Hard Work Instrumental to Musicians’ Early Success

When kids study music, they sometimes learn that self-discipline is as important for success as talent.

Just ask the seven young soloists who will perform with the New West Symphony orchestra Friday and Saturday. These Discovery Artists know that daily practice and dedication have placed them in the spotlight.

This year, three of the musicians are Ventura County residents.

Natalie Bonifede, 13, of Oak Park plays French horn. Keith Giacopuzzi, 16, of Camarillo, will be playing mandolin. Chris Stoutenborough, 16, is a clarinetist from Thousand Oaks.

The New West Symphony concerts featuring the Discovery Artists are considered the high point of a weeklong series of musical events designed for school-age children around the county.

The program, now in its fourth year and called Amgen Festival 2000, includes school outreach concerts, an introduction to musical instruments and classical music presentations.

“By the end of the week, over 10,000 students from Ventura County will have attended interactive concerts and musical programs,” said Marney Janss, chair of Discovery Artists at the New West Symphony. “The series is designed to give young people an opportunity to develop an interest in classical music.”

And for the seven lucky and accomplished young people, it means performing with a regional symphony composed of professional musicians.

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Two years ago, Chris Stoutenborough was a minor participant in one of the Discovery Artists concerts with the New West Symphony, and he sat next to principal clarinetist Gary Ginstling.

“Seeing what they could do--and the level they were at--I was very impressed and inspired,” Chris said.

Although his interest in music began at age 5 when he learned to play the flutophone in school, it was after the Discovery Artists concert that Chris decided to become a professional musician.

“That’s when I first set goals for music. I told my mom, I want to do this, and I need to know what to do to get there,” said Chris, a student at the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy. “Partly, what keeps me going is setting goals.”

Aside from the encouragement he receives from his parents and teachers, Chris has worked hard to develop self-discipline.

“I practice on the average of three hours each day. I have to make myself practice. But it’s fun. Then I do other fun things and have more fun doing them knowing that I’ve worked hard and practiced first,” said the clarinetist.

Chris’ accomplishments include performing with the Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl and the Symphony Orchestra at Idyllwild. This summer, he is scheduled to perform at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony’s music camp in Massachusetts, with the Young Artists Orchestra.

For Keith Giacopuzzi, studying mandolin during the last six years has taught him more than music.

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“When I first started playing mandolin, I walked around the house and practiced all day, and then I got very good at it, very fast. So it taught me that when you want to be good at something all you have to do is practice, and you can accomplish anything,” said Keith, who has won many awards for his solo performances with his family’s bluegrass band.

“It’s fun to be good at something and to see where your practice pays off. And it’s fun to make noises that sound good,” said Keith, an honor student at Adolfo Camarillo High School.

Charl Ann Gastineau, who has taught Keith to play mandolin, violin and guitar, said, “He is a very high achiever in everything he steps into. He works extremely hard and is a wonderful example to younger students.”

The youngest Discovery Artist, Natalie Bonifede, a student at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, said she practices her French horn “between 30 minutes to an hour each day.”

Her music instructor for the last year, David Hoover, said Natalie appears to be an unusual talent for her age.

“She is a delightful student, a teacher’s dream. She is completely prepared for any musical task she is assigned,” Hoover said.

Natalie was accepted in 1999 as principal horn for the Disney Young Musicians group and performed at Lincoln Center in New York. Currently, she plays with the CSUN Philharmonic Orchestra, which includes high school and college students.

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“It’s a surprise to everyone that she can play that well. And she’s not uppity. That’s why she gets along so well with her colleagues. There is none of that attitude associated with younger players who are better than older players,” Hoover said.

The other four musicians who make up the Discovery Artists are San Fernando Valley residents. Bronwyn Banerdt, 15, and Kristopher Khang, 17, are both cellists from Woodland Hills. Yevgeniy Milyavskiy, 15, of Tarzana, plays piano. And Jessica Rivera, 24, is a soprano from Woodland Hills.

FYI

The Discovery Artists will be performing with the New West Symphony on Friday at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, and on Saturday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Fred Kavli Theatre. For information, call 497-5800.