Walden/JCC Alumni Reunion
August 4-6, 2023
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
Thank you for an incredible Walden/JCC reunion! The 2023 Walden and Junior Conservatory Camp Alumni Reunion took place August 4-6 at Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire.
Overview
Welcome to the 2023 Walden/JCC Alumni Reunion homepage! We so enjoyed seeing you this summer in Dublin, New Hampshire, for a fun and memory-filled Alumni Reunion.
Stay tuned for more updates to this page, as we add photos and memories from our successful reunion.
From August 4 to 6, 2023, The Walden School hosted a weekend of events to celebrate Walden’s 50th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), Walden’s predecessor program. Dozens of alumni and Walden friends gathered in the Monadnock region to experience a bit of the Walden/JCC magic once again.
At this milestone reunion, alumni enjoyed reconnecting with friends, attending workshops and an alumni Composers Forum, hiking Mount Monadnock and Gap Mountain, and joining in community singing. There was a breathtaking piano recital by Mackenzie Melemed, a YMP alumnus, and an Alumni Composers Forum featuring nine alumni compositions.
Schedule of Events
***Subject to change***
Note: Depending on the number and ages of children attending the reunion, we will program children’s activities and childcare around the other events scheduled for the weekend. In particular, childcare will be available during the Friday and Saturday evening concerts/musical events and the Sunday Composers Forum.
Please write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org with any questions.
Friday, August 4
12:30 pm: Optional lunch on Dublin School campus for early arrivals
1:00 – 6:00 pm: Reunion begins; arrival, check-in, and lawn games
4:00 – 5:00 pm: Optional tour of Dublin School campus
5:00 pm: Drinks and appetizers on the lawn
6:00 pm: BBQ Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm: Workshops (Contemporary Topics with Caroline Mallonee or Electronic Music with Ted Moore)
8:15 – 9:00 pm: Evening Music
9:15 pm: Goodnight Music
9:30 – 11:30 pm: Post-concert reception
Saturday, August 5
8:30 – 9:15 am: Breakfast (and sandwich making for hikers)
9:30 am – 3:00 pm: Hike (two local options) / lake activities / hang out on campus / kids’ activities
12:30-1:15 pm: Lunch for those on campus (hikers will bring sack lunches)
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Composer Forum rehearsals
3:45 – 4:45 pm: Workshops (Musicianship with Lukáš Janata and Electronic Music with Ted Moore)
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Chorus led by former Young Musicians Program (YMP) Choral Director Sarah Riskind
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Appetizers
6:15 pm: Group photo on lawn
7:00 pm: Festive Anniversary Dinner celebrating 50 years of Walden and 70 years since the founding of JCC
8:15 – 9:00 pm: Recital by YMP alumnus Mackenzie Melemed, pianist
9:15 pm: Good Night Music
9:30: Photo Show
10:15 – 12:00 am: Reception
Sunday, August 6
8:00 – 10:00 am: Continental breakfast
9:30 – 10:30 am: Optional campus tour
10:30 am: JCC video presentation
11:00 am: Update on Walden from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director
10:00 am – 1:30 pm: Composers Forum rehearsals
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Brunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm: Alumni Composers Forum
4:30 pm: Alumni Departure
Attendees
List updated August 2
JoAnn Balingit (Walden School Board of Directors ’22-present)
Erica Ball (YMP alum ’06-’07; YMP faculty ’12-’13) and Joe Forsyth
Chris Beachy (YMP alum ’02-’08)
Kevin Becker (CMR alum ’12-’18) and Carol Becker
Ross Beresford (CMR alum ’19)
Ellen Bernard (Walden School Board of Directors ’02-’22; Director Emerita ’22-present)
Tamar Bloch (JCC student ’69-’72; YMP faculty ’75-’04; TTI attendee ’08) and Peter Laki
Seth Brenzel (YMP alum ’85-90; staff/administration ’94-present; Executive Director ’04-present)
Sara Brown (YMP alum ’84-’86; staff ’87-’01)
Joshua Burdick (YMP alum ’84-’91; CMR alum ’21)
Brian Carper (YMP alum ’88-’89)
Stephen Coxe (YMP alum ’80-’84; faculty ’86-’96; Executive Director ’94-’96)
Bob Crites (YMP alum ’73-’76; faculty ’77-79; CMR alum ’16)
Constantine Darie (YMP alum’ 22) and Alisa Woods
Jeff Dutter (YMP staff ’23)
Rebecca Frank (YMP alum ’13-’15)
Will Hawkins (YMP alum ’11-’14; CMR alum ’16; CMR staff ;19; YMP staff ’22-present)
Cara Haxo (YMP alum ’04-’09; YMP faculty ’16-’22) and Brian Fancher (YMP and CMR faculty/staff ’17-’21)
Francesca Hellerman (YMP alum ’11-’18; YMP staff ’20-present)
Julian Hofstetter (YMP alum ’16-’18; CMR alum ’19-’21)
Kendra Blue Holmgren (YMP alum ’00-’06)
Lukáš Janata (CMR alum ’19; YMP faculty ’21-present)
Steven Jon Kaplan (YMP alum ’74) and Karen Bookman Kaplan
Marguerite Ladd (YMP alum ’99-’02; TTI alum ’06; staff and Director of Operations ’05-’14)
