Eleven Greenwood School of Music students from Oklahoma State University were selected to participate in a mentorship program with the New York Philharmonic. The selected students were Maria Severese, Blake Hilligoss, Rodrigo Quintana, Yian Wang, Dylan Parks, Aurian Kutner, Hannah Hartwig, Hope Talton, Jacie Gray, Ethan Do, and Dylan Halliday.
The New York Philharmonic and The McKnight Center partnered and allowed the selected students to travel to New York City from March 14-18 for a unique residency mentorship program.
The partnership between The McKnight Center and the New York Philharmonic is part of a three-year residency program. During the program, OSU students received one-on-one coaching and mentoring from accomplished musicians from New York Philharmonic.
"We've had a strong relationship with the New York Philharmonic since they performed the inaugural concerts when The McKnight Center opened in 2019. When we created this multi-year partnership, we knew how special it would be to include an opportunity for students to travel to New York and build upon this relationship to have true mentors in the orchestra field," said Mark Blakeman, the Marilynn and Carl Thoma executive director of The McKnight Center.
The program also brings the New York orchestra to Stillwater on a regular basis and provides educational opportunities for OSU's Greenwood School of Music and Stillwater Public Schools students. Each year, the residency includes a gala event, public performances, a youth education concert, and a multitude of masterclasses where students can interact with their musician mentors. The musicians mentoring in the program included Assistant Principal Viola Cong Wu, cello player Nathan Vickery, and Principal Oboe Liang Wang.
"This experience goes far beyond traditional classroom learning and empowers students to develop a network of expert advisors,” said Dr. Brant Adams, Interim Director of Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music. “Building a professional relationship with musicians of this caliber is truly a rare opportunity for these students."
Students chosen for the program were chosen for their talent in each of their respective programs of study.
The students were accompanied by Greenwood School of Music professor Dr. Thomas Lanners with The McKnight Center's Director of Education and Community Engagement as a program liaison.
“I am so excited for my peers and I to learn more at a personal level from the New York Philharmonic. Seeing more of how they operate on a day-to-day basis will be so informative for our futures," selected student Hope Talton said.
“I am very grateful for such a unique opportunity. It is rare for the average student to have the opportunity to work so closely with our heroes. I hope to evolve my understanding and love for music during this residency," said Ethan Do, another selected student.
The New York Philharmonic and The McKnight Center wanted students to gain insights into the world of professional orchestral performance to help them succeed in their own musical careers.
"We believe that investing in the next generation of musicians is crucial for the future of the performing arts as a whole. We're proud to play a part in enhancing and elevating their educational experience at OSU," said Blakeman.