Violist counts performance for Bush among highlights

Violist counts performance
for Bush among highlights
Marlboro High School
junior Jessilyn Yoo
studies at Juilliard
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Dave Benjamin Jessilyn Yoo, a Marlboro High School junior and violist, performed for the Freehold Regional School District’s Board of Education on Dec. 15.

A Marlboro High School student is making her talents well known in the music world.

Jessilyn Yoo, a high school junior and a violist who is aspiring to become a leader in her field of music, performed for members of the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education at their Dec. 15 meeting in Englishtown.

"We’re just so humbled and honored that this young lady has done so well in her short time of doing this," said Marlboro High School Principal James A. Mullevey. "She is so special to us, and obviously to the world where she can play for the president of the United States and at Carnegie Hall as a junior in high school."

Mullevey said Yoo is exceptionally talented and said he is honored that she is a student at Marlboro.

"I started studying music at the age of 5 and have been continuing my studies for the past 11 years," Yoo said. "Last summer I was selected to study at the Perlman Music Program, where I studied with Heidi Castleman of the Juilliard School and Martha Katz of the New England Conservatory."

Yoo also had chamber coachings from Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard Quartet and performed to critical acclaim.

Her studies have been augmented while attending the Meadowmount School of Music where she has studied with Sally Thomas and Ann Setzer of Juilliard. She has also had a master class with William de Pasquale, the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In 2001, Yoo played with the New York Symphony and performed at Carnegie Hall.

Her list of accomplishments continues with a performance on the radio show "From the Top" at the Kaplan Penthouse, Rose Building, with the New York Philharmonic; a recent solo debut was held at Carnegie Hall in October; and she was interviewed by the British Broadcasting Company in November.

Yoo also attends the Juilliard School of Music, pre-college division, in New York.

"On Dec. 4, I performed in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center as principal violist of the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony, and on Dec. 7 I performed for President and Mrs. Bush at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House," Yoo said.

The Dec. 7 performance will be broadcast on CBS-TV on the "Kennedy Center Honors" from 9-11 p.m. Dec. 26.

Yoo said violists are not very well known and she wants to expand the knowledge of the instrument to people around her so they can experience the same euphoria she said she feels when­ever she plays or performs.

Every summer specialized programs called the Governor’s School are held throughout New Jersey for students who excel in specific areas.

"The Governor’s School, I feel, can help me attain [my] goal," said Yoo. "Ever since I was little, chamber music has been a huge favorite of mine. I’ve heard that the Governor’s School really encour­ages students to meet and create their own ensembles, which is a wonderful and beneficial thing."

Yoo said by going to the School of Arts, not only would she be increasing her knowledge of chamber music, but she also would be able to share that knowledge with those around her.

"Taking individual lessons and receiv­ing coaching with various teachers can definitely expand my understanding of the different technicalities and musicali­ties of my instrument," said Yoo. "By viewing the Governor’s School Web site, I received a lot of positive feedback and in­formation and I feel that the environment at this school is very nurturing, one that I can grow in and benefit from."

Yoo said the teachers really care about the students and want to help them, and she said that compassion is exactly what she needs at this stage in her musical ca­reer.