Conductors

Sunnifa is a graduate of Saint Olaf College where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She also has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a Master of Arts degree in Landscape Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design in Conway, Massachusetts. Sunnifa is currently the orchestra teacher at Tanana Middle School and Nordale and Joy Elementary School. She is a violinist with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, a certified Suzuki method teacher and a private teacher in violin and viola. She previously conducted the Preparatory Group, now known as the String Orchestra in the spring of 1997 and joins us for her third year as the Fairbanks String orchestra conductor for the 2007-2008-concert year.

The Fairbanks Youth String Orchestra

The Fairbanks Youth String Orchestra is an entry level group for beginning level string players with some sight reading ability. The emphasis of the group is to develop ensemble playing skills, increase sight reading skills, and develop a cooperative spirit where every player realizes their importance to the whole. Seating is based on music reading ability, physical comfort (player's size), and balance of sound. Emphasis in seating is placed on cooperation and offering a range of experience. Two balanced violin sections are striven for with both sections being given some "first" violin and some "second" violin parts. Seating is at the discretion of the conductor.

Rehearsals are held on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 11:30 am with a snack break midway through the rehearsal. (The conductor asks that all players arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for tuning.)

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James Thaxter, Jr. is originally from Townsend, Massachusetts. He received a music performance degree from the Eastman School of Music in 1981, and studied chamber music at Boston University with the Empire Brass Quintet from 1982-83. He enlisted in the Army as a trumpet player in 1984 and he is currently the first sergeant and enlisted bandleader of the 9th Army Band at Ft. Wainwright. Jim has performed with the Fairbanks Symphony and Artic Chamber Orchestras since 2004, and also performed with the Fairbanks Light Opera Theatre and the Anchorage Blaskapplelle. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, and plans to retire in the Fairbanks Area. Jim will begin his second year as the Conductor of the Fairbanks Concert Orchestra in the 2007-2008-concert year.

The Fairbanks Youth Concert Orchestra

The Fairbanks Youth Concert Orchestra provides a full orchestra experience for intermediate level string, wind, brass, and percussion players. The goals of this orchestra include an entry level experience of orchestral playing, enhanced ensemble skills with an emphasis on cooperation, increased ease of sight-reading and rhythmic skills, and engendering a sense of pride in the group as a whole. Sectionals are usually held for the first hour of the rehearsal with the second hour devoted to a full orchestral rehearsal. Seating in this orchestra is at the discretion of the conductor. The conductor can change the seating arrangement at any time. The attempt with seating is to achieve a full and balanced sound for the orchestra.

Rehearsals are held on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to 11:45 am with a snack break midway through the rehearsal. (The conductor asks that all players arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so that rehearsal can start on time.)

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George Rydlinski is originally from Chicago, Illinois. He completed undergraduate studies in music performance at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in 1980. He enlisted in the Army as a bassoonist in 1983 and her retired as the first sergeant and enlisted bandleader of the 9th Army Band at Ft. Wainwright in 2004. He currently works for the Fairbanks Symphony Association as the marketing director. George has performed as principal bassoonist with the Fairbanks Symphony and Arctic Chamber Orchestras since the fall of 1996. He is also an adjunct lecturer at UAF in the Music Department. He is a founding member of the Chinook Winds, the faculty woodwind quintet. Recently he was the music director and conductor for the 2006 FLOT production of Gilbert & Sullivan's the Gondoliers. He often adjudicates young musicians for the Annual All-State Band and Orchestra Festival and also for the local solo and ensemble competitions. George has long been active with the Fairbanks Youth Orchestras as a coach, player and rehearsal conductor when needed. He will begin his second year as the Conductor the Fairbanks Youth Symphony in the 2007-2008 concert year.

The Fairbanks Youth Symphony

The Fairbanks Youth Symphony provides a full symphonic experience for all advanced level string, wind, brass, and percussion players. The Youth Symphony plays fully scored orchestral works. The emphasis of this group is to expose members to the richness of the orchestral literature and to continue to enhance their playing and musical skills. Again the emphasis is on cooperation and teamwork with a high expectation of commitment from the members. Seating is determined by the conductor through the audition process in the Fall. Members joining midseason will be auditioned but may be seated in the back of the section. Seating is based solely on the judgment of the conductor and decisions are final.

Rehearsals are held on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to noon with a snack break midway through the rehearsal. (The conductor asks that all players arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so that rehearsal can start on time.)