Oxford Community Schools Hosts Rare Sculptural Exhibit and Oakland Youth Orchestras Winter Concert

Oxford Community Schools Hosts Rare Sculptural Exhibit and Oakland Youth Orchestras Winter Concert

LIVE: Renowned Artist Herb Babcock and Decorated Soloist Lauren Rodewald

OXFORD, MI, February 5, 2013―Open to the public on Thursday, February 7, at 6:30 PM is an incomparable celebration of the arts in the Oxford Fine Arts Center, 745 N. Oxford Road, Oxford, MI. Featured in the atrium gallery are one-of-a-kind pieces created by renowned local artist, Herb Babcock. From his studio in Oxford, Babcock combines metal, glass and rock in sculpture. His work is represented in national and international exhibits, galleries and collections. Some notable public installations include Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario, five sculptures named for the Great Lakes in the “living room” of the MGM Grand Casino and Hotel, Detroit, MI (2007); Woodward Marker Tower in Campus Martius, Detroit, MI (2004); and Young Bamboo In Wind, at the Hsinchu Culture Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan (1995).

During the entire month of February, a series of Herb Babcock exhibits will be on display in the Oxford Fine Arts Center atrium gallery, complementing the active performance schedule of the venue.

Also on Thursday, February 7 in the Oxford Fine Arts Center, is the Oakland Youth Orchestras’ Winter Concert featuring four orchestras and OYO alumnus and soloist, Lauren Rodewald. Rodewald began playing the bass in sixth grade under the direction of Clarkston Schools’ Wendy Stuart. Two years later she began private lessons with John Kennedy and joined OYO’s Strings Orchestra. Rodewald was a member of OYO for five years, serving the last two as Principal Bass in Symphony Orchestra. While still in high school, Rodewald was thrilled and honored to serve as substitute for both the Oakland Symphony and the Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony orchestras. She has performed in a number of competitions and music conventions nationwide. In her freshman year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Rodewald is majoring in Double Bass Performance, studying with Diana Gannett. She is Principal Bass of University Philharmonia Orchestra at Michigan. She was one of three bassists recently selected for the ASTA National Solo Competition. In April, Rodewald will compete in the finals round of the Junior Division held in New York City.

Celebrating its 38th season, Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) will showcase its four orchestras, which include a roster of over 325 students from 3 counties, 37 communities, 25 school districts, and 16 private schools from Southeast Michigan.

Oxford Community Schools has a strong commitment to promoting the arts in the schools and community. With access to arguably the most comprehensive fine arts programs around, students can explore opportunities in choir, band, orchestra, theater, guitar, music theory, music composition, piano performance, 3D art, 2D art, digital media, videography and graphic arts, photography, and ceramics. Oxford has an established K-12 orchestra program with nine different orchestral offerings, managed by renowned conductor Zeljko (Bill) Milicevic, whose distinguished reputation attracts new families to the area. The Oxford Fine Arts Center is an exclusive Yamaha theater facility that is the home venue for the Oakland Youth Orchestras. For more information about this new release or to schedule an interview, contact:

Dr. William Skilling, Superintendent, Oxford Community Schools, william.skilling@oxfordschools.org, (248) 467-1573

Joanne Walle, Executive Director, Oakland Youth Orchestras, admin@oyomi.org, (248) 709-2877

Donna Babcock, Publicist, Herb Babcock Design, babdesign@sbcglobal.net, (248) 894-2506

About Oxford Community Schools

Oxford Community Schools has more than 5,000 students in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. There are nine schools that comprise the district, including five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, one early learning center and one alternative high school. Oxford is also home to the Oxford Virtual Academy, the Oxford Academy of Engineering & Technology and the Oxford Arts Conservatory (opening fall 2013).

Oxford Fine Arts Center calendar: http://oxfordschools.org/section_display.cfm?section_id=793

Website: www.oxfordschools.org; facebook.com/Oxford Community Schools, twitter.com/SuptSkilling

About Herb Babcock

Herb Babcock is chairman of the Glass Department at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. He holds a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Babcock lives and maintains a studio in Oxford, MI.

Website: www.herbbabcock.com; facebook.com/Herb Babcock

About Oakland Youth Orchestras

OYO has been educating and enriching youth through music since 1975. OYO is a four-tiered orchestra program serving an increasing population of over 325 students in grades two through twelve from throughout southeast Michigan. These students desire to be challenged beyond their school musical experience, and OYO fosters enrichment through opportunities in music theory, chamber music, community outreach performance and competitions. The four levels include Studio String, String, Philharmonia and Symphony orchestras. Oakland Youth Orchestras holds three concerts per season—in November, February and May. All concerts are held at Oxford Fine Arts Center.  OYO is partially supported with grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Website: www.oyomi.org; facebook.com/pages/Oakland-Youth-Orchestras-Michigan

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