“In Philadelphia, a young person determined to play classical music is not without opportunities,” writes Peter Crimmins on Friday (1/4) at Philadelphia/Delaware radio station WHYY. “It was only a matter of time before students … started their own thing. The Center City Chamber Orchestra was launched last year by four high school students…. Oleksandr Kashlyuk, 18 … believes he can better prepare himself for a career in music as a co-founder of Center City Chamber Orchestra…. Since starting the ensemble last year as a senior in high school, Kashlyuk has graduated to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is studying bassoon. He also wants to conduct…. The Center City Chamber Orchestra has received support from Project 440, a classical music organization created by Philadelphia Orchestra assistant principal bassist Joseph Conyers, to help usher young talent into professional careers. [Co-founder Davey] Heister, 18 … regards running the Center City Chamber Orchestra as essential to his education…. Another co-founder, Marquise Bradley, 17, a senior at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts … has ideas about changing the concert format to make it more interactive with the audience. ‘We have a lot to say about the classical music world,’ he said.”
Posted January 8, 2019
In photo: Clarinetist Marquise Bradley, a founding member of the Center City Chamber Orchestra, plays during rehearsal at Settlement Music School. Photo by Emma Lee/WHYY
