Committed to mentoring the next generation of wind musicians, the Hanover Wind Symphony (HWS) is proud to present our second annual Summer Music Scholarship to flutist Claire Oplinger of Morristown.
Oplinger attended the Boston University Tanglewood Flute Institute this summer and will perform as a soloist with the HWS on October 24th at Memorial Junior School in Whippany.
Gail Lalk, the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, says of Claire, “It was clear from her interview that she has a dynamic personality that our audience will appreciate and she has a very personal connection to her music. She seeks to convey an emotional story when she plays her flute.”
HWS Chairman William Trusheim noted, “In the audition, Claire gave a very polished performance, which was impressive not only for her technical command, but also for the musicality of her playing. Once again we have found a young instrumentalist with talent and ability far beyond her years.”
Oplinger, who is entering her senior year at Morristown High School, plays both the flute and piccolo, and has auditioned for and been accepted into many of New Jersey’s honor bands, including the New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band this year.
Her private flute teacher, Nancy Shearer of Morris Township said of her, “Claire is an extraordinary young lady. She is thoughtful and organized about her approach to music she is working on. She performs in my annual flute recitals and continually challenges herself by selecting and performing more difficult pieces with which she has had great success. She is an extremely expressive and sensitive musician, and she is a joy to teach.”
In reflecting on her connection to music, Oplinger said, “I am passionate about music because I believe it is relevant and necessary to every aspect of human life. Music, to me, is more than just and entertainment or a hobby. It is a way of healing brokenness and connecting with people on a deep, emotional level. It is a vessel to universally express both the profoundest sorrows and the truest joys of human emotion. This is why music matters to me.”
HWS is working to make this scholarship program self-sustaining through donations. Checks should be made payable to ‘Hanover Wind Symphony’ with ‘Scholarship fund’ in the memo line and mailed to Hanover Wind Symphony, P.O. Box 100, Whippany, NJ 07981. Donations can also be made online by selecting Scholarship Fund.
Excerpted from Stella Hart press release.
