CK Senior Brigid Babbish Named MYFA Soloist
Cranbrook Schools senior Brigid Babbish has been selected as one of only four soloists for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Orchestra. She is the first student in the schools’ history to be awarded the honor.
Babbish, along with more than 100,000 instrumental students, participated in District Solo and Ensemble festivals across the state. From those ranks, 8,000 students qualified and participated in the State Solo and Ensemble festival in March. Out of those 8,000 students, 200 were invited to compete for four soloist positions with the Honors Orchestra. The first round of auditions narrowed down the pool to 12 finalists, which was then narrowed to four.
Says Sarkis Halajian, Cranbrook Schools band teacher, “The first time I heard Brigid play was when she auditioned with us for the Don Slotkin Music Scholarship when she was in the 8th grade. I was bowled over by the maturity of her playing on such a difficult instrument and was enthusiastic about endorsing her for a Slotkin Music Scholarship. Brigid is one of the most talented musicians to come through Cranbrook Schools in the 34 years I have been teaching here.”
Brigid will be performing on Friday, May 9th, at the opening Gala ceremonies for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.
Unique in the nation, the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) began in 1963 as a talent screening of young musicians organized by Dr. Joseph Maddy, founder of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Today, MYAF is a comprehensive arts spectacular, culminating a nine-month search for the finest artistic talent in Michigan high schools. More than 250,000 students across the state are involved in the adjudication process that results in nearly 1,000 being invited to participate in the annual three-day event, held in May. The MYFA is an annual showcase that recognizes, supports and celebrates the artistic excellence of young artists in Michigan.
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Babbish, along with more than 100,000 instrumental students, participated in District Solo and Ensemble festivals across the state. From those ranks, 8,000 students qualified and participated in the State Solo and Ensemble festival in March. Out of those 8,000 students, 200 were invited to compete for four soloist positions with the Honors Orchestra. The first round of auditions narrowed down the pool to 12 finalists, which was then narrowed to four.
Says Sarkis Halajian, Cranbrook Schools band teacher, “The first time I heard Brigid play was when she auditioned with us for the Don Slotkin Music Scholarship when she was in the 8th grade. I was bowled over by the maturity of her playing on such a difficult instrument and was enthusiastic about endorsing her for a Slotkin Music Scholarship. Brigid is one of the most talented musicians to come through Cranbrook Schools in the 34 years I have been teaching here.”
Brigid will be performing on Friday, May 9th, at the opening Gala ceremonies for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.
Unique in the nation, the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) began in 1963 as a talent screening of young musicians organized by Dr. Joseph Maddy, founder of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Today, MYAF is a comprehensive arts spectacular, culminating a nine-month search for the finest artistic talent in Michigan high schools. More than 250,000 students across the state are involved in the adjudication process that results in nearly 1,000 being invited to participate in the annual three-day event, held in May. The MYFA is an annual showcase that recognizes, supports and celebrates the artistic excellence of young artists in Michigan.
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