Last Saturday, New York’s Juilliard School Pre-College Program held its annual concert, showcasing the abilities of the talented musicians in the program. Two Choate musicians, Asa Maynard ’10 (bass) and Elizabeth Stern ’08 (flute) were a part of the concert. Held at the Juilliard School’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater, the Pre-College Program had two performances; one by the program’s symphony, and the other by its orchestra.

The Pre-College program at Juilliard is one of the top conservatories, and it is a very challenging program. Asa Maynard ’10 said, “The pre-college program accepts kids from age 5 to 18 who are enrolled in a school and who are serious classical musicians. We are trained by some of the greatest music faculty in the world.

On Saturday kids from all over the world come to the Juilliard campus in New York City- I have a friend who comes in from Texas every week- to take music theory classes, ear training, and rehearse with an orchestra or a chamber group, and private lessons. There’s also conducting class, composition class, and a lot of courses offered.” Maynard is part of the Arts Concentration program at Choate, and plays his bass with the Chamber Orchestra.

He was admitted to this program a year ago, and he recalls the audition process as stressful. “I had to audition in front of the whole panel of bass teachers at Juilliard, and although it was stressful, I’m really glad I was accepted!” This was the first concert for Maynard since he joined the pre-college program.