Anna Maria Manalo

Musician and Music Mentor

Co-Founder, Millennium Chamber Players

B.M. UW-Madison
M.A. CUNY-Hunter College

Principal instructors: Pianists Frances & Howard Karp, Herbert Stessin, Edith Oppens, Abbey Simon; Violinists David Nelson, Tyrone Greive; Composers Michael Cjajkowski, George Tsontakis, Melinda Wagner.

To add to this list of mentors: Mr. Thomas Buchauser, a.k.a. “Mr. B.”

My knowledge of the standard orchestral repertoire and history began and continues to be inspired by Mr. B. Because of his exceptional guidance, there was never a boring moment in the JMM Orchestra. My classmates and I were inspired and motivated to practice and perform at our best. Both my younger sisters also were in orchestra, but had unique experiences.

My youngest sister and I continue to share happy memories of orchestra with Mr. B. We would be among a small group of classmates that would meet in the orchestra room during lunch hour, since we didn’t fit into either the formidable Cafeteria ("Jocks") or the lesser, Commons ("Nerds") crowds. The orchestra room was small, no windows, lousy acoustics, but we felt safe there because of the sense of belonging that Mr. B had created through music-making. We’d actually practice and rehearse orchestra music. In my Senior year, I had the fortuitous opportunity to win and perform as a concerto soloist with the very capable JMM Orchestra.

I revisited JMM for my 25th Anniversary . The faculty and student body is much more diverse than during my time – I felt relief and hope. The development for the athletics department is fantastically impressive – a new pool, a gymnastics facility. However, the Performance Department remained the same. A Performing Arts renovation acknowledges the JMM competitively high artistic standard being at least equivalent, if not more than, the JMM athletic standard. 

It’s about time.

www.millenniumchamberplayers.org