Two Choate Students Schowcase Talent In Julliard’s Pre-College Program Concert
By Michelle Nam ’10
News Reporter
Last Saturday, New York’s Juilliard School Pre-College Program held its annual concert, showcasing the abilities of the talented musicians in the program. Two Choate musicians, Asa Maynard ’10 (bass) and Elizabeth Stern ’08 (flute) were a part of the concert. Held at the Juilliard School’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater, the Pre-College Program had two performances; one by the program’s symphony, and the other by its orchestra.
The Pre-College program at Juilliard is one of the top conservatories, and it is a very challenging program. Asa Maynard ’10 said, “The pre-college program accepts kids from age 5 to 18 who are enrolled in a school and who are serious classical musicians. We are trained by some of the greatest music faculty in the world. On Saturday kids from all over the world come to the Juilliard campus in New York City- I have a friend who comes in from Texas every week- to take music theory classes, ear training, and rehearse with an orchestra or a chamber group, and private lessons. There’s also conducting class, composition class, and a lot of courses offered.”
Maynard is part of the Arts Concentration program at Choate, and plays his bass with the Chamber Orchestra. He was admitted to this program a year ago, and he recalls the audition process as stressful. “I had to audition in front of the whole panel of bass teachers at Juilliard, and although it was stressful, I’m really glad I was accepted!”
This was the first concert for Maynard since he joined the pre-college program. After finishing his first concert, he said, “I feel very, very accomplished and lucky, because it was such a great opportunity to play with such excellent musicians in the best environment…I thought the concert went really well, and I couldn’t be happier.”
The music selections performed at the concert were excellent. The symphony first performed Sparkle by Shafer Mahoney. It was the piece’s New York Premiere, and although the accidentals in the music were very hard, the symphony played it beautifully.
The second piece was Piano Concerto in D Major by Haydn. The pianist for the piece was a fifth grader who had won numerous competitions, and even played in Carnegie Hall at the age of seven. Even though she and the orchestra were very young in age, they played the difficult piece very well. After the intermission, they played Symphony No.4 in G Major by Mahler. Their technique was exquisite in this, and the piece with the soprano Jessica Klein was also well-executed.
Asa’s friends who came to New York City to support him all enjoyed the concert. Gabrielle Siegel ’10 said “There was actually a point in the fifth-grader’s piano piece when I forgot to breathe!” and Cynthia Deng ’10 said that “I wasn’t really interested in classical music before, but I came anyway to support my friend, but this concert was actually really good! I could tell that the musicians are better than a lot of people in the U.S- these are the top people, and it was great to see their performance.”
The Pre-College Program at Julliard in New York City performed in a concert on Saturday. Two Choate students, Elizabeth Stern ’08 and Asa Maynard ’10 were a part of the group. PHOTO/Michelle Nam '10
