LAHS clarinetists perform at Carnegie Hall
By Linda Taaffe
Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier
Los Altos High School students David Elliot and Jinsue Choi will perform at Carnegie Hall next month.
Town Crier Staff Writer
Despite the seemingly impossible odds, Los Altos High School students Jinsue Choi and David Elliot were the only two clarinetists from throughout the United States to be chosen to perform as members of the National Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall next month.
“It’s very uncommon,” said music director Don Miller about classmates from the same school being chosen for such an honor. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. I know they’re terrific music students, and I’m thrilled that they won.”
The two musicians auditioned last December with hundreds of other entrants aged 16 to 21, for a spot on the prestigious youth orchestra.
“I didn’t think I had a prayer. I was sure there were lots of better undergraduate students trying out,” said 17-year-old Elliot. “I’m not one of those guys who jumps up and down, but it’s really wonderful.”
Like Elliot, 16-year-old Choi said she never expected to earn a spot on the orchestra. Choi said she was shocked when she received an acceptance notice about two months after she sent in an audition tape.
“I had short notice and not much time to practice, so I didn’t expect to get in,” she said. “I’m really, really excited. It’s a real honor for us, especially since only two clarinetists in the whole nation were chosen, and we’re both from the same school and had the same teacher.”
Both Elliot and Choi have played alongside one another for about three years in the high school wind ensemble and as members of the California Youth Symphony. Both also study privately with Karen Sremac of Palo Alto.
Elliot has played clarinet for seven years and Choi has played for six years. Both said they practice about 15 to 20 hours a week.
“(Playing) is a priority above anything else,” said Elliot, who plans to pursue a career in music. “Clarinet is what I do best, and I really love it. I can’t envision doing anything else for the rest of my life. I’m really looking forward to performing (at Carnegie Hall).”
Choi, who does not plan to pursue a musical career, said “I like playing because it’s a way to express myself and it gives me a lot of satisfaction to perfect myself musically.”
Miller said he believes both musicians were honored because of their “culmination of experience.”
As the concert date nears, both musicians rehearse for the final audition that will earn them either the first or second seat on the orchestra.
Elliot and Choi both said they are accustomed to playing side by side and the final audition has not made them competitive against each other.
The Youth Orchestra is scheduled to perform under the direction of Lucas Foss Jan. 20 at Carnegie Hall.
The concert is scheduled to be broadcast on television and radio nationwide.
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