Trinity violinist wins WSO’s Young Artist Competition
Anthony D’Orazio, a junior violinist at Trinity High School, has won the Young Artist Competition and will perform with the Washington Symphony Orchestra Feb. 14 at its “Love Hurts” concert.
Each year, local students audition before a committee of musicians from the WSO for a chance to perform a solo with the WSO and win a cash prize.
D’Orazio, 16, serves as concertmaster of the Trinity orchestra.
His passion for music was instilled by his family, particularly his older brother, Brian, who also is a violinist.
“I chose to learn the violin because of Brian, and I really liked the rich sounds and high notes of the instrument,” D’Orazio said.
He has been playing the violin since third grade and has earned many opportunities with his talent. D’Orazio played with the Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestra during his freshman and sophomore years of high school, and he spent three years performing with the South Hills Junior Orchestra and became its assistant concertmaster.
During the 2013-14 school year, D’Orazio successfully auditioned for the All-State Orchestra sponsored by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association after participating in the PMEA District Orchestra and PMEA Western Region Orchestra festivals. Recently, he was notified of his acceptance to perform with the National Association for Music Educators All-Eastern Honors Orchestra in April at the NAfME All-Eastern Division Conference in Providence, R.I.
“Music is a way of life,” D’Orazio said. “It allows you to express yourself and spread joy to the people who hear it.”
He is most excited about getting to play in front of a large, appreciative audience in his own community when he takes the stage at the WSO concert. D’Orazio will perform the first movement of the “Mozart Violin Concerto in A Major.”
“I chose this piece because I love the elegant sound of the first movement and the interaction between the solo violin and the orchestra,” D’Orazio said.
D’Orazio, son of Cosmo and Diane D’Orazio of Washington, studies privately with violinist Rebecca Closson of the South Hills and has been one of her students for four years. Closson encouraged D’Orazio to apply for the Young Artist Competition.
He also is a member of the National Honor Society, TRI-M Music Honor Society and Trinity Leadership Committee, and is treasurer of Student Council.