Current Members of Opus II
Director: Megan Taylor Martz
First Violin: Irene Pehanich (Concertmistress), 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
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. The seating
auditions 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
things as friendships form into ‘one
big family.’”
Both Martz and McCamy stress
that Opus II is vital to the Pittsburgh
area. “There are excellent youth
orchestras in Pittsburgh and in
Greensburg, but travel time and
expenses required may be prohibitive
for some kids,” says McCamy.
Additionally, this affordable outlet,
though no replacement for a school
orchestra program, provides musical
opportunities to orchestra students
who may not have the chance to
performances. “We operate on a shoestring
take
music
as part of their school day, due to
budget with income from donations,
the
fact
that
many music programs have been
fundraisers and tuition,” says McCamy. “We’re
very fortunate that the directors have all been struggling to survive in Pittsburgh’s eastern
willing to work with these kids for a fraction of suburban school districts.
“Music provides people with a means of
what they are worth as teachers and musicians,
expression,”
says Martz. “There are pieces
and that the churches are generous enough to
of
music
that
evoke all-encompassing anger,
share their spaces for small donations.”
indulgent
humor,
utter grief, bitter sadness and
The group benefits its participants in many
the
complete
euphoria
of love. Music is truly
ways—the primary benefit going toward their
at
the
root
of
what
makes
us human. Opus II is
musicianship. Additionally,