Since 1970, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO)’s Youth Orchestra has been a prestigious ensemble of young musicians, ranging from as young as 12 to as old as 22. Now, two students from Mehlville High School — senior Eva Brown and junior Zaide Rosso — have joined in the orchestra’s legacy, bringing their talents and tunes to the troupe.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and playing challenging and unique music,” Eva said. “It’s music that I’ve never played before.”
Preliminary auditions began in March. This wasn’t Eva’s first time trying out for the Youth Orchestra; she had given it a shot her freshman year, inspired by a friend who played in the orchestra, but was discouraged when SLSO passed on her audition. For two years, she grew her craft with the French horn before returning and being accepted.
Meanwhile, Rosso — who plays the clarinet — was practicing hard for his own auditions. Final auditions took place in late spring; the hopeful students were able to submit a recording of themselves for this audition, giving them the chance to perfect the clip before submitting.
“I heard Zaide’s recording, and I’m a clarinet player as well,” Tony Brown, the Mehlville High School band director — and Eva’s father — said. “I had a good feeling about Zaide, because even if there was a college kid, they were going to have to play really well. So I thought he would have as good of a chance as anybody.”
In late June or early July, the news finally came: Eva and Rosso had made it. Eva and Tony were in Colorado Springs for a golf tournament at the Air Force Academy, and Rosso was at a summer UMSL geospatial camp. He says that, even though the camp had a restrictive phone policy, when he saw the acceptance email, he had to rush off to tell people the good news.
“It was an indescribable feeling,” Rosso said.
Eva and Rosso began their work with the Youth Orchestra in September. The program, which is limited to 100 students, pairs them with professional SLSO musicians who act as mentors, depending on the instrument. Eva and the other French horn players work with Thomas Jöstlein, who has been the Associate Principal Horn of SLSO since 2010; Rosso and the other clarinet players work with Robert Walker, who was appointed to Associate Principal/E-flat Clarinet of SLSO this year.
“Working with (Jöstlein) has been a delight,” Eva said. “Getting to work alongside him, getting to hear his sound. He really has helped us out with any challenging passages or phrases that we might be having trouble with. Having a mentor with us is kind of unique, and I think it accentuates the experience for Youth Orchestra.”
During practices — which typically take place at the historic and newly-renovated Powell Hall — the Youth Orchestra works toward a series of performances. The program lasts from September to May, and by the end of that time, Eva and Rosso will have performed in three concerts. The first took place on Nov. 23. There will be one on March 29, and the final concert will take place on May 31.
Eva and Rosso are honing their craft alongside other young musicians. For Eva, the French horn section is filled with local high schoolers, while Rosso has had the chance to play alongside a college student.
“She’s been playing the clarinet for 12 years,” Rosso said. “That’s double mine. It’s really inspiring to see that kind of motivation. You can learn a lot from when she’s taking a solo, when she’s playing.”
Both of the Mehlville students have expressed a newfound passion for orchestral music, even preferring it to band. While Tony Brown says he can’t help but feel some disappointment from this — both as a band instructor and a father — he says it makes him smile, because he loves to see them enhance their craft and grow as musicians. He jokes that they are becoming “orchestral snobs.”
Furthermore, he knows how rare and special it is that two young people in a highly selective orchestra are from the same high school.
“So far, their voyage through it has been exciting, and I think there’s more good stuff to come,” Tony said.
