Hometown: Atkinson, New Hampshire
Major: Tuba Performance
Degree: M.M.
Class of 2011
Undergraduate School: Eastman School of Music
Teacher: Mike Roylance
How did you become interested in NEC and why did you choose to study here?
“I began taking lessons from a NEC doctoral candidate in high school and have been a fan of the school ever since. After spending time as a full time professional, playing with the Syracuse Symphony, Rochester and Buffalo Philharmonics, and as Principal Tubist of the South Bend and Honolulu Symphonies, I could think of no better place to come to get a world class graduate education.”
What do you like about your program?
“I've never been in such a supportive and amazing place. My studio teacher is an incredible musician and a great influence on me. The Entrepreneurial Musicianship program, which will help us as professionals beyond performance, is very exciting to me. Also, my weekly Technology in Education class has been a mind opening experience every week. It has totally changed my understanding of how I learn and go about achieving my goals. Finally, my work at the Student Activities Center has been a real blast and has gotten me interested in many (probably too many) exciting projects.”
What do you like about Boston?
“There's no better city in the country to be a young musician. There is a tremendous amount of support for the arts here and it really shows in the world class performances that take place here every day. There is no substitute for this kind of unique exposure. I really feel that the future of the music business is being born here. It's also a heck of a bar town!”
Do you have any musical influences?
“Like just about every other brass player alive right now, Star Wars convinced me to pick up the tuba at school. But it was the music of Stravinsky, Hindemith, Mahler and Prokofiev that really started my love affair with classical music, as well as the wonderful teachers and music programs I was a part of in high school that exposed me to their amazing music. My goal is to share this great music with as many people as I possibly can.”
2010-07-01
SARAH VAUGHAN