Harmony on Pointe

Harmony On Pointe: An Encounter of Youth Artistry Poster

 In an unprecedented collaboration, Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras and the School of Ballet Arizona unite to bring live performance to life. This short film follows the journey of some extraordinary young dancers and musicians coupled with the steadfast dedication of two artistic leaders behind this compelling partnership as they prepare for the next production. With breathtaking talent and unwavering fervor, the film captures the profound impact of artistic collaboration and its enduring impact on young artists—who are the future.
Two art forms performing alongside each other is a humbling experience for all as the musicians have to be simultaneously immersed in what is happening on stage and its precise connection to the music.
– Matthew Kasper

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

They have to be ready for anything—at a moment’s notice things could change with a movement or sound yet it has to look and feel seamless for the audience.
– Maria Simonetti

 

A woman ballet dancer helping a young boy dancer with makeup.

A woman ballet dancer helping a young boy dancer with makeup.

Many ballet dancers in rows and lines and light colored costumes.

Many ballet dancers in rows and lines and light colored costumes.

Matthew Kasper waving to an audience.

Matthew Kasper waving to an audience.

Ballet Dancer Jumping

Ballet Dancer Jumping

Ballet Dancers in Costumes.

Ballet Dancers in Costumes.

Ballet dancers rehearsing, wearing black tops and in a light colored room.

Ballet dancers rehearsing, wearing black tops and in a light colored room.

Student musician with a black suit playing a trumpet.

Student musician with a black suit playing a trumpet.

A woman ballet dancer helping a young boy dancer with makeup.
Many ballet dancers in rows and lines and light colored costumes.
Matthew Kasper waving to an audience.
Ballet Dancer Jumping
Ballet Dancers in Costumes.
Ballet dancers rehearsing, wearing black tops and in a light colored room.
Student musician with a black suit playing a trumpet.
About the Film – Harmony on Pointe

In an unprecedented collaboration, the School of Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra unite to bring live performance to life. This short film follows the journey of these extraordinary young dancers and musicians as they prepare for the next production. With breathtaking talent and unwavering dedication, they showcase the transformative power of youth arts education, the profound impact of artistic collaboration, and the enduring importance of the arts in our world. A testament to passion and creativity, this film captures a moment unlike anything happening in the state—or perhaps the nation.

Orchestra conductor in black rehearsing with a youth orchestra and ballet dancers in the background.

Ballet dancers rehearsing.

Directors and Conductors

 

Adam Benavides - Filmmaker, Director, sitting with a grey long sleeved shirt.Adam Benavides – Filmmaker, Director
Adam Benavides is a seasoned filmmaker, director, and editor with a passion for storytelling that highlights diverse voices and artistic collaboration. As the founder of Adam Joel Creative, he has led a wide range of projects, from commercials and social media campaigns to documentary films and theatrical productions.

His latest work, “Harmony on Pointe”, captures the inspiring partnership between The School of Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras, showcasing the power of youth arts education. Adam’s work has been featured in collaborations with Ballet Arizona, Arizona Opera, Smithsonian Magazine, and the Phoenix Art Museum, reflecting his dedication to impactful and visually compelling storytelling.

 

Maria Simonetti - Rehearsal Director, Ballet Arizona, wearing a green shirt with a black background.Maria Simonetti – Rehearsal Director, Ballet Arizona
A native of Buenos Aires, Maria Simonetti trained as a dancer at Teatro Colon and danced with La Joven Guardia of Ballet Nacional de Cuba before becoming assistant to Laura Alonso and Regisseur (stage director) for Cuballet. She was on the faculties of the Magda Aunon School of Ballet, Pittsburgh’s Point Park College, and the Baltimore School for the Arts before becoming ballet mistress for the esteemed Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 1995. As assistant to choreographer Daniel Ezralow she helped create the multi-media production Mandala for a South American tour; Torino Notte di Stelle, an arts special for Italian national television (RAI Uno); choreography for Pope John Paul II’s celebration of International Youth Day; and Aeros, an innovative showcase for the Romanian National Gymnastics Team. On her own, Ms. Simonetti staged Lady Lost Found, for the Bratislava Dance Theatre in Slovakia, and the pas de six from Bournonville’s Napoli for the National Ballet of Greece. She became rehearsal director for Ballet Arizona in 1997 but continues her active career as a visiting artist. She returns to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago every summer as a guest teacher and was engaged in 2006 in a similar role by Montreal’s Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

 

Matthew Kasper, PYSO Artistic Director, standing and wearing a black suit

Matthew Kasper – Artistic Director, Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras
American conductor Matthew Kasper has established himself as a dynamic force in the artistic communities where he has performed. His ability to seamlessly bridge American music of the last century with its traditional European roots grants him a vast and diverse repertoire, with a particular devotion to elevating the works of composers such as Ives, Shostakovich, Weill, Copland, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.

