News
A Love of Music: Cameron Clarke ’13 heads to Aspen Music Festival
Posted July 23, 2012
By his own words Cameron Clarke ’13 adores classical music. He likes it so much that he spends hours upon hours trying to master complex and intimidating compositions on his cello. Clarke was recently rewarded for all his hard work as he was one of just 500 out of 2,000 applicants (mostly college and graduate students) selected to attend the prestigious Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado this summer.
“So far I've enjoyed meeting and making friends with some of the most talented young musicians in the world, and also attending performances of some of the most important classical musicians of our time,” said Clarke, who is an accomplished cello player. “It's been really invigorating to see the kind of passion and dedication that we all share for our art. My main aspiration for the rest of the summer is to continue to grow as a musician and to make the most of the tremendous opportunities that the Festival presents.”
Clarke has been a familiar face at school concerts since third grade, when he first picked up the cello after experimenting with the violin for a few years.
“I played the violin for a few months when I was about 7, but I decided that it was too high pitched and squeaky so I quit,” he said. “A few years later, when we were allowed to choose instruments in 3rd grade at GA, I decided to choose the cello because it was low and much more mellow sounding.”
Although Clarke is playing alongside world-class musicians, he hasn’t forgotten his roots.
“GA's music program is naturally very special to me because it is where I got my start on cello,” Clarke said. “Over the years I've had so many wonderful music teachers and countless opportunities to perform at GA.”
Clarke, a 2012-13 McNeil Patriot Scholar Award winner, said he “absolutely adores classical music and the sensory experience it presents.”
“What most attracts me to learning an instrument in particular, aside from being able to create music, is the opportunity to attempt to master an art through hours and hours of diligent practice,” Clarke said. “It's a highly rewarding endeavor in that sense. I also love the physical action of playing the cello.”
Congratulations Cameron!
