2007 Young Artists

Beatrice Hsieh

Michael Casimir

Beatrice Hsieh is an 11-year-old 5th grader at Montgomery Elementary in North Wales, PA. Beatrice started playing the piano at age 5 and the violin at age 6. Previously a piano student of Rieko Aizawa, winner of the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition, Beatrice currently studies piano with David Brown. She has studied the violin with Julian Meyer; Choong Jin Chang, Principal Violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Carrie Dennis, Principal Violist of the Berlin Philharmonic; and is currently studying with Sylvia Ahramjian.  She has performed on both piano and violin in a myriad of retirement homes, churches and master classes. As violinist, Beatrice is the first place winner of the North Penn Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition in 2006 and the Warminster Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition in 2007. As pianist, Beatrice won first place in the age 9~12 division of the 2007 West Chester Annual Piano Competition. She also was a scholarship recipient at Temple Music Prep from 2002-2004. Currently, She is a scholarship award recipient for the piano at the Darlington Fine Arts Center. Beatrice is also very active in school. The anchor for “Star News”, her school’s TV news show, she is also a participating student in the Reading Olympics. Last year, Beatrice was a representative in her school’s Student Council.

Michael Casimir began playing the violin at the age of two and a half years old with his father, Magloire, and his uncle, Richard. Since 1999 Michael has been a student of Lee Snyder at the Settlement Music School. Michael’s musical achievements include performances as winner of the Ambler Symphony Orchestra’s Student Competition, the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition, and he is the local, state and regional winner of the Psi Phi Omega 2007 Talent Search Competition. Michael has performed as a soloist with members of the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras at the 2005 Haitian Benefit Concert, as well as three solo engagements with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, and has been a featured soloist at concerts in Cape Town, Soweto and Johannesburg, South Africa; Rio De Janeiro and the Manaus Opera House in Brazil; and Tokyo, Hiroshima & Nagasaki in Japan. Michael is currently in the 11th grade at the William Penn Charter School, where he enjoys participating in the string ensemble, band, jazz band, and choir, as well as the soccer and baseball teams. He is a founding member of the Keystone State Boychoir, with which he has performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

WSO In the News

Recently Featured in the Bucks County Courier Times:

Orchestra marks
40th anniversary

By FREDA R. SAVANA
Bucks County Courier Times
March 10, 2007

WARMINSTER - What began as an impromptu musical group 40 years ago has blossomed into an acclaimed local orchestra that draws on the area's finest musicians.

The Warminster Symphony Orchestra, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is performing tonight at William Tennent High School under the direction of Joseph Lovecchio. Several musicians who once played with the orchestra will return to play some of the group's former works.

Recently Features in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Warminster's 'best-kept secret'

By Kristin E. Holmes
Inquirer Staff Writer

On Sunday nights, the township meeting room where residents complain about tax increases, potholes and storm drainage becomes a rehearsal hall for a symphony.

Musicians warm up, and the airy billow of a flute clashes with the hollow resonance of an oboe. Soon a cacophony of random sounds becomes part of a musical whole.

Sunday nights have been this way for musicians with the Warminster Symphony Orchestra for decades, and Saturday the group - which once rehearsed in an airplane hangar - will celebrate 40 years in existence.

"They're Warminster's best-kept secret," said State Rep. Bernard O'Neill, who was born and raised in Warminster. "In some ways, that's good, because its Warminster's own, but on the other hand, not enough people out there are hearing the beauty and joy of their music."  more...

