Sharon Academy Student ‘From the Top’ at Chandler

Sharon Academy Student ‘From the Top’ at Chandler By Chris Costanzo

"Music is beautiful, and emotionally helpful. Everyone should study it," says 18-year-old violinist Dorothea "Thea" Talento.

Not everyone who studies it masters it in the way that Thea Talento does, however. She is one of only two Vermont young people to be chosen for Saturday’s taping of "From the Top," National Public Radio’s showcase for America’s best young classical musicians.

Hosted by pianist Christopher O’Riley, the program will be taped live this Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph. The concert is presented by Chandler in cooperation with Vermont Public Radio.

Tickets are still available, said Box Office Manager Kathy Corrao early this week—but not many. Only about 30 remained to be sold Monday, but it was anticipated that temporary chairs will be placed for the sell-out crowd that will come from all over Vermont.

Talento, who is from Woodstock and is a senior at The Sharon Academy, weathered difficult auditions to be chosen to play for a national audience.

Like most good violinists, Talento started her musical education early. Her parents, although not trained musicians, encouraged her early interest in music.

When she was only five years old, her uncle, Pop Wagner, a noted cowboy fiddler and guitarist of the Midwest, gave her a three-quarter size fiddle, and she began taking lessons with Bethel fiddler Will Wright.

When Talento entered the first grade, she started formal lessons in classical violin using the so-called Suzuki method. The Suzuki method allows children to begin when unusually young, typically 3-6 years of age.

Starting in eighth grade, Talento began advanced study, first with teacher Tunde Gall (no longer in the area) and currently with violinist Colleen Jennings. Today, as a high school senior and an honor student, Talento still finds time to practice the violin for a couple of hours a day.

Her persistent dedication over the past 13 years has led to her participation in the Dartmouth Orchestra and in the All-New England Music Festival Orchestra. In the latter she serves this year as concertmistress, or first violinist—the musician who plays the key solo passages and acts as the second-in-command after the conductor.

Talento is looking at colleges for next year, with a particular eye on Oberlin. Will she develop her musical skill further?

"I’m serious about music and I will definitely continue with the violin in college," she responded, "but I do have other interests as well. I’m also going to consider history or ecology as a possible major."

Meanwhile, she’s looking forward to Saturday evening’s appearance at Chandler. It won’t be her first time at Chandler, since she has performed there annually with The Sharon Academy band. She’ll play Fritz Kreisler’s "Tempo di Minuetto," a violin showcase containing much rich ornamentation.

"I’m very honored and excited to have been chosen to participate in this event," she told The Herald.

As well she should be: "From the Top" is the most important exposure for young classical musical talent being broacast today.