Erin Low (YMP alum ’21-’22)
Caroline Mallonee (YMP alum ’87-’92; faculty/staff ’96-present; Director of CMR ’11-present) and Eric Huebner (Walden visiting artist ’04-’20)
Tessie McGough (YMP alum ’05-’07)
Elia Maramotti (YMP alum ’05-’08) and Philippe Kratz
Ed Max (JCC alum ’59-’63)
Leonore Max (JCC alum ’59-’64)
Mackenzie Melemed (YMP alum ’06-’07)
Steve Messner (CMR alum ’11-’23; Walden School Board of Directors ’13-present)
Noah Mlotek (YMP alum ’03-’04; staff ’08-’11; Director of Development and Alumni Relations ’22-present)
Ted Moore (TTI alum ’08-’10; YMP and CMR faculty/staff ’11-present)
Aaron Nichols (YMP alum ’21-’22)
Rachel Osherow (YMP alum ’97-’04)
Dahlia Riddington (YMP alum ’15-’16; YMP staff ’23)
Sarah Riskind (YMP and CMR faculty/staff ’11-’20)
Jonah Sayler (YMP alum ’19-’22)
Danielle Schindler Cheung (YMP alum ’88-’93; faculty/staff ’97-’02; Walden School Board of Directors ’19-present)
Sammi Jo Stone (CMR alum ’17; Director of Operations ’20-present)
Tom Terwilliger (JCC alum ’60-’62)
Theo Trevisan (YMP alum ’14-’17; CMR alum ’19-’21; faculty/staff ’19-present)
Zulfiia Tursunova (CMR alum ’20)
Bob Weaver (JCC alum ’56-’63; CMR alum ’11) and Anne Weaver (JCC alum ’62-’63)
Alumni Composers Forum
The Alumni Composers Forum will feature the following guest artists:
Laura Cocks of TAK Ensemble, flutes
David Friend, piano
Thea Mesirow, cello
Joshua Rubin of the International Contemporary Ensemble, clarinets
Ellery Trafford of TAK Ensemble, percussion (see below for percussion instrumentations available)
Call for Scores:
If you are interested in composing for the Alumni Composers Forum, please fill out the brief form below. It’s okay if you’re not sure about all of your answers; you are welcome to contact us later if anything changes about your piece.
Scores and parts are due by noon Eastern time on Thursday, August 3, to alumni@waldenschool.org.
Composers must be present at the reunion in order for the work to be performed.
Preferences will be given to brand new works, never before performed, although submissions that have been performed before will be considered. We hope to be able to include as many of the submitted works as possible on the program, and choices might need to be made for programming and scheduling reasons.
If you have any questions, please write to alumni@waldenschool.org.
The following percussion instruments will be available:
- Cymbals (hi-hat, ride, china, crash)
- Thai gong in G
- Chinese opera gongs x 2
- Triangle
- Tambourine (symphonic)
- Woodblocks x 3
- Wooden plank, cedar
- Drum kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Are children welcome?
Yes! Children are absolutely welcome. Depending on the number and ages of children attending the reunion, we will program children’s activities and childcare around the other events scheduled for the weekend. In particular, childcare will be available during the Friday and Saturday evening concerts/musical events and the Sunday Composers Forum.
Registration and meal fees are reduced for children. A limited number of large rooms (fitting 3 to 4 people) are available for families with children. Write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org if you are interested in a family room or have any other questions about bringing children to the reunion.
Note: If you are a current Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum who is still under the age 18, you are welcome to attend the reunion, but you will have to register along with a parent or guardian.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, limited scholarships for the reunion costs are available. Inquire by writing to us alumni@waldenschool.org.
What are the on-campus accommodations like?
Dublin School offers dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms. All beds are twin size (many are extra long). A double-room will have two beds, unbunked. A single room may have a bunkbed or one bed or two unbunked beds; in any event, such a single room can only accommodate one person staying overnight. A limited number of larger rooms for families with children are available; please inquire at alumni@waldenschool.org. If you need a crib, highchair, or Pack ‘n Play for your small children, please inquire with us, and we will do our best to accommodate such requests.
Do I have to stay on campus?
No. You are welcome to stay off-campus. For information about local accommodations, check the Dublin School’s website (scroll down and click on “places to stay”).
What if I can only make it for part of the reunion?
You are welcome to come for only part of the reunion. When you register, you will be able to select the specific meals that you plan on having, and you have the option of paying for only one night of on-campus accommodations. We will be happy to see you for any part of the weekend’s activities that you are able to join.