By Scott Brinton
The lifelong North Merrick resident took up the cello in fourth grade, and immediately began working with a private tutor and practicing three hours a day. She researched great cellists like Yo Yo Ma and Jacqueline DuPre on the Internet. By sixth grade, Brittany had decided she would become a professional cellist when she grew up. Now she holds a far loftier ambition.
"My goal now is to become the next famous cellist of this world," Brittany says.
She is well on her way. She was recently accepted by the New York Youth Symphony, which is considered by many to be the country's best young person's orchestra. Directed by renowned maestro Paul Haas, the Youth Symphony plays at Carnegie Hall three times a year, as well as at Queens College's Colden Center. Many Youth Symphony members have gone on to prestigious conservatories like Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, where Brittany hopes to study in college.
She played two pieces at her audition, the Saint Sanés Cello Concerto and the "Saranbande" from Bach's Suite No. 2. Brittany practiced six hours a day leading up to the audition at Lincoln Center. "I was so nervous," she recalls. "I made sure everything was flawless. I remember how scared I was walking in."
Two seconds into her audition, Brittany said, she forgot about the knot in her stomach and let the music consume her. A week later, she received a congratulatory acceptance letter by e-mail. "I was jumping around for about a day, I was so happy," she says.
Brittany previously performed with the Long Island Youth Orchestra and the Gemini Youth Concert Orchestra, but she particularly loves to play with the New York Youth Symphony. "The level of orchestra is just absolutely phenomenal," she notes. At Carnegie Hall recently, the group performed Dvorak's Cello Concerto which featured Carter Brey, the New York Philharmonic's principal cellist -- a huge treat for Brittany.
But playing with an orchestra as renowned and competitive as the Youth Symphony requires commitment. The symphony's first rehearsal during a three-day retreat in Frost Valley, N.Y., ran nine hours. Brittany now practices with the group once a week for four hours.
For now, she has given up all else for the cello. Since age 4, she had played soccer, most recently with the Merrick Thunder travel team. "I loved it, running around on a field. It was fun," she says. But in September, Brittany decided to forgo soccer, fearing that she might hurt her hand and be unable to play the cello.
Calhoun High Principal David Seinfeld calls Brittany "a good kid" and says she is "motivated beyond her years -- beyond any years. We're very proud of her."
In addition to the Youth Symphony, Brittany is the principal cellist for the Calhoun-Mepham orchestra. Ed Tumminelli, the group's director, says she works as hard for his orchestra as she does for any other. "She brings an energy and enthusiasm for music, a passion for playing," Tumminelli says. "She brings a lot of performance experience from groups outside of the orchestra. She's an excellent role model for the younger students."
Brittany's mother, Debbie Dagro, says, "From the day she started playing cello, I never had to tell her to practice. She has a passion for it, and that's what drives her."
Brittany fully understands that pursuing a career in classical music is not only a road less traveled, but a difficult and extremely challenging one. But, she says, "I'm disciplining myself to go down that road. I'm driving straight through
Brittany Dagro, cellist
Hometown: North Merrick
Parents: Debbie and Al
Siblings: Twin brother, Michael, loves computers, competes on Calhoun wrestling and baseball teams; 21-year-old sister, Nicole, studying to be a social studies teacher, maintains 4.0 average at New York Institute of Technology.
Private music teachers: Carol Purdy, Maureen Hynes, Dae Il Yang
Honors: Tilles Scholar Award, Nassau County Cultural Arts Award, Frank B. Hynes Award for excellence in cello performance.
Favorite performance piece: Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor
Nickname for her cello: Fox, because she likes the animal, which she describes as "sly, crafty, sneaky and talented."with music."
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
