Pictured is award winning composer, Jim Papoulis, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Small Voices (FSV). Also pictured on the left is music teacher Katherine Gould. Papoulis visited the Owego-Apalachin School District on March 29 and 30 and helped students in grades four through twelve take part in rehearsing one of his original songs and composing an original piece of music. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Pictured is award winning composer, Jim Papoulis, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization, FSV. Students within the Owego-Apalachin School District rehearse one of Papoulis’ original songs, “There is Peace,” which they performed for the community at a live performance on March 30.
Pictured is award winning composer, Jim Papoulis, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization, FSV. Here Papoulis works with chorus students with composing an original piece of music.
Pictured is award winning composer, Jim Papoulis, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization, FSV. Here Papoulis works with chorus students with rehearsing the finished version of an original piece of music. Their song, “If We Could Rise Above,” was performed for the community at a live performance on March 30.
Award winning composer, Jim Papoulis, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Small Voices (FSV), visited the Owego-Apalachin School District on March 29 and 30. Papoulis worked with students in choral programs from the Owego and Apalachin Elementary Schools, Owego-Apalachin Middle School and Owego Free Academy.
Students in grades four through twelve took part, which encompassed either a songwriting workshop whereby students participated in composing their own original piece of music, or rehearsed one of Papoulis’ original songs, “There is Peace.”
Music teacher, Katherine Gould, who works with chorus students in grades six through eight, explained that she and two other teachers attended a workshop that Papoulis held last summer, and after that positive experience reached out to him to see if he would visit Owego.
New York City-based Papoulis composes, orchestrates and conducts music for film, dance, ensembles and choirs, has won countless awards, and has conducted numerous orchestras around the world including the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony. In addition, he has worked with several notable artists such as Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyonce and the late Natalie Cole, among others.
Papoulis’ accomplishments also include his music featured at the Beijing Olympics, the Papal Visit to Yankee Stadium, September 11 Memorial concerts, President Obama’s inauguration and the World Cup in South Africa. His composition, “Give Us Hope,” has been adopted by the 9/11 Museum in New York City, and can be heard as visitors exit the museum.
Dedicated to helping children broaden their reach in the world of music, Papoulis co-founded FSV in 2000, which encourages music as a means to build self-esteem and a sense of community. Papoulis brings to schools a distinctive style which has allowed him to make significant contributions to choral music, and has worked with children’s choirs throughout the U.S., China, South America, Africa, Europe and Russia.
Papoulis shared, “I visit about four schools each month.”
Younger Owego chorus students rehearsed Papoulis’ song, “There is Peace.” During the March 30 rehearsal, Papoulis encouraged students to feel the music as they sang.
Papoulis shared with students, “We all have it, it starts with everybody and it is inside ourselves, a reverence of peace.”
Students in higher grades joined Papoulis, along with Megan Burrell, a middle and high school chorus teacher, in a workshop style setting, where Papoulis offered students the opportunity to write an original song. Focused on a positive theme, Papoulis looked to students to call out words or phrases for the lyrics, which in turn resulted in the finished piece, “If We Could Rise Above.”
Papoulis explained, “We worked together here for a little more than three hours. I’ll take the recorded song back to my studio where I’ll complete the process, mixing in various instruments.”
Located in Manhattan, Papoulis’ state-of-the-art studio incorporates the latest in digital technology and facilitates all styles of music. Once the Owego recording project is complete, Papoulis will forward it to Burrell and Gould.
The community was invited to attend a performance of all of the Owego-Apalachin chorus members on March 30 at the OAMS auditorium.
