Pedro
Funes
Submitted:
April 11, 2018
Awarded
: $
1500
Contact Information:
Pedro
Funes
5806 Melinda Ln
Pasadena
TX
77505
USA
8325633823
Reference 1:
Wendy Gillespie
Reference 2:
Molly Hammond
Summary of Submitted Materials:
Poster of Previous Concerts
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Sarah Mead
Apr 12 2018
I'm not sure if Stephanie has any regular role with the CLP [VdGSA’s “Consort Loan Programâ€], but she has done a great deal with and for them on certain occasions. When the High School kids [Pedro’s CLP Class] went to BEMF last year she was an equal partner with Pedro in putting together their travel and housing, and then served as a very involved chaperone and coach, and performed with the group. She has taken part in some of their classes and performances around Houston, and has included them in various early music events, having them serve as ushers at concerts or even - on a few occasions - having selected students perform a piece with Les Touches.
She was an active participant in last year's YPW, volunteering her time and skills (graphic arts, communication, organization) to the lead-up, ferrying people to and from the site, organizing and participating in after-hours playing, and even picking up a birthday cake for one of the participants!
I'm sorry to hear that she has let her membership lapse. That's poor form on her part. But I can understand how it might happen. What counts more in my opinion is her involvement with these programs.
Sarah
Update from Lisa Terry 4/15/18
Stephanie was a member in good standing through 2015, and recently renewed her membership to VdGSA. She attended Conclave 2016, working as a custos and providing both a joyful presence, completely helpful work ethic, and remarkable graphics skills. Stephanie decorated all the faculty mailboxes with personal cartoons, among other things.
Just so you know, upon further investigation, it has come to my attention that Leo Lima (another GiA applicant this round) also was a former member in good standing who let his membership lapse, but is currently paid in full.
I encourage you as a committee to consider that these young people are our future, they simply want to play the viol, and they are currently members in good standing and have been in the pass, so their lapse is really not an issue here.
Lisa T.
Another comment from Lisa:
Pedro Funes could be considered for this GiA on his own merits. In addition to running Les Touches, Pedro runs a consort loan program (in his school! it is a regular for-credit class at his high school), runs VdGSA's YPW (next one will be in 2019), and is now on the new Team Spork - taking over management of Conclave after Team SPoon retires in 2018.
Project Description:
We are putting together our next season of Les Touches in the Houston area and are requesting help with bringing in artists to help out in the 2018-19 Season. We have 3 concerts we are currently working on.
The Museum of Fine Arts of Houston is doing an exhibit called the Tudors to Windsor and we working on dates to perform at exhibit with viol consorts and chamber music. In February we will have a chamber music concert called Cosmopolitan Artifacts which will feature music with viols, violins, cello, bass, recorder and harpsichord. Our final concert will be in May in the Woodlands area (North Houston) which is still being programmed depending on funds.
In the past we have relied on donations from our patrons and time from musicians to put together our concerts. This will be our 6th season and want to bring in high quality musicians that have the equipment and knowledge to perform historically informed. We are planning to launch a fundraiser this fall to also help with the funding.
Most people in the area are not familiar with the viola da gamba and that repertoire. Our main objective is to bring this out more in the area with concerts and especially with the outreach at the high school.
Request Amount:
$
1500
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
Pedro Funes is currently the Assistant Orchestra Director at Oak Ridge High School in Conroe ISD and Director of the Aquila di Guerra (HS Viol Ensemble). He graduated from the University of Houston where he majored in Double Bass performance under Dennis Whittaker. In addition, he received his Master's Degree in Early Music at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where Mr. Funes studied viola gamba and vielle with Wendy Gillespie and performed baroque bass in the IU Baroque Orchestra under Stanley Ritchie. He was the Teaching Assistant for the Beginner Viols at Conclave 2016. Pedro has performed across the state of Texas with Ars Lyrica, Texas Early Music Project, Austin Troubadours, and Principal Bass with Austin Baroque Orchestra. Currently he is the President of Viols of Houston, President of Houston Early Music and Director of the Young Players Weekend for the Viola Da Gamba Society of America.
Stephanie Raby was first inspired by authentic historical performance as a girl living in England. During her undergrad at the University of North Texas she was presented with the unique opportunity to study the field and it was here that she learned about the viola da gamba. Her studies as a baroque violinist with Cynthia Roberts and as gambist with Patricia Nordstrom and Allen Whear had such an impact that she went on to complete a masters in early music at Indiana Univeristy Jacobs School of Music. Throughout her time there she was privileged to get to study with Stanley Ritchie (violin) and Wendy Gillespie (viol) among others. Currently Ms. Raby is an active violinst, violist, and gamba player performing with such groups as Mountainside Baroque, La Follia, Queen City Musicians, Austin Baroque Orchestra, Texas Early Music Project, Austin Troubadours, as well as a founding member of Les Touches.
Les Touches has been playing together since October 2011, where they formed at the Jacobs School Early Music Institute at Indiana University. The ensemble’s core repertoire is chamber music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque period ranging from viol consorts to trio sonatas. They have performed concerts across the USA working with groups such as Texas Early Music Project and The South Dakota Chorale and continue to actively pursue collaboration with other musicians. They competed as one of 10 finalists in the York Young Artist International Competition in 2015 and performed at Boston Early Music Festival in 2013 and 2017.
2014 marked the inaugural season of Les Touches in Texas and the start of a partnership with Viols of Houston with whom they have started outreach at Oak Ridge High School. The joy they have found playing music together has compelled Les Touches to strive to share their passion for the viola da gamba and make this fascinating consort repertoire and chamber music accessible to their community in central and south east Texas.
Letter of Reference 1:
Gillespie, Wendy
Apr 10 2018
Dear GIA committee,
It is a pleasure to recommend that Stephanie Raby and Pedro Funes, applying, I believe, as Les Touches, receive a grant of $1500 to help subsidize concerts for Les Touches. I believe they plan to use the money to bring in guest artists in 2018-19. They are doing wonderful things, programming music that will appeal to a diverse audience, continuing Pedro’s fine work in Houston. Les Touches bring a special gift to the VdGSA and help to spread the good news about our instrument and its music.
Please feel free to contact me if I need to write something more detailed to help Stephanie and Pedro.
Cheers-
Wendy
Letter of Reference 2:
Molly Hammond <mollyjanehammond@yahoo.com>
April 15, 2018
Dear Ms. Terry,
I am writing in support of the recent grant application from Les Touches. From the perspective of continuo player since their first season in Houston, I can readily attest to their commitment and musical growth as an early music ensemble. They have a steady following in both Houston and the Woodlands. They specialize in variety of programming and versatility of instrumentation. Incorporating guest artists from other cities in Texas and beyond has added to the quality and vitality of their music-making.
I highly recommend Les Touches for this assistance from the VDGSA.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Molly Hammond