The Warminster Symphony Society would like to thank everyone who attended the 40th Anniversary Concerts and we'd like to share with you:  The results of the 1966 Trivia Quiz

Back to top

The Warminster Symphony Society is continuing its long-established tradition of creating an opportunity for aspiring young musicians to perform a solo with the Warminster Symphony Society at one of its scheduled concerts. The orchestra was founded in 1966. It has provided quality music to the area for over 40 years. It presently consists of more than 60 dedicated musicians. The Warminster Symphony Society is under the baton of Music Director/Conductor Joseph Lovecchio. Maestro Lovecchio has been conductor of this fine orchestra since 1995. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Conducting. He has been honored six times by Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and also by Marquis’ Who’s Who in the Arts for his contributions to the Arts. ELIGIBILITY. The Warminster Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition is currently in its 23rd year of spotlighting talented youth performers. This competition is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists who will be no more than 18 years of age on April 1, 2008 and currently reside in Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester or Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania or Burlington, Camden, Gloucester or Mercer Counties in New Jersey.   Only complete applications will be considered. A complete application package consists of: 1.  A completed application: Youth Artist Competition Application (PDF) 2.  One letter of recommendation (from teachers, conductors, etc.) 3.  Proof of age (photocopy of a birth certificate or passport) 4.  Proof of residency 5.  An artist biography / résumé 6.  A non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in the amount of $20.00 must accompany the application. Deadline for submission is March 17, 2008. Audition times will be mailed out on March 25, 2008 LOCATION: Auditions will be held at: Bucks County Community College, Rt. 413, Newtown, PA SPECIAL TIME REQUESTS:  must be made when submitting application. Please clearly attach a note to the application. While we cannot guarantee your request will be honored, we will attempt to accommodate you. Questions should be directed to: yac@warmsymphony.org THE AUDITION:  Qualifications and Guidelines Auditions are given to woodwind, brass, string, percussion, piano and vocal performers. Auditions are open to students up to and including age eighteen at the time of the audition. Youth Division applicants must be capable of performing one complete movement of a concerto by a major composer or an approved equivalent work. Children’s Division. Applicants must audition on a solo work which has an available orchestral accompaniment. The audition piece should be three (3) to ten (10) minutes in length. The audition piece must be the same piece expected to be performed at the concert. Accompanists are not required for the audition, but are permissible if the applicant desires to bring his/her own accompanist. Please list name and phone number of the accompanist on the application Applicants must complete and return the attached form before March 17, 2008 to Kathy Pincus (address on the application).  Auditions will take place Saturday, APRIL 5, 2008. All applicants will be notified of their audition time. PRIZES:  The first place winner of each age category will receive a monetary prize and must be available to rehearse and to perform with the WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA during a regularly scheduled concert in the 2008-2009 season at the discretion of the Music Director. The prizes are: Youth Division (ages 13-18) First Prize – $350.00 *; Children’s Division (ages 12 and under) First Prize – $200.00 Bond * * ALL PRIZES INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DURING THE 2008-2009 SEASON JUDGES: Judges for the audition will be distinguished artists in the orchestra and solo field. If a contestant has studied with, or has personal ties to a judge, the judge will be requested to disqualify himself or herself for that contestant. In such a case, the scores of the other judges will be averaged to provide the additional score. The decision of the judges is final.

Back to top

Back to top

The Warminster Symphony Orchestra, a 65-piece community based ensemble of talented and dedicated amateurs and professionals, is sponsored by the Warminster Symphony Society. The Society is an incorporated, non-profit, cultural organization that is supported entirely by its membership, private donations, grants and business and industry sponsorships. 

You are invited to become a supporting Member of the Warminster Symphony Society. Members enjoy all concerts at a fraction of the cost of tickets purchased at the door and receive an advanced personal invitation to the January Pops Event. (Bring your friends and join us at this ever-popular annual fundraising event which includes dinner, concert, door prizes, and more).

Back to top

Centennial School District
   Home of William Tennent High School, 333 Centennial Road, Warminster, PA 18974    (215)-441-6181

Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
   401 Gibson Ave., Warminster, PA 18974   (215) 443-5414

WRTI, Temple University Public Radio
   1509 Cecil B. Moore Ave, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19121-3410  (215) 204-8405

Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
   252 Hollow Branch Lane, Yardley, PA 19067  

Back to top