Practice practice practice: Ten students perform at Carnegie Hall

Written by Tracey Weiss

Photography submitted

Imagine playing Carnegie Hall, before you even turn 14.

It’s something that 10 young people can brag aboutts, after they performed at “The School for Strings Carnegie Hall 55th Anniversary Festival” on June 6, at what is one of the most famous venues in the world.

More than 450 young violinists and cellists converged in New York City to perform on June 6 at the hall’s Stern Auditorium.

“Sitting there on stage. It’s so big! Standing on stage was crazy! So many different people,” said Hope Hongo of the performance. She was joined by Kalah Cobb, Meera Dhingra, Elin Fazzino, Linnéa Fazzino, Jackie Goyzueta-Rhodes, Amanda Jiang, Gridley Scofield, Ananya Singhal and Andy Zhao. Hope is a rising 9^th grader at Conard High School.

Hope Hongo’s played Carnegie Hall twice. In February, she was there to compete in the Crescendo International Music competition and took first place for violin. Photo by Mamiko Hongo

“I thought it was a regular performance,” Meera said. “Then I got really excited. When we played together it was magical.”  She’s a rising 7^th grader at Sedgwick Middle School.

Elin, Linnéa’s younger sister, also performed. She’s going into 3^rd grade at Duffy Elementary School. “In the spotlight, you feel special,” she said. 

“I didn’t know the deal,” Linnéa said. “When my teacher talked about it, we started practicing more. I was practicing every day. It really paid off. Happy I did. I was really confident.” Linnéa will be going into 7^th grade at Kingswood Oxford School.

The opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall because they’re students at the Hartt Suzuki Program at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School Community Division.

“Suzuki is a philosophical approach to music education,” said Christie Felsing, Director of Teaching and Learning, Community Programs. “It arose out of war-torn Japan” and was created by violinist Shinichi Suzuki. “It was a way to bring hope back, so they started with the children, based on the philosophy that every child can learn given the right tools and working with their parent or caretaker.”

The Suzuki Triangle, Felsing explained, is based on the relationship that builds between the student, the parent/caretaker and the teacher.

“Students are immersed in the language,” Felsing said. “They learn by listening.”

The students who performed at Carnegie Hall from the Hartt School’s Suzuki program did what you’re supposed to do to get there: practice practice practice. 

Students build character as they develop their musical skills and build confidence and focus.

“The work ethic and concentration is a lifelong benefit,” she added. “The approach is joyful and fun but hard work.”

All of the students in the program were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. “It’s open to anyone. This is a really diverse group of students—they’ve been studying from 2-8 years. They were ready to do it.”

 “I’ve been playing for seven years. I like the method. You don’t just look at the notes,” Meera said. “You play from memory.”

Linnéa Fazzino, Elin Fazzino, and Meera Dhingra, right before performing at The School for Strings Carnegie Hall 55th Anniversary Festival in early June.

Students learn to play songs by playing them over and over and focusing on them. They have one private lesson, and one group lesson a week, and participate in monthly recitals, group concerts, and community presentations.

“It offers a rich experience,” Felsing said.

The program offers lessons in violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, brass, and flute.

“I’ve been playing for eight years,” Linnéa said. I remember seeing someone play. I thought it was cool.”

Elin was influenced by her older sister. “I watched Linnéa play.”

More than 450 young violinists and cellists converged in New York City to perform on June 6 at the hall’s Stern Auditorium. Ten of those students were from the Hartt Suzuki Program through the University of Hartford. Photo by Mamiko Hongo

Hope has been in the program since she was four. “It’s very much a community,” she said. “I’m really grateful for what Hartt has done for me. Hartt is very special. Some (Suzuki) groups are not as together as Hartt is.”

The School for Strings Festival was actually the second time Hope’s played Carnegie Hall twice. In February, she was there to compete in the Crescendo International Music competition and took first place for violin.

“We have the passion for playing,” Meera added. “Learning violin brought us opportunities we would never get.” WHL

Did you know?

During the concert, the students do what is called a “play down,” where selections from the Suzuki music books, featuring composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Nicolo Paganini are performed in reverse order, hardest to easiest; students enter the concert playing their most difficult piece to their least difficult.