FULL
CIRCLE
SUCCESS
By Nicole Tafe
Monroeville and surrounding area string
players come together to make beautiful
music as part of local youth orchestra Opus II.
hen I was in fourth grade, I
was introduced to the string
instruments by my school
teacher Mr. Beswarick,” says
Megan Taylor Martz, current
director of the local youth
orchestra Opus II. “As soon as I heard the
warm and chocolaty sound of the cello...I was
hooked!”
Arguably one of Pittsburgh’s best-kept
secrets, Opus II was founded more than 50
years ago by Dr. Eugene Reichenfeld. At that
time the group was called the Reichenfeld
Sinfonietta. Most of the members were
Reichenfeld’s private students, and the mission
of the group was to provide group performance
opportunities to local young string musicians.
Since the group began, three other directors
have stepped up to the podium to continue
Reichenfeld’s legacy, including his former
student David Beswarick, a retired West
Allegheny music teacher who renamed the
group Opus II; Mairi Cooper, orchestra
director at Fox Chapel School District; and
most recently, Megan Taylor Martz, orchestra
director at Moon Area School District,
former Opus II cellist and former student of
Reichenfeld, Beswarick and Cooper.
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“I was part of Opus II for four years
and loved every minute!” says Martz. “Dr.
Reichenfeld wrote and/or arranged many of
the pieces the group performed, including one
of my favorites—Czardas, a gypsy tune that he
learned as a boy from the gypsies who traveled
along the railroad tracks in Braddock.”
Martz recalls Reichenfeld’s unwavering
dedication to the betterment of his students.
As a sixth grade student, Martz was
rapidly advancing in her cello studies and
continuously delving deeper into her love for
music. “Dr. Reichenfeld knew my parents did
not have the money to purchase a cello, but
understood that the school-owned instruments
were holding me back,” recalls Martz. “In his
spare time, between students and running the
Sinfonietta, he built me my very own cello.”
That cello rarely left Martz’s hands throughout
middle and high school and even helped her
achieve a place in the PA All-State Orchestra
as a junior in high school. She has since
purchased a new instrument, but will always
keep her Reichenfeld cello as a reminder of
where it all started.
“It’s truly an honor to return to Opus
II as director, and I feel as though I have
returned home,” says Martz. “With my direct
connection to Dr. Reichenfeld and past
directors Beswarick and Cooper—I only hope
to make each of them proud.”
Opus II aims to provide an enjoyable,
high-quality musical ensemble experience
for students and participating adults. The
group also acts as a support for local school
districts and their string programs by providing
supplemental education and performance
opportunities outside of the music classroom.
“Sadly, music programs are some of the first
casualties when district budgets become tight,”
says Martz. “Opus II is an outlet for students
and adults alike to continue their music
education.”
The orchestra welcomes any intermediate
and advanced string musicians who can read
music. Though primarily a youth orchestra
comprised of high school and middle school
age students, there are four adults currently
participating and more adult learners are
certainly welcome. Yearly tuition is $95 per
year, making Opus II the least expensive
youth orchestra in the area. Rehearsals are
held Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. during the
school year at the Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church on Old William Penn Highway in
Monroeville. Members are expected to commit