Devon had been preparing for the Des Moines Youth Symphony Concerto Competition for months. Through the process, he had learned to collaborate with a piano accompanist, detailing what he wanted in the music. Both Devon and our accompanist, Joyce Moeckly, expressed their excitement after the audition. We then received news that Devon had won the Concerto competition the next day. He will be performing four shows with the Des Moines Symphony at their family concerts on March 5 and 6. Congratulations to Devon for this extraordinary and honorable opportunity!
Category: Cello
Des Moines Youth Symphony Fall Concert 2023
This is the first year where both Devon and Connor are in the Des Moines Youth Symphony together. The kids had their first concert of the season last night.
2023 All State Music Festival
This is Devon’s fourth and final year at the All State Music Festival. He always strives to get a better chair placement each year. This year, he encountered a mishap. A piece of sheet music was displaced in all the cello folders. When the association had discovered it, it delivered the missing sheet music to the local high school orchestra directors. Unfortunately for Devon, our local high school does not have an orchestra and our band director was unaware of the situation. He showed up on chair placement audition day and noticed an unfamiliar orchestral title on the excerpt announcement. After discovering he did not receive the music, he had to acquire the new music and practice for the audition that would take place in an hour. He made an impressive 8th chair despite of it.
Ankeny Community Chorus Spring Performance 2023
The Ankeny Community Chorus had approached Ankeny Centennial High School’s band director, Mr. Hook, to look for a cellist to accompany their performance. Mr. Hook has always been wonderful. He has helped us in registering Devon every year for the All State Festival and keeping us updated on the event by sending us audition times and passing us materials. There is no orchestra at Centennial and there are no cello parts in our band, but Mr. Hook is always gracious to work with us, treating Devon like he was one of his band students. We heard from our friends that he would even include Devon’s name in his announcement during a band concert when congratulating the All Staters. Mr. Hook had given our contact to the chorus and while they were looking for a cellist, they were also looking for a flute player for the higher part. We had suggested maybe Connor could play the violin for the higher part. The boys met with the chorus and they loved them. What an unique experience to hear the sound of your instrument with singing voices! The boys had a great time rehearsing and performing with the chorus.
Side-by-side symphony performance
Every year, the youth symphony has the opportunity to perform alongside with the Des Moines Symphony. This weekday matinee performance is usually attended by 4th graders to introduce them to orchestral music and instruments, as they begin participating in band and orchestral activities the next year. The side-by-side concert had been cancelled for the past two years due to covid. Hence this is the first year Devon gets to participate in the event. It was a thrilling experience.
Online Cello Lesson
We have decided to switch to virtual music lessons during the pandemic. It was a great time to explore different options. We came across a service called “Virtu Academy”. The teachers on that site were graduates from top music schools. We had set Devon up with Mr Andrew Briggs. He is a performing artist currently residing in Paris who had attended Julliard. We enjoy having him as Devon’s teacher. He has a great personality and seems to connect with Devon.
Paganini’s Moses Variations on one string
Devon and I were practicing the Paganini’s Moses Variation on one string to perform at his school talent time show. It’s an emotional piece for me because this was the piece we were working on when I lose my hearing in my left ear. Being very sensitive to music and sounds, I grieve the lost of the joy of hearing with both ears. While I love performing it with Devon, this will always remind me of my loss. This incredible cello solo was played solely on the A string with some “killer” harmonics. The middle school audience did not all appreciate his performance, but he enjoyed playing it for them.