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Associate Director, Dr. Karen Gordy Founder of VPCO Professional Musician. Orchestra Conductor, Dr. Karen Gordy, played violin professionally while working full time as a classroom teacher in Indianapolis. In local and union orchestras, she played for Henri Mancini, Andy Williams, Liberace, Robert Preston, Juliet Prowse, Ann Miller, Ray Bolger, Harry Belafonte, Don Ho and many others at Clowes Hall in Indianapolis while associated with Footlight Musicals and Starlight Musicals. Teaching Background. She taught general music, choir, beginning band, talent education, beginning string music, and orchestra Grades 5—12 in public schools in Indiana, Michigan, Florida and Louisiana for over thirty years. As a part of her doctoral studies, she taught university courses in music methods and piano fundamentals and undergraduate violin tutorials in Indiana. Dr. Gordy has been a private music teacher, volunteer conductor and music director of VPCO, Dr. Gordy also has directed youth orchestras, and she has been a fiddler in the Back Porch Band of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Education. Dr Gordy’s private violin teachers were Richard Dennis, Eric Rosenblith, Michael Seminitski, and Neil Weintrob. She studied conducting with Leonard Atherton. She holds a Doctor of Music Education degree from Ball State University, a Master’s Degree in Music plus thirty more graduate hours from Butler University in Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Butler.
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Transition Orchestras |
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The Vernon Parish Community Serenade String Orchestra serves as a developmental stage for musicians to learn, utilize and integrate skills required for playing in an ensemble. This orchestra level is a stepping stone group, not a beginner group. These players are growing musicians who will eventually move into the community orchestra. Vernon Parish Presto Orchestra is a platform for beginning players to learn to work together in a string ensemble. These young players are developing skills that will take them into more advanced performance levels and increase their confidence. |
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Board of Directors
Jack Causey - President Ron Yule– Vice President Nell Wright– Treasurer Paula Sche-Baldwin—Secretary Michael Bodine—Conductor Karen Gordy—Associate Conductor, Founder Marilyn Barry—Webmaster, Strings Coordinator Paige Miller—Woodwinds Jared Prewitt—Percussions Glenda Jarrell– Chair, Social Events Linda Harris—Committee Member, Social Events Paula Sche-Baldwin—Chair, Public Relations Debbie Causey and Cheryl Saunders—Committee members, Public Relations Connie Hughes and Father Ron Foshage—Texas Liaison Darlene Thompson—Leesville Liaison Ron Yule—DeRidder Liaison Kathy Bonner—Evans Liaison
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Dr. Karen Gordy
—Conductor and founder of Vernon Parish Community Orchestra, she has been also a private strings instructor at Sizzlin’ Strings Studio.
Regrettably, Sizzlin’ Strings Studio is closed until further notice.
Information on when the studio will reopen for lessons will be provided as soon as possible. |
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With staunch support from husband, family, friends, civic, business and church leaders, Dr. Karen Gordy provided the driving force to channel energy and enthusiasm for more performing arts in the West Louisiana and East Texas area, including beginning work in 2004 toward a full orchestra. Starting small, providing music instruction to just a few string students in studio space donated by Leesville Music Center, Dr. Gordy set a movement in motion. Very quickly the number of students grew, and she led students beyond music instruction into community performances in string ensembles and string orchestra. Now the dream has come to pass with the development of the Vernon Parish Community Orchestra. The orchestra attracts members from all over Vernon Parish in Louisiana and even from across the Sabine River in Texas. It has grown to include brass, woodwinds and percussion instruments in its spring concerts. A youth orchestra provides developmental experiences for young musicians, and a youth ensemble and adult string ensemble enrich community events. Vernon Parish Community Orchestra, founded in 2004, is based in Leesville, Louisiana. Rehearsals are regularly scheduled from 5:25 to 6:45 p.m. every Tuesday evening during the concert season. |
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Vernon Parish Community Orchestra———How it all began |
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VPCO Mission Statement
Vernon Parish Community Orchestra serves the local Louisiana community and Southeast Texas area by providing opportunities for music education, development of performance, teamwork and leadership skills and by adding to the community’s cultural experience.
VPCO teaches the value of teamwork and hard work through rehearsals and performances and develops leadership skills through encouraging responsibility, dependability, and cooperation.
VPCO promotes developing new audiences through live performances that showcase various genres of music. |
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Vernon Parish Community Orchestra provides…
1. Opportunities for music education.
Instrumental instruction (knowing, understanding, application levels): · Tone production · Bowing skills · Advanced music reading skills
Instrumental performance: · Programming concerns · Concert protocol · Application of listening skills · Application of advanced music reading skills
Music theory (knowing, understanding and application levels): · Elements of music-melody, rhythm, dynamics, form, texture, timbre and tempo (MR DFT3) · Application of music elements · Development of listening skills
Music appreciation: · Acknowledging music periods · Becoming aware of various composers and their writing styles · Realizing the historical influence of bowing technique
Scholarship auditions: · Special orchestra auditions · Special string camp auditions · Rapides Symphony Youth auditions · College scholarship auditions
2. Development of skills and performance
· Higher standards in preparation · Intrapersonal skills · Interpersonal skills · Audiation skills · Interpretation skills
3. Development of teamwork, responsibility and leadership skills
· As a section player · As a section leader · As a large ensemble player · As a small ensemble player · With motivation of others through constructive comments and home practice
4. Additions to the community’s cultural experience
· Live performances in Leesville, DeRidder and Jasper · Variety of music genres including Baroque, classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century popular and light classics · Spin-offs: Gospel orchestra; ballroom dancing orchestra (early fall); Celtic music; string quartets
5. Future development
Ideas in the planning state include: · Brass and woodwind small ensembles · More involvement with the school district to interest school children in our beginning program · Expansion of VPCO Youth Orchestra · Performing Youth Orchestra · Conductor contest · Courthouse square concert
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www.vpco.net |
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About Us |
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Vernon Parish Community Orchestra |
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Meet the New Conductor Michael Bodine, Director of Bands at Leesville High School, has succeeded orchestra founder and conductor emeritus Dr. Karen Gordy as conductor of the Vernon Parish Community Orchestra. Mr. Bodine has a Master of Music degree in conducting and trombone performance. He is in his third year at LHS and has a total of eleven years in public school music, including experience at Caldwell Parish High School and Teague Independent School District in Teague Texas. Please address questions concerning the orchestra to Mr. Bodine at Leesville High School: michaelbodine@vpsb.k12.la.us
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Michael Bodine |
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Find Us:
Michael Bodine Conductor Leesville High School Band Hall michaelbodine@vpsb.k12.la.us
Dr. Karen Gordy Associate Conductor, Founder Sizzlin’Strings Studio kgandbg@cebridge.net |
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Members of the Orchestra: Click here for a complete list of orchestra members and the instruments they play: |
