With members seemingly beyond their years in life experience, the Bakersfield Youth Symphony String Quartet graced the FM89 studios with individual stories to tell, in addition to the musicians’ performances of Bach, Haydn, Tchaikovsky and more.
Violinist Henry Song, a Stockdale H.S. senior and in his second visit to Young Artist Spotlight, came ready to tell us of his football prowess and his hopes for the future on a college gridiron. Hearing his violin mastery, one hopes he insures his fingers!
Violinist and Stockdale H.S. sophomore Jennifer Pusavat is an avid reader in the fields of social science and historical fiction. Her passion for learning, reading and for “the clear, songlike sound” of the violin are hard to miss.
Violist Pedro Graterol, as a member of the world-famous and highly-competitive National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela, performed under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in the 2013 Salzburg Festival and in Caracus last year under Gustavo Dudamel. Pedro was born in Venezuela just 15 years ago. In fact, he and his family only recently (October 2014) came to the U.S. and the to Valley. Pedro is a sophomore at Centennial H.S.
Cellist Fabian Gonzales, Miramonte H.S. junior, says it was a case, at age 10, of cello “love at first sight” when he first saw a Jaquelline du Pre television performance. In this recording, we will let him tell you how and when his family finally presented him with one. And he will tell you of his other hobby, knitting.