By Laura Lane
Like most girls her age - 13 - the Woodland eighth-grader loves spending time with her friends. But when she plays her cello, she becomes anything but ordinary.
What makes her different isn't just her ability to passionately interpret a piece, or even her fine musicianship. It's her uncanny skill at finding the subtleties in the music, connecting with the piece and producing tones that are remarkably rich and expressive. She is truly talented.
The Children's Orchestra Society (COS) recognized Aya's talent when, in February, it featured her in its Junior Discovery Concert. She performed Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto with the orchestra under the direction of COS conductor Michael Dadap. The orchestra society, an impressive group of young musicians, is led by violinist Yeou-Cheng Ma, the sister of famed cellist Yo Yo Ma.
Aya was featured in the Young Symphonic Ensemble, the society's most advanced orchestra, which performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and at Carnegie Hall.
"The music was very challenging and more advanced than I usually play," Aya said. "But the music is my favorite because it has a variety of moods and is both exciting and serious all at the same time."
COS has nurtured Aya's development as an artist. She began playing the cello at age 6, when she enrolled at the society. "She is really our pride and joy," said Dr. Karen Beluso, COS's assistant executive director. "She started in our summer program when she was 6 and has grown as a musician and a young lady. It's something special to be playing as a soloist with an orchestra at that young age, and it's also very special to be able to handle oneself in front of an orchestra with 60 to 70 of your peers and perform in a concert venue."
Aya was also encouraged to play while attending East Meadow schools. Her talents were recognized when she was a second-grader at McVey Elementary School by Abby Behr, the district's director of music and art.
"Mrs. Behr asked me to join the orchestra at McVey," Aya recalled. "Usually you join in fourth grade, so it was a little awkward at first being so much younger than the other kids. They treated me differently because I was younger, but it wasn't in a bad way."
Behr described Aya as professional and very talented. "She's quite an accomplished musician, and she's also a great, great person," Behr said. "She's an eighth-grader who's playing better than most high school cellists."
Aya is grateful to Behr for all of her help. She remembers Behr speaking to her about music, taking an interest in pieces she was working on and encouraging her. This support and the help she has received from COS, she said, helped her reach her potential.
Aya, who has a Japanese mother and an Egyptian father, was the recipient of COS's 2007 Dr. Ildiko Mohacsy Memorial Scholarship and the 2006 Kumiko Sagiuchi Fire in the Belly Award. She is now the principal cellist of the COS Elite String Ensemble and the assistant principal cellist of the Young Symphonic Ensemble.
She practices every week with the orchestra. She also practices at least an hour a day at home but, unlike many young musicians, doesn't keep track of her practice time. "If I time myself, it frustrates me," she said. "If I do, I won't get the value out of practicing, because then I'll be thinking of filling the time and not focusing on the music. When I practice, I sit in a quiet place and focus."
Aya had the chance to meet Yo Yo Ma at COS when he spoke about the importance of practicing and shared his method. "He told us that it's important to practice slowly and to always focus," she recalled. "It was really great to meet someone that you look up to -meeting him was inspiring."
She said that music has helped her academically, enabling her to concentrate and focus. And even though she isn't certain what career she'll pursue, she sees music as a part of her life.
"I'd like to study music in different countries and learn about different cultures," she said with a smile. "The cello is a part of me."
Jeff Lipton contributed to this story. Comments about it? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
