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.
“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
“W
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 very 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 schoolaged 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
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
continued on next page
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
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