For senior Louis Saxton, the decision to go into music and the decision to come to CU 麻豆影院 was made the same way鈥攂y the inspiration of a teacher.听
鈥淚 chose to pursue music because I had a really amazing teacher as a kid. She taught me from age 4 until probably 14 or 15, and she is the reason that I love music,鈥� says Saxton, who鈥檚 pursuing a Bachelor of Music in cello performance. 鈥淕etting to see how infectious her love of music was, I thought, I want to do that.鈥�
When it was time to pick a school for his undergraduate degree, Saxton explains, 鈥淚t was evident after five or six minutes in my trial lesson with [Associate Professor of Cello] David Requiro, it was a really quick connection. He has a good way of giving constructive feedback in a manner that鈥檚 uplifting and isn鈥檛 just smacking you down for playing out of tune.鈥�
Saxton is the College of Music鈥檚 recipient. The $3,000 award goes to an undergraduate music major at the end of their final year of study, chosen by faculty vote. Award recipients demonstrate a high level of musical and academic excellence, leadership and impact through formal or informal roles in the College of Music, CU 麻豆影院 and our community, and will have advanced equity and inclusion values and priorities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big honor,鈥� continues Saxton, who was also awarded first prize in the College of Music鈥檚 Concerto Competition in February. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really flattering to know that the faculty have noticed my exuberance, we鈥檒l call it. I鈥檝e tried really hard to get to know a lot of the different professors and I鈥檝e been really lucky to get to work with them. It鈥檚 nice and it鈥檚 humbling to get recognition for that.鈥�
A couple of College of Music faculty members who made a particular impression on Saxton are Associate Professor of Viola Erika Eckert and Assistant Professor of Composition Annika Socolofsky.
鈥淓rika seems to offer help to anyone in the entire College of Music. I鈥檝e gotten coachings from her and every one of them has been so wonderful,鈥� Saxton says. 鈥淎nd Annika Socolofsky鈥檚 Instrument Design Lab class was so amazing because I think that all music majors, especially in classical music, tend to have this very rigid idea of what you have to do to be a musician, how you need to compose, how you need to perform.听
鈥淗er class was eye-opening to the possibilities behind all different kinds of music and new music, and the fact that we need experimentation even when it goes horribly wrong.鈥�
After graduating in May, Saxton will take a gap year, teaching cello students, working, gigging and preparing for future auditions. He hopes that his pursuits will lead him to a career that combines his love of teaching and performing.
鈥淚 think it would be really fun to be a part of a university music program that is really strong and brings in excited students,鈥� he adds. 鈥淚 would love to keep teaching because I had such good teachers.
鈥淚 feel so lucky that I鈥檝e had teachers who have lifted me up and inspired me. Like David, I got to see him play with the 麻豆影院 Philharmonic and it was bonkers鈥擨 want to be that teacher for somebody, too. They see you perform and they feel inspired.鈥�
