On Thursday, Jan. 24, the Wyeth String Quartet members shared their passion and energy for great classic and contemporary quartet music with members of Highland Park High School’s Highlander Strings Orchestra. Formed in 2004, the Quartet, formerly known as the Fort Worth Symphony String Quartet, is comprised of the orchestra’s principal string players Laura Bruton, Adriana DeCosta, Leda Larson and Michael Shih.
Along with building on its reputation with a full schedule of performances, the Wyeth String Quartet devotes time to special educational performances and teaching environments for young musicians.
“All of us started out as young music students, and we haven't forgotten those who took the time to help and encourage us along the way,” said Laura Bruton. “It is vital for musicians today to foster the love of classical music in young people in order to have performers and audience members tomorrow.”
Following an afternoon performance in the Highland Park High School auditorium that included a diverse line-up of pieces from Beethoven and Schumann to Argentinian composer Libertango and contemporary artists such as Coldplay, Quartet members answered questions from the young musicians and offered coaching during a concert "clinic" in preparation for the upcoming UIL Solo and Ensemble competition. (A concert clinic is simply an environment where professional musicians listen to the students play, and they offer tips on what they can improve upon and have them try different techniques right then and there.)
“I think it is important to work locally, as we are professionals just 30 miles from Dallas” said Michael Shih. “If we can reach out and inspire even just one young student, our mission has been accomplished.”
Three student quartets shared their pieces with the group and were critiqued during the workshop portion of the afternoon: Mary Houle, David Weign, Kristi Kway, and Mark Houle performing Mozart’s Menuetto from the Quartet in D; Preston Luthy, Xiaohan Gao, Andrew Hedges, and Vinaik Sundaresan performing Beethoven’s 1st movement from Opus 18 Quartet; Jiamin Zhou, Lily Chen, Elizabeth Keckeisen, and Miller Susens performing Borodin’s Quartet No. 2 in D-Movement III.
“The most enjoyable aspect of working with the students of the Highland Park Orchestra was the openness and willingness of each of the participants to try some of the ideas we presented to each group,” explained Adriana DeCosta.
Perhaps the best piece of advice the members of the Wyeth String Quartet shared with the young musicians in Highland Park was to simply listen. “Listen to recordings, listen to as many live performances as possible, listen to coaches and teachers, and most importantly listen to yourself carefully and critically every day,” stressed Bruton.
“And most obviously, don’t give up,” chimed in Leda Larson.
The concert and clinic were funded by a grant from HP Arts, a non-profit corporation supporting arts education in HPISD for 25 years. For more information on the Wyeth String Quartet, click here.
Below are the HP orchestra students who received first division ratings at UIL Solo & Ensemble.
Solo-First Division Rating Qualifying for State Competition:
Alyssa Chen, Claire Crofford, Xiaohan Gao, Mary Houle, Connie Jehng, Elizabeth Keckeisen, Margaret Peterman, Vinaik Sundaresan, David Weign, Reilly Wren
Solo-Performance First Division Rating:
Jack Beitter, Hope Cory, Morgan Dolmatch, Alicia Freeman, Benjamin Gruber, Cassie Helfer, Helen Hong, Mark Houle, Brooke Anne Jennings, Brett Klenk, Kristi Kway, Preston Luthy, Brittany Newton, Gem Nguyen, Alexa Quiroz, Isabel Standbridge, Julianna Szuwalski, Aileen Wang, Diana Wigginton, David Wiggs, Austin Woods, Jacob Young
Ensemble-First Division Qualifying for State Competition: Alyssa Chen, Lily Chen, Claire Crofford, Linda Du. Xiaohan Gao, Andrew Hedges, Mark Houle, Mary Houle, Elizabeth Keckeisen, Kristi Kway, Preston Luthy, Vinaik Sundaresan, Miller Susens, Julianna Szuwalski, David Wiegn, Jiamin Zhou
Ensemble-First Division Rating: Jacob Brunk, Kieran Burns, Ryan Buss, Benjamin Gruber, Connie Jehng, David Josephs, Jasper Van Cauwelaert de Wyles, Reilly Wren, Michael Zhao
Story by Mary Woods, courtesy of Rebeca Peterman, Highlander Strings Orchestra Booster Club. Photos courtesy of Julie Smith, Publicity for HP Arts.