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 leastexpensive 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
to rehearsals and performances, to be prepared
and in tune for rehearsal, and to be dressed in
concert attire for performances.
Opus II performs three scheduled concerts
each year, and makes occasional appearances at
various local fundraisers. The concerts are held
at Beulah Presbyterian Church in Churchill,
typically in the months of November, February
and May. During the year, the music selections
range from classical to film, Broadway musical
to ethnic folk music and even pops pieces. A
student favorite in recent years has been a piece
that incorporates the style of fiddling. “Playing
many different styles is a great opportunity for
the students to broaden their technique,” says
Opus II Board Member Ann McCamy.
Auditions for seating purposes within the
orchestra are held each fall. These determine
which players will play which parts, with the
most advanced players occupying the first seats,
just as they would in a professional orchestra or
band.
Opus II has no corporate or business sponsors.
Instead, at concerts, attendees are invited to make
a voluntary monetary donation to the group.
The patrons and staff of the Barnes & Noble in
Monroeville have been very welcoming to the
group and have sponsored fundraisers that offer
a percentage of the day’s sales in exchange for a
day of musical performances. “We operate on a
shoestring budget with income from donations,
fundraisers and tuition,” says McCamy. “We’re
very fortunate that the directors have all been
willing to work with these kids for a fraction of
what they are worth as teachers and musicians,
Current Members of Opus II
DIRECTOR:
Megan Taylor Martz
FIRST VIOLIN:
Irene Pehanich
Anthony Buchin
Gregory Perez
Sebastian Pratt
Matthew Alford
Gillian Mazurek
Lily Klepacz
Adam Andrekanic
Jillian Zachar
Darius Blasko
SECOND VIOLIN:
Melody Whitaker
Haley Arbore
Emily Olszewski
Kiera O’Neil
Abby Klepacz
Bonnie Weiss*
VIOLA:
Jacob Garwood
Catherine Balaban
Giovanni Palmieri
Nick Hines
Jessica Kendall*
Victoria Beck*
CELLO:
Colin McCamy
Katie Peterson
Nathan Wintersgill
Maura Gabauer
Jack Strobel
Abigail Casey
Madelynn Smith
Stephanie Kendall*
*Adult mentors
and co-learners
“Music provides people with a means of expression,”
says Martz. “There are pieces of music that evoke allencompassing anger, indulgent humor, utter grief, bitter
sadness and the complete euphoria of love. Music is
truly at the root of what makes us human.”
and that the churches are generous
enough to share their spaces for small
donati ۜ˸