2008 Scholarship

WALTER WILLIAM SCHOEDER CELLO SCHOLARSHIP

Walter Schoeder's was a life dedicated to music: he was as an accomplished cellist, organist, pianist, teacher and conductor. He attended the State Academy of Music in Vienna where he played under the baton of Richard Strauss. Walter later graduated from the Julliard School of Music, and was an Honorary member of the Trinity College of Music in London. He was also well known as the founder and conductor of the North Jersey Philharmonic for 46 years. He retired from that position in 1994. Walter also served as organist and choir director at the Totowa Presbyterian Church in Paterson, and the Grace United Methodist Church of Wyckoff. Walter was also a member of the American Federation of Musicians in Paterson, and served as President of the Hawthorne Rotary Club.
This scholarship is being newly established in his memory and is made possible by the generous support of Dr. Eugene Papowitz, the Hawthorne Rotary Club, Pauline Cho, Jennifer Cho and Dr. Michele Cho.
The Walter William Schoeder scholarship will be given to an undergraduate cellist selected via audition to perform in our orchestra in the south of France in November of 2008 in Toulouse and at the Municipal Theater of Castres. The scholarship will cover R/T airfare from NYC-Toulouse, room and board, and coaching with the conductor. We decided to adopt this format because Mr. Schoeder always recounted the time he spent abroad prior to his years at Juilliard as formative and invaluable to his development as an artist.
An organ recital at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark NJ has also been dedicated to Mr. Schoeder in the 2007-2008 season.

School Programs

The New York Opera Society (NYOS) seeks to integrate the underserved, largely segregated urban populations of inner city schools through its outreach programs by studying and working together on demi performances of classical repertoire. This project also intends to demonstrate the benefits of Outreach education in the community by bringing in successful multi-ethnic musicians and lecturers to give workshops for disenfranchised youth. (Also offered in Spanish). Holding to the belief that that music can build enduring physical communities, this project will demonstrate that artistic common ground is stronger than social, economic and even linguistic barriers.

Future Collaborations are planned with Newark Public High School and North Brunswick Public High Schools.

Don Giovanni Outreach in France (In Collaboration with French Music Schools)

Dialogues of the Carmelites with the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart of NJ & the Roman Archdiocese of NJ

Barringer High School November 3rd, 10th, 17th and December 3rd, 2006