A passion for music, along with natural-born talent, has taken Turlock High students Kate Matson and Trevor Purdy and Pitman High student Esther Grace Elia to the All-State Orchestra.
“It is an amazing accomplishment, there is no doubt about it,” said Sharon Elia, mother of Esther. “It is an enormous honor that indicates enormous talent and hard work.”
The three Turlock musicians were the only students selected from Stanislaus County and they competed against hundreds of students state-wide to land a spot in the All-State Orchestra.
Matson and Elia, violinists, and Purdy, a bassist, played in the All-State Orchestra on March 12 and 13.
All three music students developed their love of music at a young age, and all three plan to continue their education and experience in the music field.
Matson is currently playing in the high school orchestra, as well as studying at the San Francisco Conservatory. With her senior year coming up, she is already planning on attending the Jacobs School of Music then transferring to its sister school in Vienna, Austria. She hopes to one day become a conductor. Matson started taking violin lessons at the age of two, then added her talents to the piano later on. She played with the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra at the age of five and now her talents have taken her to the state level as a junior at Turlock High.
Purdy also plays in the high school orchestra, as well as the orchestra quintet and the jazz band. He has taken on the role of Turlock High Orchestra president this year and has been awarded the Turlock Outstanding Classman each year by his peers. He also participated in the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra where he was the principal bassist for three years. This isn’t his first time being selected to the All-State Orchestra, as he has participated in the Honor Orchestra Symphony numerous times. He currently teaches at California State University, Stanislaus.
Elia started her musical journey at the age of three when she started playing the piano. She then added the violin at the age of five. She has also participated in the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as the California State University, Stanislaus Chamber Orchestra. She is also active in her school orchestra where she is the first Pitman High student to make it to the All-State Orchestra.
To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.
“It is an amazing accomplishment, there is no doubt about it,” said Sharon Elia, mother of Esther. “It is an enormous honor that indicates enormous talent and hard work.”
The three Turlock musicians were the only students selected from Stanislaus County and they competed against hundreds of students state-wide to land a spot in the All-State Orchestra.
Matson and Elia, violinists, and Purdy, a bassist, played in the All-State Orchestra on March 12 and 13.
All three music students developed their love of music at a young age, and all three plan to continue their education and experience in the music field.
Matson is currently playing in the high school orchestra, as well as studying at the San Francisco Conservatory. With her senior year coming up, she is already planning on attending the Jacobs School of Music then transferring to its sister school in Vienna, Austria. She hopes to one day become a conductor. Matson started taking violin lessons at the age of two, then added her talents to the piano later on. She played with the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra at the age of five and now her talents have taken her to the state level as a junior at Turlock High.
Purdy also plays in the high school orchestra, as well as the orchestra quintet and the jazz band. He has taken on the role of Turlock High Orchestra president this year and has been awarded the Turlock Outstanding Classman each year by his peers. He also participated in the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra where he was the principal bassist for three years. This isn’t his first time being selected to the All-State Orchestra, as he has participated in the Honor Orchestra Symphony numerous times. He currently teaches at California State University, Stanislaus.
Elia started her musical journey at the age of three when she started playing the piano. She then added the violin at the age of five. She has also participated in the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as the California State University, Stanislaus Chamber Orchestra. She is also active in her school orchestra where she is the first Pitman High student to make it to the All-State Orchestra.
To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.
