October 11, 2018
By Allison Chaput and Emily Ma
Arun Asthagiri, a junior at Lexington High School, is one of three winners of the 2018 Concerto Competition. He auditioned with the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor and will be performing the same piece on October 16th, accompanied by the LHS Chamber Orchestra.
Asthagiri’s passion began before he had entered the first grade.
“A big Star Wars fan, I used to listen to John Williams with my dad on an old black CD player, and I was fascinated by the grandness and lush melodies that I heard,” Asthagiri said. Encouraged by his parents, he picked up his first violin at the age of five.
His musical ability quickly surfaced. Asthagiri was the youngest member of the South Pasadena Children’s Orchestra, a group that has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall.
After Asthagiri moved from California to Massachusetts, he became an active member of the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory School, a music program for high school students run by the college. During his time with the NEC, he has participated in multiple orchestras and chamber music ensembles, and is currently a part of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the most advanced group in the program.
The drive to seriously pursue music hit Asthagiri around eighth grade, as his career was unfurling rapidly.
“I immediately and completely immersed myself in the world of music and began practicing two to four hours intensely every day. This has brought me to new levels of playing and a deeper understanding and connection with the instrument,” Asthagiri said.
“Arun Asthagiri is one of the most humble players we have had in orchestra. While he has extraordinary skills, he is supportive of all his peers and always gives masterful contributions in rehearsal,” Janet Haas, an LHS orchestral conductor who has worked with Asthagiri for two consecutive years, said, also praising his leadership abilities and sense of humor.
For Asthagiri, the creative process is the most valuable and enjoyable part.
“I love the fact that playing the violin means that you are always in a constant pursuit of refining your sound, experimenting and learning. It is inspiring trying to search for one's unique musical ideas while building on experiences and emotions,” Asthagiri said.
He spent a lot of time considering his options before ultimately choosing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto as his audition piece.
“It is one of the most pristine, pure and emotional pieces in the violin repertoire. Taking a mixture of elements from the Classical and Romantic eras, the Mendelssohn concerto has the perfect mix of refinement and pathos, not to mention one of the coolest cadenzas of all time,” Asthagiri said.
He also aims to refine his skills while rehearsing and performing for the upcoming performance.
“By playing with Chamber Orchestra, I hope to learn how to better integrate a solo part with a large ensemble. I also want to just have fun making music!” Asthagiri said.
Outside of his musical career, Asthagiri can be found reading, doing math and annoying his sister.
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