VYO Senior Spotlight!

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Neil Hutcheon, trombone
Essex High School
Joined VYOA in 2013
VYO – 2 years
Vermont Youth Philharmonia – 2 years

 

 

 

What do you love about playing your instrument? 
Trombone is a great instrument for me since I love really brassy, awesome music (or maybe I like that music because I play trombone) and trombone always gets the most powerful fanfares in that sort of music. Also, it is a very versatile instrument and can be played in a large array of music genres.

What has been the most memorable experience that you have had with VYO?
My most memorable piece was probably the Bacchanal from Samson and Delilah. I was playing the bass trombone part and at the end of that piece I pretty much just got to play as loud as I could and it was an absolute blast. Also, the tour to Iceland [in 2015] was amazing and I wouldn’t have made some of the great friends that I still have today.

What would you like to change about the classical music world?
If I could change classical music I would change people’s mind set about it. I think people need to realize that it’s so much more than just a fancy night out for rich retirees. It’s such an expansive genre that once you explore deeper into it anybody can find a composer or piece that they like and can relate to.

What was your biggest musical breakthrough?
My biggest breakthrough was last summer when I was playing the Debussy Nocturnes and the brass section was told that we were playing together but separate. We were asked to listen to the other sections in the orchestra rather than just our own. This realization not only made me listen to the other sections more but also to myself. It really improved my playing stylistically and my intonation.

What other sports/groups/activities are you involved in?
In the winter I am captain of our Varsity Nordic Skiing team but in the other seasons I play as much music as I can, including pit orchestras, jazz band (both in school and outside) and I also play with a fusion combo called the Nomads.

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be & why?
This is a hard question because it probably changes every week for me but as of now I would love to play with Vic Wooten. Vic’s playing inspires me to get better even though he doesn’t play trombone, I would just love to get as good at extended techniques as he has. I think his mastery of the bass is what many musicians should strive for. I also think he would be great to jam with because he’s a super nice guy.

What are your plans after graduation?
Next year I’m planning on attending St Olaf college in Minnesota to double major in both music and computer science.

 

VYO Senior Spotlight!

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Connor Zwonik, percussion
Colchester High School
Joined VYOA in 2011
VYO – 3 years
Vermont Youth Philharmonia – 1 year
Vermont Youth Sinfonia – 1 year
Vermont Youth Winds – 1 year
 

 

 

 

 

What do you love about playing your instrument? 
I like how every time I play my instrument it can be heard.  Being able to be a powerful and driving force is fun when playing in the orchestra or band and I enjoy being able to lead the ensemble in many occasions.  I like how versatile percussion is and how there are many different instruments to play, from snare drum and timpani to drum set and marimba.  There is something for everyone in the percussion section.

What has been the most inspiring or memorable experience that you have had with VYO?
My most memorable experience with the VYO would definitely be my senior solo last December.  Being able to play at the OrchestraChorusPalooza Concert was very rewarding and it gave me an opportunity to play a not so well known piece.  It also gave the audience the chance to listen to a percussion solo which is not something that you hear every day.

What has been your most memorable experience throughout your high school music career?
My most memorable experience was participating in the New England Music Festival for all four years of high school.  I greatly enjoyed being a part of the festival because it gave me the opportunity to meet fellow students from around New England and it also gave me the chance to explore new music in both orchestral and band repertoire.

What other sports/groups/activities are you involved in?
I have been a part of my school’s band for all four years of high school and a part of jazz band for two years as well.  I have been a member of the Colchester High School Math Team for all four years and have been a member of the Speech Team for two years now.  I am also the secretary of the National Honor Society, I have played in the pit band for school musicals, became an Eagle Scout as part of the Boy Scouts of America, and have mentored fellow students in the district in math.

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be & why?
I would want to perform with Gustav Holst because he wrote many great pieces that utilized brass and percussion such as the Planets Suite.  I would like to learn from him and see how he crafted all those masterful works.

What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend a four-year college to study mathematics.

Online Auction Preview!

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Help us raise $10,000 for student financial aid …and have fun doing it!

The Online Auction opens one week from today. Click here for a sneak peek! Register to bid today and you’ll be ready when the auction opens.

