06-27-2024 Howard - Flipbook - Page 51
Olivia Cai, a young Ellicott City violinist, has been selected to perform in the National Youth Orchestra this summer. She takes her final lesson with music teacher
Ronald Mutchnik before leaving on a family trip. PHOTO BY KEVIN RICHARDSON
to the most is performing under Alsop’s baton.
“I grew up going to concerts at the BSO
when she was music director,” Cai said. “She’s
so inspirational. I’m excited about having the
chance to play under her.”
Alsop wrote in an email from Hamburg,
Germany, where she was conducting North
Germany’s radio orchestra, that she didn’t
hesitate to interrupt her busy international
career to work with the young performers at
Carnegie Hall.
This will be Alsop’s second appearance
with the national youth orchestra, which she
previously led in 2017.
“As you know, I am deeply committed to
giving back,” wrote Alsop, who created the
BSO’s acclaimed OrchKids program that uses
music instruction to bring about social change.
“NYO is another manifestation of Carnegie’s
unwavering commitment to future generations.
I’m thrilled to be able to join for this anniversary
tour.”
Noting that Cai won third place in the Radda
Rise International String Competition last
summer, Mutchnik said he has no doubt that
his student could be a professional musician
if she chose.
“Olivia has always been very precocious,”
Mutchnik said.
“Many people can play the notes, but they
don’t know what to do with them. But Olivia
seems to innately understand how to express the
subtlety of music. She plays with a depth that is
equal to advanced college students.
“When I work with Olivia, I feel like I’m
coaching and giving advice to an experienced
adult. I’m not building her from scratch, I’m
just putting on the finishing touches. Teaching
her has been a total joy really.”
howardmagazine.com | Summer 2024 |
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