Meet BSO members Justine Jeanotte, Priscilla Jones, and Larry Telles

Greetings!

This week's BSO quarantine report yielded submissions from Justine Jeanotte, Priscilla Jones, and Larry Telles .

"I love knowing that Bainbridge Island supports a symphony orchestra. That makes us a special place! I feel joy when I fit my one small cello part into the huge collection of sound in a symphony. I never stop being amazed by how all the intricate rhythms and harmonies work themselves together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, resulting in many different sounds." - Priscilla Jones

BSO Member Spotlight

Justine Jeanotte, violin

Justine was born in The Netherlands, where she began her violin studies at the age of eight. Since receiving her degree in Violin Performance from Pacific Lutheran University, she has played with the Tacoma Symphony, Kitsap Opera, Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, and Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra.

Currently she teaches the strings classes at Madrona School as well as privately. She has also played, recorded, and toured both nationally and internationally with the bands "Paundy" and "Before Cars."

"I am grateful for all the talented friends I have met through Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and the collaborations that we’ve enjoyed in the form of chamber music ensembles."

"During this time at home, I have continued to teach my students virtually. I’m also enjoying reading, doing puzzles, and going on runs in the morning."

Priscilla Jones, cello

Priscilla (along with her husband Paul and their two children) moved to Bainbridge in 1993 from Frankfurt, Germany. The next year, an invitation by Jean Goodfellow brought Priscilla to play in the orchestra, and she discovered BSO as a great way to get to know people in the community. She has played an occasional season with BSO ever since – more regularly after her youngest child left for college in 2010.

A native of New Mexico, Priscilla learned to play the piano at age 7 and the cello at age 11. She and her cello have traveled from Albuquerque to Edinburg and Corpus Christi, TX; to Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL; then to Graz, Austria, and Oberursal, Germany.

On moving to Bainbridge, Priscilla helped found Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra, and she has organized a multi-age group of cellists who call themselves, "Cello Mania." She enjoys being a Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas and playing cello in her quartet, "Olympic Serenade."

During this stay-at-home period, Priscilla continues to teach cello lessons online. She is also finding more time to practice. In fact she started to count, and she’s excited to be close to 100 days of practice during COVID-19!

She also spends time walking, hoping to stay in shape for hiking whenever the trails open up again.

Larry Telles, violin

Larry has played violin with BSO since 1995 and currently plays in the Second Violin section. He is originally from New Mexico, where his family has lived for generations, and where he and his wife, Michelle, met as teenagers. He has one daughter, who lives in Seattle.

Larry retired from federal service in 2014. He was a salmon biologist for 37 years. He served in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho where he worked with all species of salmon and steelhead.

Larry has loved the violin since he was a small child and finally persuaded his parents to allow him to take lessons at age 11. He still plays the instrument that formerly belonged to his great-grandfather (who played in the family’s “orquesta típica” or tango orchestra).

Larry has played in community orchestras and one semi-professional orchestra since he was 13. His favorite violinist growing up was David Oistrakh. He credits his mother for introducing him to serious music and opera as an infant. Both sides of his family were musicians, and several were violinists. All of them encouraged his musical endeavors as he was growing up.

Larry loves making music with his colleagues in BSO and Bridges as well any form of chamber music. He considers his colleagues in music to be his “best and lifelong friends.” In many ways, this orchestra and BPA have been a family to him, encouraging and embracing him through good times and through some of the most difficult times of his life.

Larry served as the manager of BSO for 2 1/2 years. He enjoyed working with the Music Directors and BPA’s Executive Director and staff. He felt it to be an honor to be able to serve the Arts and the community in a capacity other than as a musician. It gave him an appreciation for the business side of the difficult world of non-profit community arts organizations.

Larry and Michelle live near the beach in Indianola where they love to garden (she raises the beautiful flowers and he is responsible for the vegetables) and cook. They have both been involved in animal rescue for most of their lives. They share their home with three cats and four dogs, all of whom were rescued from difficult circumstances.

Tune in for "Remembrances" May 31 @ 3 p.m.

Take a virtual trip down memory lane with Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra on May 31 with “Remembrances.”

Join us for a Facebook live stream as we present highlights from our past two seasons with guest artist Emily Acri, violin.