An intern has joined forces with the Glendale Symphony Orchestra
Assn's executive director to help promote and raise funds for future
concerts.
Shin-huei Du will concentrate on marketing and audience
development under the guidance of Diane Hedrick in the orchestra
association's Glendale office.
Originally from Taitung, Taiwan, Du came to the United States for
graduate study in 2001. After she received her master's degree in
music education in 2003 from USC, she started doctoral study in music
administration at Texas Tech University. She will receive her
doctorate degree in fine arts once she completes the internship with
the orchestra and her dissertation next year.
"She will be improving the website and developing an e newsletter
for the Internet with the purpose of trying to reach out to a new age
group and audience," Hedrick said. "The Internet is a new way to
reach a younger middle age group. It will be just a new marketing
level she is going to be working on."
Du will also be coordinating performances surrounding the
symphony's George Washington Quartet, a group of classical music
instruments that were given as a gift to the symphony association in
1968.
The instruments -- two violins, a viola and cello -- were made
over a period of 10 years by Italian-born violinmaker Michael Gozzo
in the 1930s. Each features the carved head of George Washington in
place of the usual scroll and the icons of the spread eagle, Statue
of Liberty, White House and the faces of five presidents on the back.
Gozzo dedicated the instruments to the symphony before his death
in 1968 because he believed they would be well preserved and
available for use by young and mature artists, Hedrick said.
The instruments were made in Hartford, Conn., said symphony
association board member Tom Metzler. Gozzo came to Glendale in the
1950s and continued to make violins here until the 1960s.
"They are beautiful pieces of art and have a nice tone," said
Metzler, the owner of Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale.
Metzler appraised the instruments and continues to maintain them
as a free service to the orchestra.
"Hopefully some new fresh faces will come out to view these
instruments and thereby become more interested in the orchestra," he
said.
Du will base her dissertation on her duties promoting the symphony
and on the historical significance of the musical instruments to the
symphony, Hedrick said.
It is hoped that a new audience will be inspired by showcasing
these instruments at future concerts, she said.
"It will be good for the symphony because there is a historical
tie-in and any time that people can learn about our history, there is
more interest for developing our audience," Hedrick said.
The George Washington Quartet will be featured during a
President's Day concert and open house on Feb. 12 at Forest Lawn,
Hollywood Hills.
"We will have them on display at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills for
a year," Hedrick said. "But the Glendale Symphony Orchestra will play
them from time to time in separate venues."
Du said she is inspired by the opportunity to promote the symphony
and she appreciates the time she will spend working alongside
Hedrick.
"I hope my work will be a benefit to the symphony," Du said. "I
would like to learn as much as I can. I believe Diane will be very
helpful."
Du will also be working on securing grants to fund concerts in
other venues, such as parks and libraries, and educational programs
featuring talks on composers, violin makers and musicians, Hedrick
said.
