This Senior Spotlight features seniors in our Oboe, Trombone, and French Horn sections. Learn more about Becky, Timothy, and Rebecca below!
Becky
Becky has been a TRYPO musician for four years, playing oboe in Wind Symphony, Young Peoples Orchestra, and Youth Chamber Connection. She was also the winner of our Concerto Competition this year. She joined TRYPO because of the orchestra experience. “I wanted to be surrounded by musicians that love music as much as I do!”
When asked about her favorite TRYPO memory, Becky shared, “There are too many amazing memories, but one that sticks out to me right now is rehearsing with Manfred Honeck. I’ve seen him conduct the PSO in almost every concert over the past four years, so finally being able to work with him for a little bit was incredible. This rehearsal was also a side-by-side day where my teacher, Max Blair, was playing next to me, and the absolute best woodwind coach ever, Jim Rodgers, was sitting behind me!”.
Becky is graduating from Bethel Park High School this year and will be pursuing a degree in Oboe Performance and hopes to play in an orchestra one day. Her advice to future TRYPO musicians is, “Always remember that having fun while doing something we love is the main goal of TRYPO! Completely understand the music- listen to multiple recordings, look at a score, research the piece, and know how it’s supposed to sound!”
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Timothy
Timothy has been a member of TRYPO’s percussion section for three years, playing in Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble. “As a piano major at CAPA High School, I did not have room in my schedule to perform in a large ensemble, so I was looking for one in the community. I had played in another community wind ensemble in middle school, but it was not for high school-aged students. Performing with TRYPO enabled me to study with varied and talented conductors and helped hone my skills as a classical percussionist.” he says.
Timothy’s favorite TRYPO memory is playing timbales in the piece “Elixir.” “It was a very exciting and rhythmic piece, and it came together beautifully. It was fun to be such a big part of the music. It was directed by Mr. Lavelle, an instructor who has always inspired me to reach my full musical potential,” he says.
Timothy’s plans include attending the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and working in computer engineering. Timothy formed a gigging jazz band during the pandemic. He would like to continue performing on his vibraphone and piano and plans to continue his profession as an audio engineer.
Timothy’s advice to future TRYPO musicians is “Practice. Reach out to each other and to your instructors for advice, support, and knowledge. Find ways to grow musically, stretch your limits, and remember to keep it fun!” When reflecting on his time in TRYPO, Timothy adds, “This group of TRYPO students endured a lot of difficulty during the pandemic, but we managed to learn and grow in spite of that. I am proud of our ingenuity during pandemic recitals and proud of our ability to stay together and continue to make good music during some very frightening times.”
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Rebecca
Rebecca has played French Horn in TRYPO’s Young Peoples Orchestra for one year. When asked why she joined TRYPO, she shared, “Considering that horn is my fourth instrument, I wanted to challenge myself and further my music career by playing it at a higher level. Similarly, I wanted a new experience that would allow me to pursue my passions within a large group of like-minded people, as I have spent most of my musical career playing within smaller groups or individually.”
Rebecca’s favorite TRYPO memories include the opportunity to meet new people who also enjoy music as much as she does. She loves talking to people about their musical experiences and passions during the fifteen-minute rehearsal breaks. It allows her to learn more about the various experiences of those around her. Rebecca is graduating from Sewickley Academy, and she plans to study biochemistry on the pre-medical track while at college. She hopes to continue her studies in both piano and horn through both large ensembles and private lessons. Rebecca’s advice to new TRYPO musicians is to “work hard, have fun, and make lots of new friends.”
Stay tuned for our final Senior Spotlight of the 2021-22 season!