In school, I am a member of my orchestra, and I was a member of our Honors Orchestra, which was a more select group that performed in churches before the pandemic. I am in their most advanced orchestra called Measure 5, which performs difficult string pieces and usually performs out of state or out of the country every two years. We have performed in Arizona, Texas, Alaska, Iceland, and were invited to play in Scotland last summer.
My solo was the first movement of Winter. In this quartet, we play challenging movements from famous string quartets. In the first semester of my senior year we played all of Shostakovich's String Quartet No.
As a performer in the Rockford area, I also am involved with individual gigs with my parents or orchestral colleagues. We have played at funerals, weddings, fundraisers, churches, markets, and much more. Every year of high school I have become increasingly more involved with music and steadily increasing my repertoire as a musician. The Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Trust was established in to honor the memory and continue the legacy of Gary Wilmer by awarding scholarships to students who wish to pursue and education in music.
Joe Guzzardo, owner of Guzzardo Music, said of Gary, "He was thoughtful and sensitive, and thoroughly understood the problems and needs of local music and musicians. As the president of his senior class at East High School, as a graduate of Rockford College and as a successful businessman, Gary's 43 years of living showed that education is a marvelous "conductor" of a successful musical life. It is the sincere hope of the RAMI scholarship committee that the recipients of this scholarship will carry on Gary's legacy with pride.
Deadline January 1st. For more information and online application forms, visit www. Each student is nominated by the staff of the Music Academy and must demonstrate financial need.
