Amy Methven, a senior at Riverhead High School, began playing the violin when she was eight years old. She has participated in All County Music Festivals since she was in fifth grade. Her hard work and practice has paid off. Amy is one of only 100 high school musicians selected from high schools throughout the country who have been chosen to attend and perform in the All National Honor Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious All National Music Festival in Nashville, TN in October. This amazing musical experience will conclude with a performance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House.
This select group of students will have the opportunity to work with internationally recognized conductor Gerard Schwarz, of the Seattle Symphony, during a three-day conference leading up to their performance on October 29. There were reportedly 10,000 applicants for 100 orchestra seats. Students will attend rehearsal and training sessions during the three days prior to their performance. The students in the orchestra will be playing a symphonic poem called “October,” by 20th century Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
“Gerard Schwarz is a celebrity in the classical world, and I am really, really excited to play under his direction and meet all the other music students who will be attending the music festival,” Methven said.
RHS orchestra teacher, Marisa Macchio, encouraged Amy to apply for All-National honors. “Amy’s enthusiasm is what makes her stand out from her peers,” said Ms. Macchio. “She is constantly striving to improve and is always open to new and constructive criticism to help her learn a skill or play a difficult musical passage.”
“I am very busy,” Methven said, “I spend several hours outside of my regular school day going to private lessons, youth orchestra and pre-college classes a Stony Brook University. If I’m not doing that, I’m practicing, studying or working,” she said. “It is a big commitment, but I love it.”
Methven is very busy. In addition to her musical pursuits, she is ranked sixth in her graduating class, is a member of Mentathletes, the National Honor Society and Latin Club. She is also a co-captain of the Varsity Girls’ Tennis Team and has a job at the Dilberto Winery. Amy plans to continue to play the violin in college but major in neuroscience.
Source: Press release from the Riverhead Central School District, dated September 29, 2014.
Photo: Sandra Kolbo, Riverhead Central School District
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