1) When were you a member of LIYO and what did you play?
I was a flutist in the seasonal orchestra from 1993-1995 and continued with the orchestra during summers until 1999.
2) What are some of the strongest memories you have from being in LIYO?
It wasn’t easy to get out of bed early every Sunday morning as a teenager. But, once Mr. Dreiwitz lifted his baton and the music filled the rehearsal hall all of those Sunday morning cobwebs seemed to immediately drift away. The music was exhilarating and collaborating with such talented peers, playing some of the greatest music written was to this day one of the most defining and amazing chapters of my life.
3) What lasting lessons did you take away from your time at LIYO that you carry with you today?
There were plenty of lessons that I carry with me from my experiences in LIYO the most profound of which applies to all things in life and is something I try to instill in my children; if you work hard and focus intensively, giving it your all, beautiful and in some cases life changing results are possible.
4) Looking back, how would you say LIYO has led you to where you are today?
Aside from some of the most rewarding and special friendships, and opportunity to experience the thrill of great musical masterpieces, LIYO has provided me with the gift of having seen the world in a most unique way. Performing in some of the most famous concert halls, for audiences as diverse as Inuit families in Baffin Island to the Princess of Thailand, the experience of music and travel made me who I am today.
Professionally, in my work as an audiologist, my background as a musician assists in my understanding of sound, acoustics and resonance and I am able to better assist my many musician patients. I also educate young musicians, yes, even classical musicians about the risks of prolonged exposure to high intensity sound and encourage all musicians to conserve hearing by making noise protection part of regular practice.
5) Did you go on any of the summer World Tours? And if so, what years?
I went on the following summer tours; 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999.
6) If you did go on the summer tour, provide a memorable story from your trip (if you have one):
I cherish a myriad of LIYO tour memories; the puddle jumper to Greenland, the fascinating host stays and amazing people from around the world, sleeping in army barracks, being served a living sea creature as a meal in Japan, luxurious 5 star resorts, cookies for dinner sometimes, the elephant that blocked the road in Zimbabwe that made half the orchestra late for morning rehearsal, and sharing those memories and countless others with my sister and other wonderful friends.
One of the most vivid memories however, and the one with the most profound impact on my life was visiting the orphanage in Sound Africa in 1994. We performed for children who had never seen western instruments before and in a workshop immediately following our concert we allowed them to touch and try our instruments. And while the opportunity to share with the children was so wonderful, the choral performance that they prepared for us was by far the most magical part of that day. Their voices, their harmony and their souls filled our space and there were few LIYO members that weren’t teary eyed. The music from the voices of those children has stayed with me from that day.
7) What advice do you give to current LIYO members?
My advice to current LIYO members is to savor those Sundays! As difficult as it may be to get up and out, the music, the comradery, the experience as a whole is something that you will MOST CERTAINLY look back on and wish to recapture.
Dr. Stefanie Wolf has been a member of Audiology of Nassau County since June 2012 upon the completion of her doctorate in Audiology from Montclair State University.
Prior to beginning her studies at Montclair State, Dr. Wolf had completed a Master of Arts degree in 2002 in the area of International Relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. A Bachelor of Arts in International Relations was conferred from Tufts University in 1999. After working many years in the aerospace industry, Dr. Wolf opted for a career change that would enable her to interact with a broad based population and utilize some of the skills she had developed in the areas of conflict resolution, mediation and communication to improve quality of life issues.
The field she chose was Audiology.
Dr. Wolf’s four year post graduate degree studies included training in diagnostics, rehabilitation and counseling. She gained her clinical knowledge at a variety of settings including a large metropolitan hospital where she performed electrophysiological testing on newborn babies, a private practice in Manhattan where she assisted an esteemed neurology team in the diagnosis of vestibular abnormalities and at an inner city educational environment screening students for hearing loss and preparing teachers and students for classroom specific amplification. Finally, Dr. Wolf has trained extensively in the diagnosis of hearing loss and the prescription of appropriate amplification solutions for patients of all ages.
Dr. Wolf’s academic training included a research component that she developed during her last two years at MSU. Her thesis entitled Otoacoustic Emissions in adolescent musicians with and without tinnitus was presented in March 2012 at the Research Conference at the annual American Academy of Audiology conference in Boston Massachusetts.
Dr. Wolf is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and a member of the National Aging In Place Council
