New Heights

Hello Everyone! My name is Gabriel Allen, as you may know. The last time I started a GoFundMe, I was an 8th grader in middle school trying to figure out where I wanted to go with music and asked for a new violin. Fortunately, I raised enough money through donations to be able to buy a new violin. The time has passed so quickly, and now I'm a Junior at McClintock High School. That violin has stayed with me and provided so many new experiences I never even knew were possible. Before I started high school, I participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) for 4 years while taking private lessons. After one of the first recitals I gave with my instrument, an MYS instructor told me I was ready for a new teacher. She said I had potential but had to get a new teacher to be able to take my skills to a higher level. Fortunately, after connecting with numerous people, I was able to start with my private instructor, Taylor Morris, halfway through my freshman year.

Taylor Morris is an incredible teacher. After receiving his Bachelor's in Violin Performance, he toured internationally with the former band Barrage, which specialized in high-energy shows with fiddle music and all sorts of non-classical shows. After touring for four years, he received his Master's in Education from Harvard and started his private studio. He co-founded the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, a local Arizona group based on playing American, Celtic, and fiddle genres wide and far, while also teaching imperative life skills such as problem-solving and how to work in groups.

I was able to join this group my sophomore year, and it has opened so many doors as a musician that I never knew existed. I've learned how to work in groups through group bonding and boundary-breaking discussions that keep my mind open. I've met amazing fiddlers and experienced musicians through this program, and have been able to meet with some of the most well-known professional fiddle players.

As I have been growing my versatility as a musician through a new style of playing, I have been still expanding my classical literature. I have stayed involved in my school orchestra since my freshman year, and as of this year, I am the concertmaster of our top group. I have met some amazing friends who I still regularly talk to, and have been able to go on fantastic trips, such as our trip to Flagstaff last year to play in the regional orchestra competition, in which my group placed "Superior with Distinction", the highest possible score. I have also been lucky to have participated in the Arizona Regional Orchestra since my freshman year. The regional orchestra, aka Regional's, is a selective orchestra composed of the top musicians within a given region (typically 5-10 high schools). I have also gotten to participate in the prestigious Arizona All-State Orchestra last year. All-State takes the Top 50 violinists in the state (determined through auditions) and places them with the other best high-school musicians in the state. I stayed at NAU for 3 days and spent every day with an internationally acclaimed conductor and eventually performed the iconic piece Scherezade. Not only have I participated in orchestra events, but I have also participated in other solo competitions such as Musicfest and Solo and Ensemble, the latter of which I placed Superior (highest score).

To top off all of these amazing experiences, Taylor Morris was kind enough to connect me with high-profile teachers for "masterclasses". I have been able to work with Shannon Thomas (Assistant Professor of Violin Performance at Florida State University), Elizabeth Faidley (Manhattan School of Music), and Megan Shung ( Pasadena Conservatory of Music). To make a long story short, I've been grateful to have had so many experiences, and so many more that I couldn't fit into this short synopsis!

I now come to you again to help in the transition to the next level. As I have decided to go to college for Violin Performance, one of the best ways to prepare is summer camps. After discussing with my teacher on whether or not a new violin or attending a high-profile summer camp would be more helpful, the summer camp ultimately was our choice. The camp I'm interested in is called Green Mountain Chamber Camp, and it's in Vermont. It's a one-month intensive camp, in which some of the best musicians come from across the country to attend. It's a highly concentrated camp, in which you have 4 hours of scheduled individual practice, 7 days a week, on top of hours of chamber rehearsals and weekly private lessons from the staff (one of them being the Professor from Florida I've already talked to!) Hearing the reactions from teachers as I've mentioned this camp has only brought about over-the-top reactions of glee and excitement, telling me that it is one of the best experiences, which echoes what my teacher has told me. I really hope I can take my playing to the next level, and I hope all of you reading can continue to be a part of my journey, thank you!