VYOA Blog

Each year, we find ways to shine a spotlight on the graduating seniors before they move on from the VYO ranks to pursue their paths in life. This year, we gathered them together in groups to have casual, relaxed conversations  about the VYOA, their instruments, what music means to them.

After rehearsal on a recent Sunday, we caught up with violist Aniela Thompson, and violinists Maddie Saunders and Annika Gruber (pictured left to right). 

What are your favorite memories of being in the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association?
Annika:
I’ve only been in the VOA since freshman year, so I don’t have as many memories and it was a little interrupted by COVID. I guess one of my favorite memories was when we had summer camp – there was kind of like a bouncy castle, obstacle-course-type thing that I remember racing other people on. I didn’t know that they would do that at the summer camp – I thought we would be playing music the whole time. I just had a lot of fun – I thought it was cool that they did that to get us more involved.
Aniela:
When we went to concerts [at The Flynn] and we’d have breaks, I would always go to the bagel place with my friends. I didn’t know we’d have time to explore Church Street and do that kind of thing. And since I’m not from around here that was really cool.
Maddie:
I remember playing Phantom of the Opera in VYP. I remember that there was a scream that had to be done and I thought that was really funny. I didn’t know actually who it was but I just heard it, like, behind me when I was playing (laughs) it surprised me there. Doctor Kono had to let the audience know that there would be a scream. But like, “don’t be alarmed, it’s OK. It’s part of the show.”
Aniela:
During COVID we had Zoom meetings where we were supposed to be playing and they would have like professional instrumentalists come and talk about their experiences, like how they practice and get ready for performances and stuff. That was cool. Like people that would be like in a whole other like continent, they would like talk and it’s really cool.

How did you choose your instrument?
Maddie:
Back when the University mall was a big thing, they used to do performances, like professional violinists, and there was one – I don’t remember his name – but I would literally sit there and watch him for hours. And my parents were just like, “OK, you can play violin.”
Annika:
I didn’t exactly choose my instrument. I used to live in Montreal and the school that I went to there, everyone started out on the violin. Then I came to Vermont and I continued with that instrument. I went to the Waldorf school in Shelburne where they require you to play an instrument, and so I stayed with violin there. I just kept playing it throughout – I had a private teacher that helped me. I think I was just interested because I was getting better. I think if I hadn’t had a teacher, I wouldn’t have maybe practiced as much or gotten better or had the motivation.
So I didn’t exactly choose the violin, but I continued with it because I felt supported. I think [playing violin] definitely taught me a lot of things about perseverance and discipline, of practicing, and also – it’s OK to get it wrong. The violin has really helped me with coordination and a lot of different things.
Aniela:
I knew I was going to play like a stringed instrument, no matter what. My mom and my aunt both played the cello and I wanted to be different. The bass was just, like, too big. I didn’t want to carry it around. I didn’t really know the viola was a thing, so I just chose violin. When I moved back to Vermont two years ago, I started viola and I just picked it up. I was in like a smaller strings program, so it was more personalized. One of my friends started Viola and she loved it. I thought, “we’ll just give it a try, see how it is.” They’re similar enough that most of the things transfer over.

What other genres of music are you interested in?
Annika:
I used to go to the fiddle mornings at the violin shop sometimes, and it was definitely a different way of playing to hear it – not see the music – and then play it. What I’m interested in now is doing like jazz violin I think would be cool because I like playing jazz piano. I guess kind of exploring different genres of the violin would be cool.
I listen to a lot of different genres. I listen to R&B and like 80’s rock and just whatever is going on in in my life that I think would be a good song to play right now. [If I’m feeling that it’s just a great day], I’d probably listen to some older soul music like Aretha Franklin.
Maddie:
I like pretty much exclusively Taylor Swift. Yeah, but I also like Bad Bunny, like in summer mostly. A little Harry Styles can do. Today it was One Direction.
Aniela:
I’m really into Taylor Swift! Right now, I’m really into Frank Sinatra.

What do you like most about being in an orchestra?
Annika:
I like the feeling when the whole section gets a part right that you can feel proud that everyone like played their part to do that. Like they all put in the practicing hours and they all did it outside of school when when they couldn’t hear each other. Teamwork. I like the teamwork aspect. I’m not a part of sports teams, but I’d imagine it’s maybe a similar feeling that if you’re a part of a sports team and you win a game or something. When your orchestra does well, there’s definitely that sort of spirit. That you know, you all accomplish something together.
Maddie:
Especially when there’s like one specific passage that you’ve been playing on Sundays constantly, and you’ve been working so hard on it. Then at a concert it all, just, like, goes exactly how it’s supposed to. It’s just like the best feeling.
Aniela:
I mean, I like hearing how my section fits into the orchestra as a whole. And I mean on some levels realizing like as a violin player, I think I had a pretty big ego about like the importance of my instrument. But a piece can’t be a piece without all the different parts of it and that that’s what I really like about it – a piece can’t be a piece without all of the different voices, really.

What have you gained from the experience of being in VYOA?
Aniela:
So like coming here, it was very hard to, like, make friends cause  everybody just has their group. So you just kind of have to find your people. And it definitely taught me how to, like, be more extroverted and meet people.
Annika:
I remember the first time I came, I actually had Maddie as a stand partner for the camp. And I remember I was super nervous, but I was like, “OK, I’m just going to talk to this person.” You know just see and try to make a friend, try to make an impression. Literally, we just started talking and I was like, OK, I’ll hang out with you. And then, we’ve just been hanging out.
Maddie:
All four years! And it’s funny because basically every year we get seated together. So it’s been nice to be stand partners this year. Even once during COVID we were put in the same group!
Aniela:
I think the biggest thing music in general, has taught me is diligence and accountability and, you know, being prepared. I can use that in school and in the rest of my life, knowing that people are counting on me to get things done. I have to practice – I have to know this part because if I don’t, then I’ll be letting down this group as a whole.