The official site of the Torch, the student-run newspaper at Glenbrook North High School.

Torch

The official site of the Torch, the student-run newspaper at Glenbrook North High School.

Torch

The official site of the Torch, the student-run newspaper at Glenbrook North High School.

Torch

Say ‘cello’ to Garrett Chou

Chou official
Senior Garrett Chou practices playing the cello in order to meet his two-hour practice quota for the day. He has won numerous musical competitions over the past few years, including the DePaul Concerto Festival in 2012 and the Society of Musicians competition last spring.
Photo by Sarah Cruz.

According to senior Garrett Chou, he stood in response to a thunder-like sound in a Moscow theater. The noise came from thousands of audience members, clapping in unison at the end of his performance with the National Youth Orchestra of America (NYO-USA).

Chou spent 11 days of his summer touring London, Moscow and St. Petersburg as a cellist for the NYO-USA. Chou was one of 120 musicians selected out of 2,000 applicants by a panel of professional musicians.

Sherry Chou, mother of Garrett Chou, quoting conductor Valer Gergiev, said, that getting into NYO-USA is harder than qualifying for the Olympic Games.

“Each year [the orchestra] will feature a different renowned conductor and soloist,” said Janet Rucker, coordinator for artist training programs for the NYO-USA, in an e-mail. “In 2013 we worked with conductor Valery Gergiev and violinist Joshua Bell.”

Garrett Chou said NYO-USA has a lot of power and connections to the music world because it is formed by Weill Music Institute, Carnegie Hall’s music education wing. According to Chou, this “prestige” was key for NYO-USA when getting Gergiev and Grammy Award-winning violinist Bell to participate in its inaugural season.

“[Gergiev] is the second most requested conductor in the world,” said Garrett Chou. “We were really lucky to get him. He has this overall charisma. … He knows how to lead 120 musicians and get the most out of each player and create a great sound.”

According to David Cunliffe, Garrett Chou’s private cello instructor, many talented young musicians originate from Chicago and New York, and Garrett Chou ranks high among them.

“He is definitely one of the best [cellists in the Chicagoland area,]” Cunliffe said.

After 11 days of practicing, the NYO-USA began its tour to Russia and England, which was the first time that Garrett Chou had traveled overseas.

Sherry Chou said Garrett Chou always had an interest in traveling and that his experiences with NYO-USA increased this passion.

When the NYO-USA traveled to Russia, it gave Garrett Chou some insight on how other countries respond to classical music performances.

“The coolest thing about Russia was its appreciation for classical music,” said Garrett Chou. “For example, instead of standing up and doing a standing ovation, [the audience claps] in unison. …It’s like this powerful feeling.”

When the NYO-USA traveled to London to the Royal Albert Hall for a concert, Sherry Chou and her husband traveled there to watch their son and the rest of the orchestra perform.

“To sit there and see your son up on stage where professionals perform [was amazing,]” said Sherry Chou. “Royal Albert Hall seats over 5,000 people. … When do you ever have an opportunity to perform in front of such a huge crowd?”

According to Garrett Chou, he would have to audition for the next season of NYO-USA. He said that if he auditions and is accepted, he would be willing to go on the next tour.

“I feel like I have a better perspective on the world and how, culturally, [the United States] is viewed [by other countries,]” said  Garrett Chou. “It was a fantastic experience to have.”