• MYS travels to Guatemala
• New Executive Director
  
• Largest Season Ever
  

MYS Receives International Accolade, Gains "Friends Forever"

Metropolis youth play in renowned performance halls, entertaining, awing, and impressing art-lovers around the world. The Metropolis Youth Symphony (MYS) and Outreach dance students are internationally adored, having traveled to Guatemala this July. But, surprisingly, the most influential part of the trip wasn't the performance in a world class venue, such as the Guatemalan National Theatre, which seats 2,000 people or the star-struck Guatemalan fans, eager for a chance to meet them.

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"It went well beyond us going to share our art with them," said Board President and MYS parent Phil Collins. "It was a thousand times more powerful than we anticipated. It was more than kids going to perform - it was a cultural exchange and experience for our kids. They built relationships that will last a lifetime."

About a year ago, MYS conductor Javier Mendoza served as guest faculty at the Colegio Internacional Monessori (CIM) in Guatemala and decided to take MYS there. The orchestra has a history of traveling; performing at Carnegie Hall and in Sydney, Australia for the 2000 Olympics. Mendoza reinstated the tradition with the MYS Chamber Ensemble, approximately 15 students. Kristen Gurbach Jacobson, Outreach Manager and Head of the Dance Studio Program, also brought two dance students on the trip. The Metropolis groups performed with the Guatemalan National Youth Choir at concerts across the country, playing Gloria by Vivaldi and La Musica de Notturna di Madrid by Boccirini.

Never before has MYS done Outreach school concerts, in addition to those in performance halls. One such concert was at a school on a coffee plantation, a truly humbling experience. From the simplest of schools to the richest, Guatemalan students welcomed the MYS with amazement because they had never experienced contemporary dance and orchestra or seen these instruments before.

"The Guatemalans that we met are incredibly curious and enthusiastic about Metropolis," said Jacobson. "At some of the schools, when the dancers were done, you would have thought they were celebrities. They were mobbed by little girls."

Though they did have the opportunity to perform at a wide variety of esteemed venues, this was not the sole purpose of the trip. The exchange exposed Guatemalans to the American arts culture. There are few performances of this nature in Guatemala and even fewer composed of youth alone. Another goal of the trip was for students to witness how music and dance can transcend cultural barriers.

"The trip showed the kids that music and dance can tell a story and send a message, regardless of language," said Collins. "Kids are kids no matter where. Music is music no matter where."

Another unforgettable facet of the trip was the bonds the children formed. The group had "chemistry, and really clicked well," said Mendoza. When MYS got off the plane, nearly 200 people from CIM and the Guatemalan Youth Choir greeted them with banners singing "Amigos Para Siempri", or "Friends Forever." At Capilla Nuestra Senora del Rosario, the last performance at an ancient chapel, the choir and MYS spontaneously broke into the song even though it wasn't on the program, to "not a dry eye in the house- it was so touching," said Collins.

"The interactions were amazing," said Jacobson. "They had non-stop wide eyes and open hearts. They were so excited to see new things and meet new friends. They wanted to ask questions and connect with whomever they could. They wanted to experience as much as possible and share everything they had."

Though the culture was incredibly different from the United States, it had "an eye-opening impact," said Mendoza. MYS students met the woman who is on the 25 cent Guatemalan coin and discussed indigenous culture, learned Latin culture from their host families and shared their own culture, complete with popular American musicians Rhianna and Plain White T's.

“Our students had the opportunity to perform for a group of less privileged students. This helped them better appreciate the opportunities they have,” said Collins.

In addition to bonding with the Guatemalan students, the MYS bonded with each other. The group now has a foundation upon which they know each other outside of rehearsals, so that they can function more cohesively as a unit. "It's a solid nucleus for the rest of the orchestra - they work really well together," said Mendoza.

In October, the 55 Guatemalan students from the National Youth Choir will travel to Arlington Heights to stay with host families and perform at a variety of venues, Metropolis included.

MYS was named a Guatemalan Distinguished National Guest and the American Ambassadors invited them back to perform again. MYS plans to travel again next season, particularly within the North and South American continents.

"To see them collaborate with the Guatemalan Children's Choir was amazing. I think they experienced truly how to be themselves with the art, music and dance and when exchanging their culture," said Jacobson. "Traveling to Guatemala with MYS and Metropolis Outreach Students was amazing."

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Jim Jarvis named new Executive Director

Metropolis welcomed Jim Jarvis as the new Executive Director this May.

Jim Jarvis is no amateur to the Performing Arts business or to Metropolis.  Jarvis spent the last six years working as the Director of Communications at Metropolis.  He's also worked closely with the Development Department in fundraising.  But Jarvis has also been seen on the Metropolis stage in many shows, including Noises Off, To Kill A Mockingbird, Over the Tavern, Little Women and Bikerman and the Jewish Avenger.  He's also assistant directed The Odd Couple and taught improv to our summer campers.  His extensive resume includes work as the Assistant Sports Information Director at Illinois State University, working with Smith, Bucklin & Associates (the world's largest association management firm), and heading the Marketing Department for the Trade Show Division of the Walt Disney Company.  He's also been involved in the Performing Arts artistically through his work as an ensemble member with The Artistic Home and The Playground Theatre; his studies at The Second City Training Center, iO (formerly the ImprovOlympic) and the Centre Theatre; and his performances at iO as a member of Inside Vladimir, which included ensemble mates Tina Fey (TV's 30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live).  His professional achievements make the highly qualified Jarvis an excellent choice for such a leadership role.

As Executive Director, Jarvis will oversee Metropolis' programming, production, development, communications, and education.

"I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity," said Jarvis. "Metropolis serves an important role in this community. We not only entertain and enlighten our patrons through our performances, but we educate tens-of-thousands of children, teens, adults and seniors through our School of the Performing Arts and Outreach Programs. We have an extremely talented and dedicated staff, Board of Directors, artists and educators, and I'm looking forward to working with the entire team to continue to grow Metropolis and expand its role and impact in the community."

Metropolis closes Largest Season Ever