Post by admin on Nov 14, 2008 11:34:26 GMT -5
www.app.com/article/20081113/COMMUNITY/811130402/1285/LOCAL09
FREEHOLD — Nayoung Yang has more experience than some musicians twice her age. And now, the young violinist has landed the opportunity to perform on one of the most prestigious stages in the world: New York City's Carnegie Hall.
The seventh-grader is performing three shows — Nov. 30, March 22 and May 31 — with the New York Youth Symphony as part of the award-winning program's 46th season.
The New York Youth Symphony has spotlighted some of the world's best young talents since 1963, according to a Monmouth Academy news release.
"I wasn't forced to do music," said Nayoung, 12, of Freehold. "Sometimes I believe it's something I really want to do, not just as a hobby. It's really got me far in life."
She has traveled around the world with the International Sejong Soloist, performing concerts with some of the best young talent from Australia, China, Korea, Singapore and the United States, according to Monmouth Academy in Howell.
Nayoung serves as an example of the kind of achievers the school attracts, faculty members said in a new release. Educators have come to expect great things from their students, they said.
"I had her for a couple of months," said Kathy Ford, an English teacher at the academy. "She has a wonderful, positive attitude.
"She practices every day and she's definitely advanced," Ford said. "She definitely goes above and beyond, and she's going to do something great with her life. She's doing really well; she's a girl of many talents outside of school. She plays the violin and the piano."
And, Ford adds, "she's an avid reader, reading everything from "Gone with the Wind' to "War and Peace.' She's a wonderful addition to the Monmouth Academy family."
The payoff for hard work comes with a price, and the road to Carnegie Hall was not an easy one. Nayoung said she practices every day, balancing school, homework and violin.
"My violin takes up most of my time," she said. "But, it's worthwhile. And, I don't regret starting it.
"My friends always stick next to me at school," she said. "And I really thank them for that, because I don't have time to go out with them."
Academy staff say hard work and dedication is not unusual behavior for their students.
"This is an example of the type of students we have here," said Tim Costello, acting director at Monmouth Academy. "We have many students who have tremendous individual talents as well as tremendous academic achievements. We are proud to have them as part of our student body."
Nayoung started playing violin when she was about 4 years old, she said. Her mother, Eun Hee Yang, had a friend whose son played also. Nayoung said she followed him to a lesson once and instantly became hooked.
"When I heard the sound I got really into it," she said. "I already loved music before."
She said besides classical music, she also listens to rock and pop music, such as Chris Brown and The Jonas Brothers.
She said she plays classical music on an antique violin made in the 1700s.
"It has a good sound that comes out of it, a deep sound. I think it's one of the good violins for me," Nayoung said. "The older it is the better, most of the time. So, I stick to the old ones."
FREEHOLD — Nayoung Yang has more experience than some musicians twice her age. And now, the young violinist has landed the opportunity to perform on one of the most prestigious stages in the world: New York City's Carnegie Hall.
The seventh-grader is performing three shows — Nov. 30, March 22 and May 31 — with the New York Youth Symphony as part of the award-winning program's 46th season.
The New York Youth Symphony has spotlighted some of the world's best young talents since 1963, according to a Monmouth Academy news release.
"I wasn't forced to do music," said Nayoung, 12, of Freehold. "Sometimes I believe it's something I really want to do, not just as a hobby. It's really got me far in life."
She has traveled around the world with the International Sejong Soloist, performing concerts with some of the best young talent from Australia, China, Korea, Singapore and the United States, according to Monmouth Academy in Howell.
Nayoung serves as an example of the kind of achievers the school attracts, faculty members said in a new release. Educators have come to expect great things from their students, they said.
"I had her for a couple of months," said Kathy Ford, an English teacher at the academy. "She has a wonderful, positive attitude.
"She practices every day and she's definitely advanced," Ford said. "She definitely goes above and beyond, and she's going to do something great with her life. She's doing really well; she's a girl of many talents outside of school. She plays the violin and the piano."
And, Ford adds, "she's an avid reader, reading everything from "Gone with the Wind' to "War and Peace.' She's a wonderful addition to the Monmouth Academy family."
The payoff for hard work comes with a price, and the road to Carnegie Hall was not an easy one. Nayoung said she practices every day, balancing school, homework and violin.
"My violin takes up most of my time," she said. "But, it's worthwhile. And, I don't regret starting it.
"My friends always stick next to me at school," she said. "And I really thank them for that, because I don't have time to go out with them."
Academy staff say hard work and dedication is not unusual behavior for their students.
"This is an example of the type of students we have here," said Tim Costello, acting director at Monmouth Academy. "We have many students who have tremendous individual talents as well as tremendous academic achievements. We are proud to have them as part of our student body."
Nayoung started playing violin when she was about 4 years old, she said. Her mother, Eun Hee Yang, had a friend whose son played also. Nayoung said she followed him to a lesson once and instantly became hooked.
"When I heard the sound I got really into it," she said. "I already loved music before."
She said besides classical music, she also listens to rock and pop music, such as Chris Brown and The Jonas Brothers.
She said she plays classical music on an antique violin made in the 1700s.
"It has a good sound that comes out of it, a deep sound. I think it's one of the good violins for me," Nayoung said. "The older it is the better, most of the time. So, I stick to the old ones."
