April Kondrat | Class of 1992 - GDYO Alumni Spotlight

NEVER give up! If you make a mistake or fail at something it just means you’re learning. The beauty of learning music is that you’re never done, so enjoy the process!

April Kondrat recently retired from public school teaching after serving as the Director of Orchestras at Plano Senior High School in Plano, TX. She is Principal Violist with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, and was a regular substitute violist with the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Opera until pursuing a full-time career as a music educator. An advocate for the viola, Mrs. Kondrat was the founder of ViolaWorkshop which ran from 2012-2015 and had a thriving studio of violists from around the metroplex before becoming a full-time orchestra director. She has recently resumed her home studio and also offers sectionals and clinics on the violas as she is always striving to help music educators understand the mystery behind this fine instrument. Her clinic, “Raising Violas”, was presented at the TMEA Clinic and Convention in San Antonio in partnership with Mary Havenstrite and against the Art of Teaching Orchestra at SMU. She also regularly performs chamber music and has performed new works for the viola with student orchestras in the area. Mrs. Kondrat also teaches String Pedagogy at SMU as a guest lecturer. Mrs. Kondrat was the music librarian for the Plano Symphony Orchestra for ten years prior to teaching full-time for Plano ISD.

Mrs. Kondrat holds a Master of Music degree in Applied Viola from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Viola from the Eastman School of Music. She is an avid runner and resides in Plano with her husband, Jeremy Kondrat, who is the GDYO Wind Symphony Conductor. They have three adult children, two of whom as pursuing a career in music. Their son, Ethan Kondrat, played alto saxophone in the GDYO Wind Symphony for four years, and their daughter, Rachel Kondrat, played guitar in the GDYO Jazz Orchestra for two years. Mrs. Kondrat was also a member of the GDYO program for seven years, serving as Principal Viola her junior and senior year of high school. She is thrilled to be giving back to the organization that launched her career in music.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY!

I grew up in Carrollton and went to Blalack MS and Newman Smith HS. I started playing with GDYO in the 6th grade because a friend of mine, Sarah Engledow, was in it. That’s where I met my first private teacher, Joni Baczewski, and started really getting into learning the viola. That start in my musical journey was the beginning of everything else that shaped my life. Michael Coren was one of my conductors and he told me he went to Eastman, and that’s where I wound up going to school. I didn’t know anything about the world of classical music, and the teachers and members of the GDYO organization taught me everything. I was fortunate to work with Mr. Gianguilio in the GDYO for several years and that’s where I got my training for becoming a professional orchestral musician. I still rely on my early knowledge every time I show up for a rehearsal early with my pencil in hand! The experience and training I received from GDYO is the pillar I built my career upon and I’m so thankful for my time in the ensembles. The directors and my peers shaped the future of my career.

HOW DID GDYO IMPACT YOU?

I loved rehearsing on Sunday afternoons and getting to make music with my friends. I was in the GDYO string quartet when the Meyerson first opened. Our quartet got to perform on the stage and it was exhilarating and terrifying! That memory is in my brain forever. I also have fond memories of the summer camps at Jesuit and having fun backstage at all of our concerts. Those experiences are what made me want to be a professional musician.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND EXPERIENCES IN MUSIC.

I am the principal violist in the Plano Symphony Orchestra and I still sub with the Dallas Opera. I also freelance in the area and just started a private studio in my home after teaching high school orchestra for the past twelve years. I was the head orchestra director at Vines High School in Plano for six years before moving to Plano Senior High School where I was the head orchestra director for another six years. I retired when my youngest graduated from high school so I could concentrate on teaching and performing on the viola. I have also held the Director of Education and Librarian positions with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. I’m also in a rock band with my husband called Your Mom’s Mixtape and recently started playing fiddle in a country band with neighbor who happens to be a songwriter!

HOW HAS GDYO IMPACTED YOUR FAMILY?

Two of our three children were involved with GDYO while they were in high school. Rachel was the guitarist in the Jazz Orchestra for two years and Ethan played alto saxophone in the Wind Ensemble for four years. My oldest daughter, Emily, is a vocalist so she was in the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas who often collaborated with GDYO. My husband is the director of the Wind Ensemble, so GDYO runs deep in our family!

WHAT ARE YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS?

I’m most proud of my children. They are wonderful human beings and all of them work hard and have a strong moral code. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I’m also very proud of my marriage. Jeremy and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary next June!

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER HOBBIES OR GOALS?

I thoroughly enjoy being active. I’ve run many marathons, half-marathons, a few 50k’s, and even a 50 miler! I’ve most recently gotten into weightlifting and am really enjoying the learning process that goes along with it. I love being in my bands and learning how to improvise on the violin and I have gotten way more comfortable singing in front of an audience. It’s a completely different approach to music, and it’s so much fun!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO CURRENT GDYO STUDENTS?

NEVER give up! If you make a mistake or fail at something it just means you’re learning. The beauty of learning music is that you’re never done, so enjoy the process!

THANK YOU APRIL FOR STEPPING INTO GDYO’S ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SHARING THE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GDYO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,
CONTACT CHARILYNE ROJAS AT CHARILYNE@GDYO.ORG.