ASO Talent Development Program Spring Spotlights

TDP Fellow Spotlight: Gabriel Silva

We caught up with current Fellow, trombonist and rising 10th grader Gabriel Silva.

What was it like going through the TDP audition process?

It’s a very simple and tranquil process. Although I had to audition online due to the pandemic, the TDP staff presents the students with tons of reassurance to keep them confident. In between both rounds of the audition, the trial lessons with the TDP teachers introduce you to several new things in a short amount of time, which improve your final audition in the best ways possible.

What made you choose the trombone as your main instrument?

I remember having no idea which instrument I wanted to choose to start a band. I walked into the instrument fittings and there were five to choose from: the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. When I headed over to the brass fittings, the teacher was such an enjoyable person to be around and provided the perfect instructions for a beginner on how to buzz on the mouthpiece. His teaching, especially since the trombone was his main instrument, and his personality stuck with me and made learning a lot easier.

Do you have any trombone players that you look up to?

As a trombonist, you just have to look up to Joseph Alessi. But, I would also choose Jeremy Buckler, my teacher, Nathan Zgonc, and Brian Hecht. These are only a few of many. Each of them has such distinct characteristics that make them so different from each other, yet allow them to blend perfectly.

What do you enjoy most about TDP?

I enjoy the opportunities to meet new musicians around your age, as well as the professional musicians of the ASO. It truly shows you how diverse people can be yet still come together as one because of music. The invitations to come watch the ASO concerts allow you to analyze and learn several things that could help you realize what you can do better, both as an individual musician and as an ensemble player.

TDP Faculty Spotlight: Justin Bruns

Get to know the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster, Justin Bruns.

Thanks for catching up with us, Justin. How long have you been an instructor for TDP?

With a few short breaks, I have taught TDP students, coached groups, and served on committees since 2007.

What is your favorite chamber piece to teach, and why?

I try to avoid selecting favorites because it is important to identify what’s special or unique about any piece you perform. It’s always satisfying to find pieces that address the specific needs of students’ chamber music groups in their technical and musical development.

If you could collaborate with any artist today, who would it be?

I can’t pick just one. It’s always a pleasure to interact with anyone who I draw inspiration from or look up to, whether it’s another violinist, performer, composer, or conductor. Julia Bullock comes to mind.

Alongside the ASO, can you tell us some projects or something upcoming that you’re looking forward to?

This summer, I will perform as a soloist with a few orchestras: Beethoven Triple Concerto at the Bellingham Festival, Carmen Fantasy and The Lark Ascending with an orchestra in London, and a new piece by Jake Heggie inspired by the Violins of Hope at Cabrillo Music Festival. During a large part of the pandemic, I spent a lot of time getting back to the fundamentals of violin playing and the experience was satisfying. I learned one new piece of repertoire for solo violin each month — from composers such as Telemann, Ysaye, Rodrigo, and Piazzolla, as well as young living composers like Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon and Luke Cisell. When this season ends, I’m excited to get back to these pieces and others to prepare for performance opportunities as they arise.

How do you define success as a musician? What is the greatest challenge for a young musician to overcome?

I don’t think it’s really possible to say one career path or achievement translates as something more successful than any other. The best way to look for fulfillment as a student of music is to strive to be authentic, honest and true to yourself and to continue to reevaluate and refine what that means. When you stay focused on this throughout your musical journey, you have the potential to share something extremely human and vulnerable during every performance. At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do.