LaSalle junior to attend Juilliard program

When Ryan Reilly of Delmar says he practices playing the piano six hours a day, it isn't because he has to; it's because he wants to. The 16-year-old St. Thomas the Apostle parishioner has played the piano since he was four. After hundreds of hours spent learning piano skills and playing his favorite classical music, all that practicing has paid off: He has been accepted into the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program.

Ryan, a junior at LaSalle Institute in Troy, will attend the prestigious New York City school each Saturday from September through May for the next two years. If he chooses, he will also be considered by the school to apply to their college program.

Down from Delmar

In order to be considered by the 103-year-old music school for pre-college study, a student must be willing to devote 30 Saturdays to instruction at the school, which is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York.

Because of the school's proximity to Albany, Ryan will be able to travel to New York for his Saturday classes each week. Some of the hundreds of other high school students who attend must journey from all over the world and live in New York City for the entire semester.

The students accepted into the program, some of whom are as young as seven, have already demonstrated above-average musical abilities. Although thousands apply each year, only students who display a desire and ability to work with focus and purpose are accepted.

"It's a prestigious course and an opportunity to play with the best musicians," Ryan told The Evangelist.

Experience counts

Another criterion for acceptance was that Ryan had to have various musical and performing experiences. For the past two years, he has been a member of LaSalle's symphonic and jazz bands -- although, at Juilliard, he will study only classical music performance. Currently, he holds the position of sole pianist for the Empire State Youth Orchestra, one of the premier youth orchestras in the U.S. This will be his second year as pianist.

"The orchestra is for the highest level of musical student," he explained. Previously, he played with the Empire State Repertory Orchestra, an ensemble of the state orchestra for intermediate level students.

At the time The Evangelist interviewed Ryan, he was spending four weeks at a summer music camp in Lake Luzerne. Along with nearly 70 other teens, he's been honing his musicianship in preparation for his Juilliard classes.

At camp, Ryan has been able to share his music appreciation with others and to play some of his favorite music by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and his favorite composer, Johannes Brahms.

"There is something about Brahms that draws me; I love playing his chamber music," he mused.

Time to chill

The camp experience has helped him to relax his strict practice routine. There are social events and summer activities such as swimming, summer games and making new friends.

Ryan admitted that he was both nervous and excited about going to Juilliard.

"I don't know what my schedule will be," he said. "I think they already mailed them out; so, when I get home, I'll know what I'll be doing for at least the first couple of weeks."

Meanwhile, he continues his daily practice schedule. When asked if he takes time off, he responded, "Only if I have to. I have a lot of work to do, lots of pieces to learn. It isn't work really. I love it."

Regarding college, he said he'll definitely be thinking about studying for a degree in music, but isn't sure yet exactly where he wants to go.

"For now, I'm just going to learn all I can. Juilliard is one more step for me [in that process] and I am very excited about going," he said.

Students are chosen for Juilliard's pre-college program on the basis of skills and an audition of memorized music. Acceptance is based on artistic and technical merit. In the program, student pianists attend a weekly performance class and present recitals each year. As seniors, each student must present an hour-long recital. Visit their website at www.juilliard.edu. For information on the Empire State Youth Orchestra, go to www.esyo.org.

(08/21/08)