Lviv oboist performs with renowned New World Symphony (12/14/97)

Lviv oboist performs with renowned New World Symphony

by Oksana Piaseckyj

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Since Ukraine became free it should not be surprising to find more of its talented young people leaving their homeland and seeking recognition in other countries. Yet, it is always a special joy to discover another promising Ukrainian applauded by a larger community.

I recently met Ihor Leschishin, a 28-year-old oboist from Lviv who performs with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and learned that acceptance into this unique and well-known orchestra is extremely difficult. With only 30 to 40 members, the odds are extremely high against being recruited, even if one is exceptionally talented.

The symphony is not just your usual performing orchestra. It is a very special institution, otherwise known as "America's Orchestral Academy." Almost 10 years ago the New World Symphony was established by the world-renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas as an innovative experience for exceptional young musicians who had finished their musical training in the best music schools in the U.S., but still needed some preparation before trying out for professional orchestral positions. The New World Symphony would provide an unusual type of graduate program.

As a boy playing the accordion at the age of 8 in Lviv, Mr. Leschishin couldn't imagine that 18 years later he would be an oboist with the New World Symphony. To be accepted by this organization requires a special combination of exceptional talent, a winning personality and remarkable perseverance. With so many good musicians competing, it may take more than several auditions to become considered for one of the coveted places in the orchestra. Up to 1,000 musicians vie for those 30 to 40 seats. Each "fellow," as they are called, receives a three-year fellowship, but may opt for a fourth year.

Not only do the fortunate members have to be top-notch musicians, they also must demonstrate the natural ability to communicate on a non-musical level as ambassadors of their instrument.

Communicating for Mr. Leschishin is very natural. His charming, disarming manner and radiant smile easily draws parishioners to his side at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Miami, where he attends services on a regular basis. "It was my grandmother who nurtured my spirituality, and I am very indebted to her," he explained. As he converses with others, Mr. Leschishin invariably speaks of his experiences with the New World Symphony and his upcoming concerts, and enthusiastically invites his listeners to attend. He also points out that he is not the only Ukrainian in the orchestra. Taras Krysa, a violinist, is also a member.

From accordion to oboe

How did Mr. Leschishin find himself "on the beach" in this tropical haven, so far away from his hometown of Lviv?

His love for music as a child must have set his destiny. Mr. Leschishin remembers that he always wanted to be a musician, but his decision to to become an oboist was really due to a special set of circumstances. His parents gave him lessons on the popular accordion with the best teacher around, Rodion Palamar. However, he couldn't get excited about practicing on his accordion, so his concerned parents gave him an ultimatum, either practice more or switch to another instrument.

As luck would have it, Mr. Palamar's son, also named Ihor, was an oboist and was just establishing his own school. He needed students so that the government would license him as a pedagogue. The elder Palamar, noting his student's lack of enthusiasm for the accordion, gently convinced Mr. Leschishin to try playing the oboe. As soon as he heard the first sound coming out of the oboe, he was charmed, and from then on never had to be coaxed to practice. The oboe seemed to fit him. The depth of the sound was wonderful, he recalled. Mr. Leschishin said he believes that "the most beautiful solos from the best symphonies are for oboe."

Studying under Ihor Palamar, Mr. Leschishin prepared for the Liudkevych Music College in Lviv. There he studied under Myron Zakonets for four years. Completing his studies at 19, Mr. Leschishin went to Belarus to study at the Miensk Conservatory under Boris Nichkov, principal oboist of the Miensk Philharmonic. During this period Mr. Leschishin played with the American Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Completing his five-year program, Mr. Leschishin was accepted to the graduate program at the Manhattan School of Music and awarded a scholarship. Joe Robinson, principal oboist with the New York Philharmonic, took him under his wing, coaching him and guiding him to his next opportunity. Mr. Robinson told Mr. Leschishin that he should have the experience and polish provided by the New World Symphony, and suggested that he audition.

The recruiter for the New World Symphony is Fergus Scarfe. He is Mr. Thomas's discerning third ear, scheduling auditions several times a year at the best music schools in the country, or sometimes in other settings, such as the Tanglewood Summer Music Festival, where Mr. Leschishin played in 1995. Mr. Leschishin auditioned for Mr. Scarfe and received a favorable recommendation. He then played again in early 1996, competing with 70 other oboists. He was chosen to begin his three-year program with the New World Symphony in the fall of 1996. Mr. Leschishin's acceptance was a major accomplishment since there are only three oboists with the program at this time.

Musicianship plus leadership

The program at the New World Symphony concentrates on perfecting the musicianship of these exceptional players and simultaneously developing their individual leadership. Students are encouraged to organize their own concerts, give free lessons to children in the public schools through the outreach program as musical mentors, and to break barriers between the listener and the performer with the Musical Exchange Concert during which performers talk about the piece they will play. The musicians benefit greatly from Jane Bookspan, a drama coach at the Jiulliard School, who provides training workshops during the year.

Symphony members also learn that they are crucial in affecting the success or failure of future audiences. The "Shmooze Squad" fellows, of which Mr. Leschishin is a member, are recruited for important missions. Identified by name tags indicating the countries of their origin, they mingle before the concert and during intermission, talking with the audience about the program, answering any questions asked. Using this familiar approach, the musicians break down barriers and encourage participation while developing their own public relations skills.

The New World Symphony gives its musicians other experiences. They are exposed to different conductors, in addition to Mr. Thomas. This year their resident conductor is David Loebel, the associate conductor of the St. Louis Symphony. In their recent Baroque program, Harry Bicket came from England to direct a three-day festival of performances. Mr. Bicket, a renowned harpsichordist and organist for the Westminster Abbey, has conducted opera and orchestra with most of the well-known companies of the world.

In September all the principal players of the Cleveland Orchestra spent one week coaching and playing with the symphony members on a one-on-one basis. In the past the symphony has worked with Leonard Bernstein, George Solti, Christoph Eschenbach and Marek Janowski.

Diverse programs for audiences

Based in the newly restored Lincoln Theatre, located in the beautiful and trendy Art Deco district of Miami Beach, the symphony provides a prodigious assortment of programming for the community, trying to appeal to the varied tastes of their audience. Innovative and traditional programming is scheduled throughout the season from September to April. A "Musician's Forum" organized by the musicians as a series of six free concerts, somewhat like a classical jam session, allows the players to decide their on programming and to draw an audience interested in alternative listening. There are also family concerts and multimedia performances.

The symphony's promotional materials display the musicians in designer fashions and non-traditional poses, enticing new audiences with expressions such as "this is no stuffy symphony" and " it is like no other orchestra in the world." Their excellent marketing draws young audiences as well as old.

Sustained by the generous endowment of Ted Arison, the founder of Carnival Cruise Lines, and the support of major corporations, the New World Symphony has grown into a well-respected and enviable entity. The symphony has graduated 367 fellows, and 300 of them have positions with professional orchestras and ensembles, often as associate principals or principals of their sections.

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Miami Beach area residents can hear Messrs. Leschishin and Krysa performing with the symphony in most of its concerts. Those in the metropolitan New York area can catch them on February 4, 1998, when the New World Symphony will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on the actual date when the symphony was launched with a concert at Alice Tully Hall in New York's Lincoln Center, with Mr. Thomas conducting. Later they are off on a whirlwind European tour to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Vienna.

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