RPYO's first concert of the season with new Music Director James Mick

For many budding young musicians, there is a moment when a piece of music becomes a catalyst for something greater.

RPYO Music Director James Mick, Ph.D.

For James Mick, Ph.D., that piece of music was Tchaikovsky’s fourth symphony. Though he played violin and piano as a child, the Kansas native was ready to quit music altogether in middle school when his teacher encouraged him to join the school orchestra on double bass. Not only did he fall in love with the instrument, but it was a performance of Tchaik. 4 in the Wichita Youth Symphony that solidified Mick’s desire for a career in music. And that’s why Mick, recently appointed music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, chose this piece as the cornerstone for the first RPYO concert under his leadership on Sunday, November 22 at Hochstein Performance Hall.

“There are just certain pieces that I believe student musicians should be able to play by the time they graduate high school,” said Mick. “Because of the monumental aspect Tchaikovsky 4 had in my life, I knew that was the piece I wanted to start the year off.”

Mick is no stranger to teaching and inspiring young musicians. Last spring, he served as guest conductor of the RPYO’s season finale concert. He is on faculty at Ithaca College School of Music and holds degrees in music education from Texas Christian University, Ithaca College, and Florida State University. He also continues to play double bass, periodically performing with ensembles such as Symphoria (Syracuse), Binghamton Philharmonic, and the Orchestra of the Southern Fingerlakes.

“As a music educator, my biggest goal is to keep students involved in music for the rest of their lives—whether they go on to professional careers as musicians, play in community groups, or become season ticket holders to their local symphony,” said Mick. “I look forward to programming a broad range of repertoire, from baroque to 20th century composers, to continue to reach as many students as possible.”

“James Mick is everything we were looking for in a music director,” said David Lane, board chair of the RPYO and the RPO’s Education Committee. RPYO Manager Susan Basu echoed his sentiments. “Under his inspirational leadership, the RPYO will continue to provide young musicians with excellent, educationally rich, and personally rewarding musical experiences.” Mick follows former music director David Harman, who retired in 2014 after 21 years of service. Harman continues to serve as a mentor to Mick.

This year’s RPYO is comprised of nearly 100 middle and high school students from surrounding schools; students are admitted to the orchestra through an audition process each fall. Founded in 1970, many RPYO alumni—including current RPO Music Director Ward Stare—have gone on to successful careers as performers and music educators. RPYO musicians also benefit from proximity to the RPO; many of the students take privates lessons with musicians and the RPYO performs in an annual “side-by-side” concert with the RPO in Kodak Hall. Additionally, every RPYO concert features young musicians as soloists.

“The caliber of this orchestra is just incredible,” said Mick. “They are fantastic musicians but also excellent kids. I never dreamed that I would get to work with a group like this so early in my career.”

If you go:
RPYO presents “Musical Genius: Mozart to Tchaikovsky”
Sun, November 22 at 7:30 PM
Performance Hall at Hochstein
$: $10, available at rpo.org or by calling 585-454-2100. Tickets also available at the door.
The RPYO's 2015-16 season