The Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to Danbury High School Senior, Braeden (Brady) Callaghan at its May 31st virtual concert and 2019-20 Season Celebration. Brady, a tuba player, is a long-time member of the WCYO, joining in the fifth grade as a member of the Wind Ensemble and moving to the Symphony Orchestra in seventh grade where he has been a leading member of the brass section for six years.
The annual WCYO College Scholarship is funded by the families, staff, and board members of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra and awarded based on essays submitted by its college-bound seniors and judged by its Board of Directors. This year’s essay asked the seniors to reflect on their time in the WCYO, and share what piece of repertoire they most enjoyed performing and how that experience affected them as a musician and as an individual.
For Brady, it was “Pictutes at an Exhibition” by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1831-1889), a piece he actually performed twice with the WCYO Symphony Orchestra, in his first year with the ensemble and again in his 10th grade year. The first time he attempted the tuba solo in the piece, it was an insurmountable challenge. Later it was not only a personal success, but a moment he surprisingly found less about himself and “his” solo, than it was in gaining a true understanding of the joys of ensemble performing.
“As I prepared the passage for a second time, it seemed as though it would be my moment, my chance to have the melody, at redemption, however it proved otherwise as I came to realize that music isn’t just about me. Throughout my eight years of playing in the WCYO, I have learned that playing in an ensemble, whether an orchestra, chamber group, band, etc. it is about the collective sound that everyone can make. The music you create with a group transcends ego and differences between one another, creating something that is entirely new through a language that has no words.”
a virtual video compilation from each of its three ensembles. Eric Mahl, WCYO Music Director and Symphony Orchestra Conductor, Sasha Ono, String Ensemble Conductor, and Albert Montecalvo, Wind Ensemble Conductor, each shared words of celebration and pride as they reviewed highlights of a year of rehearsals and performances and the many WCYO successes to celebrate, including its completion of the spring season despite the challenges of the current health crisis.
“The WCYO organization had a fantastic year!” states Laurie Kenagy, President of the WCYO Board of Directors. “The first two-thirds of the year, including two large concerts, a chamber concert, and a weekend chamber workshop program, was a true testament to the talent and commitment of our wonderful youth musicians. The final third of the year was a marvelous example of what can be done with creativity, ingenuity and dedication to share music under challenging circumstances. Our artistic and administrative staff went above and beyond to keep our members connected to music and to each other during this unprecedented spring.”
WCYO wishes all of its seniors much success in the years ahead and invites the community to join in wishing Brady well as he begins his college studies at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, this fall.
To learn more about the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra or to schedule an audition, please visit wctyo.org or call 203-894-8786.