District News

 High School Student Lands Spot in ESYO

 

October, 2010

 

Ruben McFarlane’s love of the viola and dedication to honing his skills recently paid-off. The ninth grade student at Canajoharie High School earned at spot in the Empire State Youth Orchestra. The ESYO has various ensembles, but Ruben, 14, landed a spot in the Youth Orchestra – reserved for technically sound players with the best musicality.

He’s been playing since the fourth grade and travels to Albany once a week for a three-hour practice session. You won’t find a music program at the high school he isn’t involved with.

Ruben also plays soccer and is on the swim and track and field teams. And while he’s dedicated to playing sports, his mother said he wants to go to college for music.

“It was his goal to be in the ESYO,” said his mother Susan. “They have professionals from all over that aren’t associated with the orchestra audition the children and rank them and he made it.”

The district’s orchestra teacher Leo Milman said Ruben is the type of student that can do absolutely everything.

“He manages to do well in all the subjects, play sports, and obviously practice and compete with top-notch students to be in the orchestra and be very social,” he said. “He’s well-rounded.”

Mr. Milman has worked with Ruben for five years, and said in that short span, he went from a beginner to a level six, which is the highest level by New York standards. Once a student achieves that level, they’re not considered a professional, but they’re on the track to becoming one.

“I once told his father, who thanked me for being a good teacher, that I believe there is such thing as being a really good student. It doesn’t take too much of my effort to teach him. I show him once and that’s enough for him to understand what he has to do,” Mr. Milman said. “He has a brain of musician. He has an unbelievable sense of musicianship and skill. I think that the instrument he chose to play was a perfect fit physically and mentally.”

During his time in school, Ruben has been involved in Milman’s "Summer Strings,” and two years ago, he played in the ESYO String Ensemble. Ruben will perform in various ESYO concerts during the year including the "Melodies of Christmas.” Each year, the orchestra performs the popular holiday program that has raised $6 million for the Child Cancer Program at the Albany Medical Center.