For our next Senior Spotlight of the 2022-23 season, we are featuring three seniors from our flute, clarinet, and percussion sections. Learn more about Elizabeth, David, and Grant below!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth has been a part of the #TRYPOfam for three seasons. During her time in TRYPO, Elizabeth has played flute and piccolo in Young Peoples Orchestra and Youth Chamber Connection. She has also participated in the TRYPOsphere program. Elizabeth joined TRYPO because of her teacher’s encouragement. “My teacher recommended that I audition for TRYPO in May of 2020. Everything was still online at that point, including my audition. Despite this, I could tell that I was entering a warm and welcoming community. The staff and administrators of TRYPO have been deeply involved with all aspects of the orchestra, and are incredibly supportive of its members as individuals and as an ensemble.” Her favorite memory from her time in TRYPO is playing Capriccio Espagnole in Heinz Hall and later Carnegie Hall. “I had been placed on principal flute, and my friends in the oboe, clarinet, and bassoon sections were also all on principal. Preparing the piece was an incredible process, and it was amazing to hear it all come together in such famous concert halls” she says. Elizabeth’s future plans include attending Bard College and Conservatory this fall to begin a dual degree in flute performance and anthropology. “I hope to pursue ethnomusicology—the study of why and how people are musical—and study how people and communities interact with music, music pedagogy, and musicians. I am especially interested in exploring the intersection of music and folklore!” Her advice for future TRYPO musicians is “TRYPO provides countless amazing opportunities for students, and I recommend taking as many of them as you can! You’ll not only build musical skills but learn how to interact meaningfully with your community and come to a fuller understanding of how to truly be a musician.”
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David
David has been a percussionist with TRYPO for nine years. He has participated in Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, and Young Peoples Orchestra. When asked why he was interested in joining TRYPO, he responded, “My mom was on TRYPO’s board of directors and made me aware of the opportunity to play with the wind ensemble and then eventually the main orchestra.” His favorite TRYPO memory is getting to perform at Carnegie Hall during the Conquer Carnegie Tour. David is graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School and he plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a double major in economics and percussion performance.
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Grant
Grant has been a member of TRYPO’s clarinet section for five years. During that time, he played in Wind Symphony, Youth Chamber Connection, and Young Peoples Orchestra. He joined TRYPO because of his teacher. “I was in middle school, and I heard about it through my teacher! She thought it would be a great opportunity and it has become one of the things that I genuinely look forward to during the week!” When asked about his favorite TRYPO memory, Grant said it was the Conquer Carnegie Tour and performing at Carnegie Hall. “It was an absolutely amazing experience to be able to play with my friends in one of the world’s greatest concert halls.” Grant is graduating from Shady Side Academy and will be attending Oberlin Conservatory in the fall to study clarinet performance. His advice he would like to share with future TRYPO musicians is, “As cliché as it sounds, create friendships with your section, and don’t stop practicing!”
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Check back next week to see the next group of seniors we are highlighting!