The Guest Artist Experience - Instrumental Music

Guest artists in the Kinder HSPVA Instrumental Department bring their talents to students through masterclasses, lectures, and performances. These artists teach about the history of their fields, push students to become better instrumentalists, and provide insight into possible career paths. Since the Instrumental Department is split into multiple ensembles — Orchestra, Band, Mariachi, Jazz, and Piano — a wide variety of professional musicians called “consultants” regularly work with students to help them hone technique on specific instruments and in specific styles. Students Amanda Quinonez, Jaylenn Holmes, and Ian Dessauer (all Instrumental ’21) shared their experiences with guest artists in Instrumental Music.

Violinist Jose Camacho is a consultant who works with the Mariachi ensembles. Jaylenn Holmes (Instrumental ’21) enjoys his violin classes because although he “grades us hard and is very demanding, he makes sure the violin line is on point, and has high expectations.” As a result, Jaylenn says, “He will always make you play to your potential.”

(Check out the video to see Junior Jaylenn Holmes play with her Mariachi ensemble for Discovery Green’s Cinco de Mayo celebration!)

Junior Jazz pianist Ian Dessauer enjoys the opportunities provided through guest speakers and consultants. With speakers such as tenor saxophonist and head of the Berklee woodwinds department Walter Smith III (Instrumental ‘98), composer and orchestrator James Francies (Instrumental ‘13), and composer and lead music supervisor for TUTS Alex Navarro, Ian says that “hearing stories and advice from people that excel in your desired career path is a great source of encouragement and inspiration.” With these speakers, students are able to have a dialogue and discussion, which “allows you to ask questions and decide if this is the path that you want to take in higher learning.” With consultants such as Greg Petito and Art Fristoe, students are able to be conducted by these professionals in their rhythm section class on a regular basis. Ian says, “When we bring in tunes to play with a group, the two of them bring critique and criticism in order to build upon our playing and ability further.”

With these guest artists, Amanda Quinonez (Instrumental ’21) reports, students are given “new knowledge about the history of [their] art area,” plus, they get to see performances for free! In addition, by getting to learn and work with these guest artists, students are able to build a network, which is especially important as the students graduate. Ian says, “In the end, our high school experience right now is about gearing up for the careers we will pursue in college and in the real world, so when guest artists come in and allow you to make contacts and connections, it’s like building up a resume for free.”