The Founding of the RTO-PA

​By Colleen Schoneveld

Part1

​

Once upon a time…..  a musically illiterate woman discovered…

MUSIC….

 

I am Colleen Schoneveld, that musically illiterate woman, and this is how RTO-PA came into being.

 

I started to make costumes for theaters and Ballet Companies in 1980.

It was this delight in my life that led me into listening to music.

(other than the Beatles and Beach Boys in the early 60’s) 

I listened to the ballet or show music to inspire the costumes I created. 

However, the music turned and inspired me! 

I grew up in a home devoid of music.

I was surprised I enjoyed the music to the current show.

 

One day I put a new CD from the library on the player….a recording made by a young, talented violinist. 

As he started playing…

I stopped dead in my tracks, I couldn’t close my mouth, I was totally astounded by the music I heard. 

I listened to the CD three times through before my heart rate came down.

 

Close your eyes and imagine you have been blind all your life.

You are standing in the middle of the Keukenhof Garden in Holland.

All at once, unexpectedly, you receive your sight! 

You are suddenly surrounded by massive, brilliant, wonderful colors you have never seen!

 

This is what it felt like when I put that CD on the player in my studio.

The day I heard the most beautiful violin music ever played.

My world changed that day.

 

It so happened, one of my daughters wanted  “to learn” to play the violin… 

As is common, that thrill lasted a few lessons. 

Suddenly I had a rented student violin gathering dust (and rent).

 

So, how hard can playing the violin be? 

My violinist friends made it look so easy and delightful.

I figured, why shouldn’t I try? 

I was only 48 years old, not too old to start, right?

 

True, I had ZERO musical knowledge. 

I didn’t know there is 5 lines on a staff! 

I often say, “I knew so little about music I STARTED with the Violin.”

 

My patient first teacher had to start with my blank music background and my long finger nails.

(I almost didn’t do it. I have never had short nails….pressing the strings with virgin finger tips was very, very painful.) 

(I got over it).

 

I was passionate about learning to play, learning everything I could about music. I was hungry for it all. I practiced daily. Eventually I knew I was getting better when the cat did not run away when I picked up my instrument.

 

For 7 years I took lessons and was ‘crazy lady’ about practicing. 

For 7 years my learning curve went straight up! 

Finally came the time I realized my teacher and I were enjoying each other’s company, but I wasn’t improving my violin skills. 

It was time to stop the lessons.

 

Without lessons, playing daily became a struggle. With no accountability I found my violin going to the wayside. I was actually horrified, but becoming unmotivated.

 

Back in the Day, Borders Bookstore stayed open until 11PM. My husband and I went to have coffee and read magazines. I was reading the BBC Music Magazine and happened upon an article about “The Really Terrible Orchestra” in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Well, I figured I couldn’t move to Scotland so I would have to make an RTO here!

I actually found Peter Stevenson’s contact information and wrote to him.

 

**I would like to add here, for the record, how The RTO Scotland came to be. This what I was told by Peter and Susie.

 

Peter and Susie Stevenson and their long time close friends, Sandy and Elizabeth McCall Smith, were returning from dinner out together.

Their daughters were in school together. 

And they were talking about all the opportunities the girls had. The girls were learning music and playing in a school orchestra. 

“Darn!” Sandy said, “I wish WE could have an orchestra too!” 

 Peter replied, “Let’s make an orchestra for us!”

Then Susie quipped, “We will have to call it The Really Terrible Orchestra!”

And that was their beginning. On the door step of Peter and Susie’s house.

 

Note….Sandy was not yet a famous author. 

He was only know for his academic books. 

Sandy is AKA:  Alexander McCall Smith. 

His best loved series is “The # 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” Series. 

Among many other series he has written. His gentle humor makes his books a delight to read.  His fame has twisted the origin story… 

RTO founding is now usually attributed to Sandy.**

 

Back to Pennsylvania…

Peter was an invaluable help to me. He was always there for me as 

RTO-PA had its ups and down. We often had long talks on the phone.

My husband and I actually met up with Peter and Susie in NYC before the Town Hall performance April 1, 2009.

 

 January 17, 2008 RTO-PA was born. The first RTO in the USA.

In about 6 months the second was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina called RTOOT (RTO of the Triangle).

 

RTO-PA started in the Bethlehem Library with a group of interested people… no instruments.

Our first time with instruments happened at Northampton Community College. I believe there might have been 7 people. 

7 people shaking in their boots!

None of us had ever played in front of anyone but our teacher.

 

We gathered up our nerves and played “Twinkle”!!

IT WAS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!! 

WE MADE MUSIC!!!!

I am sure none of our feet touched the ground for the weeks after.

What a rush!

 

Every week people joined us. 

By the third week in we had this nice lady and her husband come join us.

It was Doris and Pete Oswald. Doris, a music teacher, plays the clarinet. None of which I knew.

 

I had gotten music from a site on the computer.

I printed a part for each instrument… 

After attempting to play the simple piece (most of us were afraid of anything faster than a quarter note) Doris  was not overly impressed by our efforts. 

 

Doris asked me, “What key are you playing in?”

 

I looked at her blankly, “What is a key?”

 

GUESS WHAT! 

It turns out, not only does each instrument play a different ‘key’, but everyone needs to have music by the same arranger as well!

 

Dear Doris did not run screaming that day, but patiently watched us grow. 

She even conducted us occasionally so we could understand how we should play together. 

 

Thankfully, after a couple of months we found George Fennell. 

George, is the kindest, most patient and talented teacher in the World. 

We were blessed the day he became our "Sainted Conductor”.

My teacher taught me HOW to play the violin…. George gave me music.

 

Dear George juggled having truly gifted players with truly awful players in one group. His talent for keeping us laughing and having fun with music is 

Legendary.

Little by little Saint George built our skills, knowledge and courage.

 

He had us moving along so well, one year we worked for 6 months learning The Corelli Concerto Grosso. 

Channel 69 News came to do a report on us and part of the concerto was shown on the 69 News!

 

We found ourselves often in the  news paper.

We had a grand time.

 

The day came when George decided it was time for us to do a real concert.

Most of us freaked out at the idea. 

But George promised to have The Lehigh Valley Pops play with us.

 

So we did…. Our concert was held at Moravian College’s Foy Hall. 

August 16, 2012  (now Moravian University)

We had a full  house and an enthusiastic audience. 

 

Carol Galvelis made a big sign that lit up to tell everyone to applaud.

A while later Carol started drum lessons and joined us in percussion.

She drove every week from Philadelphia to play with us.

We had people coming from near and, often, very far. 

RTO grew and grew, both in musical ability and in membership. 

 

RTO has always been a happy, fun and companionable orchestra.

Our growth reflected our joy.

 

Sadly, when George turned 70, his health took a turn…. Not a good turn.

He was forced to retire as RTO’s conductor, but he took up the tuba to continue to play with us. (George’s professional instrument is the French Horn. By RTO rules he had to chose something he didn’t  know how to play. So we had this incredible musician struggle with us with a fingering chart next to him!) 

And thus was the end of a wonderful chapter in the life of RTO-PA.

 

What happened next could be part 2 of the saga.

We had some very awful, ugly and tragic times that almost crushed us completely. This time lasted about 7 months….

 

Not to worry… A tiny woman playing a huge string bass joined our battered group. She volunteered to try conducting. Obviously she liked a challenge.

 

And thus began a new, happy chapter with Carol Kelly (aka Eisenbise) as the conductor of RTO. 

 

To be continued…..