Kasper’s versatility has been on full display through an array of innovative programs during his tenure as Assistant and then Resident Conductor of The Phoenix Symphony from 2015 to 2023. Over the course of more than 250 performances—ranging from subscription series and pops concerts to educational initiatives and chamber orchestra performances—he has captivated audiences and solidified his presence as a major artistic figure in Phoenix. Notable highlights from his time include masterful interpretations of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ives’ Second Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, and a two-year tenure as conductor for the prestigious Bösendorfer Piano Competition. In recognition of his artistic excellence and profound impact on the community, he was promoted to Resident Conductor in 2018.

Beyond Phoenix, Kasper’s reputation for compelling and emotionally resonant performances has garnered national and international recognition. In 2020, the Solti Foundation U.S. honored him with a prestigious Career Assistance Award. More recently, he participated in Jukka-Pekka Saraste’s highly regarded LEAD! program for young conductors, further honing his craft among some of the world’s top conducting talents.

A sought-after collaborator, Kasper has undertaken guest and cover-conducting engagements across the United States, Asia, and Europe. Recent seasons have seen him working with esteemed ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Milwaukee Ballet, Rochestrer Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony, Evergreen Symphony in Taiwan, San Diego Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has also conducted the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, Opéra National de Lorraine, Queens Symphony Orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony, and the Salt River Ballet.

Equally accomplished in the orchestra pit as he is on the concert stage, Kasper was named Principal Conductor of Ballet Arizona, a historic appointment marking the first time in the company’s history that such a title has been granted. This prestigious position came after his last-minute yet triumphant leadership of two major productions—Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Prokofiev’s demanding Romeo and Juliet—during the 2021-22 season. His leadership in ballet has also extended to frequent guest conducting appearances with New York City Ballet, where he has conducted All-Balanchine programs, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, in addition to leading the company on tour at the Kennedy Center.

As an opera conductor, Kasper excels in both classic repertoire and contemporary works, contributing to numerous acclaimed productions in the U.S. and abroad. His portfolio includes world premiere operas by Gerald Barry and Bruce Saylor, alongside celebrated performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, Britten’s Owen Wingrave, and Bernstein’s Candide, among others.

Dedicated to expanding access to music education, Kasper has served as Artistic and General Director of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) since 2020. Under his visionary leadership, the organization has forged meaningful collaborations that have greatly benefited young musicians. These include a conducting fellowship with Arizona State University and full-scale ballet productions in partnership with Ballet Arizona School, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Glazunov’s Raymonda, and the world premiere of a new ballet set to Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, choreographed by Ib Andersen. Passionate about making music accessible to all children, Kasper continues to build vital relationships to realize this vision. In recognition of his impact as a transformative arts leader, he was named a 2023 Piper Fellow by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a prestigious award granted to a select group of nonprofit leaders, providing significant financial support for professional and artistic development.

Kasper holds degrees in violin performance from Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music, where he studied under Burton Kaplan, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts, where he trained with Shmuel Ashkenasi. His chamber music training includes instruction from Marcy Rosen, Daniel Phillips, Robert Chen, and Roger Chase. He also earned a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Queens College under Maurice Peress and pursued further studies as a scholarship student at the esteemed Pierre Monteux School for Conductors.

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Matthew Kasper currently resides in Phoenix with his wife, three children, and their beloved golden retrievers, Bear and Lucy.

 

Karen LelandKaren Leland – Chief Communications Officer, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Karen Leland leads communications and public relations for Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a private, place-based philanthropy that supports Maricopa County’s nonprofit sector.  Leland’s work focuses on strategies that help bring the positive impacts and outcomes made by its grantees to the forefront. Before joining the Trust, she led communications and marketing operations for several initiatives and units at Arizona State University, including the Global Institute of Sustainability, the Office of Research and Economic Affairs, and Morrison Institute for Public Policy. Leland also worked in economic development serving organizations such as Greater Phoenix Economic Council, among others. She is a proud graduate of both Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and Phoenix College.