Bottom row, Left to right: Alicia Warren, Erich Donnelly, Leila Gonzalez, Rene Dorelus, Lainey Mullikin
LA PLATA, Md. – The nine graduating seniors of the Charles County Youth Orchestra: Aubrey Carignan, Erich Donnelly, Rene Dorelus, Leila Gonzalez, Tobi Martinez, Pri Martinez, Lainey Mullikin, Mariele Salinas, and Alicia Warren were honored at the CCYO concert on Sunday, May 18.
Aubrey Carignan, French hornist, will be attending Slippery Rock University with a major in Music Therapy and a minor in Special Education. She will be in the marching band at Slippery Rock.
Erich Donnelly, trombonist, will attend at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the Integrated Performing Arts program. He plans on playing with the jazz band at St. Mary’s. He says that “My time with CCYO has been useful in giving me the experience of playing in an orchestral setting, as most of my experience is from a concert band / jazz background.” CCYO would like to thank Erich for being CCYO’s recording engineer for our concerts!
Rene Dorelus, bassist, will attend Albright College to major in psychology with a concentration in business. He will continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level, and he hopes to join the orchestra.
Leila Gonzalez, oboist, will attend the University of Maryland, College Park where she will be majoring in Biology and minoring in Oboe Performance. She hopes to join many ensembles at UMD such as their Pit Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Leila remarked that she “really learned a lot during my time with CCYO, and I’m incredibly grateful for the wide range of musical genres I was exposed to. From classical symphonies to contemporary pieces, each rehearsal and performance helped me grow not only as a musician but also as a listener. The experience broadened my appreciation for diverse musical styles and strengthened my ability to adapt to different ensembles and interpretations. I developed skills I wouldn’t have learned in a traditional school setting, such as blending with string instruments, navigating more exposed solos, and understanding the unique dynamics of a full orchestra.”
Pri Martinez, violinist, was accepted into the College of Southern Maryland Pharmacy Technician program as a dual enrollment student and she will continue her studies at CSM where she will graduate next year.
Tobi Martinez, violist, will attend Towson University as an Accounting major. He is not only graduating from high school but also from the College of Southern Maryland with an Associate degree in Business Management. He plans to continue playing the viola at Towson.
Lainey Mullikin, clarinetist, will attend Susquehanna University where she plans to double major in history and legal studies with a minor in business administration. She hopes to join Susquehanna’s Concert Band and Pep Band.
Mariele Salinas, violinist, will attend the College of Southern Maryland and then join the Air Force National Guard.
Mariele says her time “with CCYO has been very special, from all the years I spent, growing from Prelude Strings to Encore Strings, then eventually to CCYO. I’m so grateful for the experience I’ve gained, and the memories as well. I was able to push myself to limits I never thought I’d reach. I will cherish my spot in this orchestra forever.”
Alicia Warren, violinist, will attend the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY in the fall as a graphic design major. Alicia remarks that “I have genuinely enjoyed my time in CCYO. In the beginning it all felt very ambitious and intimidating and it still is in some aspects, but that standard made me a better player. Simply being surrounded by these other instrumentalists no matter how young they may be, motivated me! “
Dr. Osman Kivrak, Director of CCYO, commented “I am excited to see that the success of our graduating seniors demonstrates the importance of practicing, hard work, and good study habits. Dr Kivrak added “I am enormously proud of all of them and wish them a successful and exciting journey in the next part of their educational lives. We will miss them!”
Auditions for next season will be held September 13 from 9 to 3 at Christ Church, La Plata. All levels and instruments, except piano, are warmly encouraged to audition! Information can be found here: https://www.charlescountyyouthorchestra.org/auditions
Upcoming concerts include:
- June 14: ArtsFest at Indian Head Village Green
- June 21: Annual Concerto Competition Concert at Christ Church, La Plata
- June 28: Independence Day/Alumni Reunion Concert at Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek
- July 19, 20, 26, and 27: CCYO Chamber Music Festival concerts at 8:00 pm at Christ Church, La Plata
All concerts are free and open to the public.
CCYO consists of four ensembles: Prelude Strings for beginning string players, Encore Strings and Encore Band for intermediate musicians, and The Charles County Youth Orchestra for advanced musicians. CCYO serves students from Prince Georges, St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Anne Arundel counties, as well as Charles County. Recently, CCYO has been featured in an online film by the Charles County Arts Alliance and on WTOP radio. Furthermore, two CCYO String Quartets were finalists in the Washington Performing Arts Society Misbin Chamber Music Competition in Washington, D.C.
The Charles County Youth Orchestra is supported by grants from the Charles County Charitable Trust, the Charles County Arts Alliance, and the Maryland State Arts Council, as well as donations from generous individuals.
