Episode #4 - Gretchen Dekker, pianist

A veritable icon in the York county music scene, pianist Gretchen Dekker has impressed both local and international audiences since her teens. A current professor at York College of PA, Gretchen has been a featured soloist with the Peabody Chamber Symphony, the Harrisburg Symphony, the York Symphony Orchestra, the Hershey Symphony and the York Oratorio Society among others. Gretchen is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and was also a recipient of the Distinction in Performance Award from the New England Conservatory in Boston while working on her Masters.

In this episode, Gretchen shares how grateful she was for teachers such as Randy Yoder at Northeastern School District who she describes as the "consummate professional" and relays the incredible importance of our school music teachers. She also describes being drawn to the piano as a young girl, however we also learn this was not the only instrument she has a passion for!

Gretchen reflects fondly of her time in Amsterdam and Boston and how jumping in to the work she had there was partially out of naiveté but in turn provided some wonderful experiences.

We also discuss the insecurities of musicians and how she personally de-stresses from stressful situations.

This episode was made possible by the York Youth Symphony and the York Music Teachers Association. Gretchen also shares her ties to the YYSO and the important role it played in her life and for other students.

Bonus Material! In the beginning of this episode you will hear an excerpt of Gretchen's most recent performance with the York Symphony Orchestra, the cadenza from Beethoven's Choral Fantasy. This performance is referred to within our episode and if you stick with us to the end, you can enjoy the cadenza in its entirety.

We hope you enjoy this special episode with Gretchen!