zone.

        A Sunday afternoon ensemble concert in April benefited the SCYO scholarship fund and the Andover United Methodist Church where we have been rehearsing for almost 15 years. This year three senior members of the orchestra who will be majoring in music after graduation will receive scholarships totaling $700.00.

    The SCYO performed with St. Bede's Orchestra and Choir at Carnegie Hallin 1999. This summer we have been invited to Sussex, England to complete the exchange program. We will combine orchestras to perform Tchaikowsky's "1812 Overture" complete with mortar fire and fireworkds. The SCYO, traveling as N.J.'s Ambassadors of Music, will perform by the Sea in Eastbourne, England, see a musical in London, and perform in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France. BON VOYAGE!!

Dawn Tedesco, Music Director and Conductor
     Dawn Tedesco has long been associated with strings, children, and Sussex County. After graduating with a music degree from The College of New Jersey (Trenton State College), where she majored in Violin and Music Education, Mrs. Tedesco taught vocal and string music in the Caldwell/West Caldwell Public School system.  After obtaining additional certification in Early Childhood Education, she set up and operated two very successful preschools in Forest Lakes and Andover.  In 1987, she organized the Sussex County Youth Orchestra as an outlet for her many students, as well as students from other schools which did not provide significant orchestral programs.  This has now grown to include musicians from virtually every elementary school, middle school and high school in Sussex County as well as many from surrounding areas. As the S.C.Y.O. Music Director, Mrs. Tedesco has certainly fulfilled her desire to combine her love of music and children.

John Sepe, Conductor
        John Sepe received a B.A. in Music Education and an M.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Montclair State College.  Drawing upon a wide variety of musical (he is an accomplished performer as well as teacher) and educational experience, Mr. Sepe has been teaching in the public schools since 1967.  Mr. Sepe conducted the North Jersey Junior High School Area Band. John is continuously active as a trumpeter in North Jersey musical theater and has performed for such shows as West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Will Rogers' Follies, Les Cage Aux Folle,  Grease, Evita, South Pacific, The King & I and Gypsy, to name a few.  Mr. Sepe resides in Paulinskill Lake with his wife, Angela, and their two daughters.

Gerald Tedesco, Conductor
        Gerald Tedesco holds a Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance from the Juilliard School of Music.  As an educator, he has been teaching instrumental music for 31 years on the high school level.  During that time, he has conducted the All North Jersey Area Band, Region 1 Symphonic Band, and the All State Jazz Ensemble.  He recently retired from teaching to pursue his performance career.  Mr. Tedesco has been active in the tri-state area as a freelance musician for the last 25 years performing for Tony Bennett, Warren Covington, Ringling Brothers Circus, Ice Capades and the New Glenn Miller Band, to name a few.  He is currently a member of the Norwalk Symphony, New Jersey Jazz Repertory Ensemble and the New Jersey Pops Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band and Concert Band, where he also serves as an associate conductor.  Mr. Tedesco toured China in 1997 on a State
Department tour as cornet soloist with the Pittsburgh based Allegheny Brass Band.