Want to help us get a head-start on our goal? You can make a donation right now toward financial aid!

The VYOA would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all of the businesses and individuals who donated items for this fundraiser. Please patronize these businesses and tell them we sent you!

 

VYO Senior Spotlight!

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Caroline Tally, cello
Hanover High School
Joined VYOA in 2014
VYO – 3.5 years

What do you love about playing your instrument?
When I was little, I was enamored with the “friend-like” size of the cello and the deep, pure sound it made.  Also, like many young string players, I couldn’t help but compare my bow with a wand from Olivander’s Shop in Harry Potter!  Creating sound and making music seemed so powerful and magical.  Eleven years later, I still feel the same way.

What has been the most inspiring or memorable piece or experience that you performed/had with VYO?
Performing Beethoven No. 9 for the VYO’s 50th Anniversary in 2014 was incredible. The piece was a journey for me – daunting (and a bit of a stretch) at the start and triumphant at the close. After hours of rehearsal, it came together and felt like a huge celebration of talent and hard work from every section of the orchestra.

What would you like to change about the classical music world?
I would love to see the classical music world be less stuffy and more accessible to younger audiences.  I really appreciate the informality and high-level playing of the TURNmusic series and other unpretentious chamber groups popping up on the classical music scene.  My non-musical friends do not “get” how playing classical music can be “fun,” but these performances show the camaraderie and collaboration that many think is “reserved” for athletics and theater.  I am fortunate to have spent two summers at Kinhaven Music School in Weston, Vermont, where many of the most serious musicians I know play with barefeet.

What was your biggest musical breakthrough?
Shout out to my cello teacher, John Dunlop!  Studying with John throughout the past three years has been transformative.  After years of intentional and supportive Suzuki lessons, it was exciting to break-out of Suzuki repertoire and explore new pieces and études with John.  Never in a million years did I think I would ever get to play the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor!

What other sports/groups/activities are you involved in?
The cello seems to find its way into all areas of my life.  Last year, for an independent physics project, I researched the physics of sound and analyzed the sound spectrums of different cellos – including my teacher’s.  This year I have been reading a lot of Russian literature and exploring its connections to music and history.  When not thinking of ways to use music to make school more interesting, I am editor of my high school’s yearbook and a fair-weather skier and hiker. My sister, Courtney, and I also volunteer with the strings program at a local elementary school – which is very important to me.  My public school kindergarten teacher introduced me to the cello, and I am forever grateful.

What are your plans after graduation?
This summer I am really excited to be spending 8 weeks at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, Massachusetts.  I can’t wait to focus exclusively on music and be free of homework!  In the fall, I start at Williams College in Massachusetts, where I hope to double major in music and physical science.

 

VYO Senior Spotlight!

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Kate Mori, trombone
Burr & Burton Academy
Joined VYOA in 2015
VYO – 2 years

 

What do you love about playing your instrument?

I really like that the trombone can play in lots of different styles of music. It has been really fun to play in orchestras, bands, and jazz bands. The trombone is capable of being played in many settings and it has allowed me to explore different types of music.

What has been the most inspiring or memorable piece or experience that you performed/had with VYO?

The most memorable experience I’ve had with VYO was my first day of Reveille two years ago. I had never played in a full orchestra before and the sound was different from any group I’d gotten the chance to play in before. I enjoyed meeting a bunch of new people and experiencing the pieces we were playing come together really quickly.

What was your biggest musical breakthrough?

One of my most memorable musical experiences was my freshman year at All State Jazz Band. I had never been around musicians who were so serious about music and it was a really eye-opening experience for me. I realized that I could grow a lot as a player just by being surrounded by great musicians.

What other sports/groups/activities are you involved in?

All of my activities outside of VYO usually have to do with music. I play in my high school band, jazz combo, and after-school electronic music group. I also give trombone lessons and tutor at middle schools in my town.

If you could perform with any musician living or dead, who would it be and why?

If I could perform with any musician it would be Duke Ellington. He was such a major influence for jazz music. How he tailored the pieces specifically for his players added to the unique sound and style he created through his music.

What are your plans after graduation?

I’m going to college for either music performance or music education.