The Princeton String Academy

New Jersey State Youth Orchestra Names as Concertmaster Princeton String Academy Student Zach Klopman

PRINCETON – January 6, 2004 – When the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra Preparatory Symphony Orchestra performs January 22, its concertmaster will be the young seven-year-old Princeton String Academy student Zachery Klopman. He is the youngest student ever to earn the role for the Preparatory Symphony Orchestra. One of three State Youth Orchestras, the Preparatory Orchestra is for young string players in grade 2 or beyond.

The 7:30 p.m. concert will be conducted by Julia Tibbet at Red Bank Regional High School, 101 Ridge Road in Little Silver. Zach is the son of Rob and Amy Klopman of Mansfield. He began studying with Princeton String Academy music director Paul Manulik at the age of 3 1/2 and has developed a repertoire of classical pieces including concerti by Vivaldi, Telemann and Seitz.

“The credit for this accomplishment belongs to Zach for his hard work, and to his parents, particularly his mother Amy, who supports his interest by working well with him in daily practice,” said Mr. Manulik. “Zach is one of several of our students who has made impressive progress and is developing into a fine player.”

Auditions included solo performance, sight-reading and scales and were held in early September for the 35-piece string orchestra. Seat placements were later determined by the conductor’s evaluation of each student’s playing level, according to Conductor Tibbet.

Musical interest runs in the family. Zach’s brother, Andrew, 5, has been playing viola for 18 months. Sister Grace has just started viola lessons at age 3 1/2. All three are students of the Princeton String Academy. The school offers violin and viola instruction to students as young as three. Using the proven Suzuki Method that emphasizes development of natural talent, students study in both private lessons and weekly group classes. The private school was founded in 2000 and has an enrollment of approximately 50 students.

The New Jersey State Youth Orchestra provides outstanding young musicians with an opportunity to play classical and semi-classical music in a disciplined orchestral setting. The NJSYO is a non-profit organization open to student musicians between the ages of 7 and 18.

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