Together from First Grade to First Stand
Sam and Liam have been members of MYS since fall 2021 and study violin with Ian Snyder (pictured left). They are now tenth graders in Repertory Orchestra and serve as co-concertmasters at Washburn High School.
When Sam and Liam entered the same first grade class at Burroughs Elementary, there was little indication they would become friends, let alone profoundly impact on each other’s musical paths. In fact, Sam barely knew Liam at all. What he did know—because Liam talked about it constantly—was that Liam played violin. By third grade, Sam was eager to start playing, too. “I just went up to him one day and said, ‘I know you play violin, who’s your teacher?’” Sam’s forever grateful for that referral: “Ian’s definitely the best teacher in America!” Liam echoes the same sentiment. Of Ian Snyder, his violin teacher since Kindergarten, he says, “He doesn’t mess around. He takes it seriously and he treats us like adults.” For both students, Ian’s influence extends far beyond technique. He pushes them, challenges them, and, as Sam puts it, “treats us like real musicians.”
Now tenth graders, Sam and Liam serve as co-concertmasters at Washburn High School—a fitting arrangement given their enduring musical parity: “We’re at the exact same level of violin, and we have been for like five years,” Liam explains. Despite this, neither sees the other as a rival, and they’re quick to praise each other's strengths: “I don’t think we’re competitive; he’s better at playing fast than me,” Sam says of Liam, who responds, “He’s better at sustained lyrical stuff—and he’s better at rhythm, which is arguably the most important thing.” As for who’s better at counting rests? “Probably me,” Sam declares. Liam laughs: “I just go on vibes, you know?”
It’s hard to imagine now, but both Sam and Liam were once adamant that they would never join an ensemble. As the years went by, Ian urged them to play in an orchestra, stressing it as an essential step for developing their musicianship. Liam remembers his steadfast response: “I was like, ‘Absolutely not. Never. That sounds like the worst thing in the world!’” Sam felt the same way, but had a solid excuse—his family was preparing to move to South Africa for his mother’s study abroad program. At some point Liam finally relented and enrolled in MYS. Shortly after, Sam’s mother’s program was canceled and he scheduled a last-minute audition. The two entered String Orchestra together as sixth graders in the fall of 2021, and immediately their perspectives shifted. Liam recalls how quickly MYS won him over: “I did it, and I loved it pretty instantly. And I love it more and more every single day.”
Of all the transformations MYS has prompted, perhaps the most surprising impact has not been on their playing but on how they listen. Repertory conductor Mr. Shogren urges the students to incorporate listening into their weekly practice. “I probably listened to the Wagner [Rienzi Overture] twenty-five times last week,” Sam remarks. Liam admits that orchestral music wasn’t even on his radar before joining MYS: “I never listened to classical music before. I was like, ‘Why would I ever do that? I play violin—that’s all I need to hear.’ But now, I don’t know what I’d do without it.” On Liam’s playlist is Barber’s Music for a Scene from Shelley—another of Repertory’s pieces this trimester. “I’d never heard of that piece, and now, if somebody was performing it, I’d want to go and see it.”
The two are quick to proclaim the violin as the best instrument, citing its prominent role in orchestral scoring. Still, there’s another section they both find particularly inspiring and captivating. “Violins have the coolest stuff, other than, like . . .” Sam hesitates, and then they both say in unison, “Horns!” Liam elaborates: “Ninety-nine percent of the time the violins get the majority of the notes, but then there’s one singular event where the horn gets to play, and it’s so tuff—that’s a slang term—don’t put that on the record!” Their enthusiasm shows how listening has helped them appreciate each musician’s unique—and sometimes epic—role in making a richer orchestral experience for everyone.
