Sweet Sixteen

Sixteen year-old violinist Luther Warren set to take the stage of Orchestra Hall this Sunday

Image credit: Steve Snodgrass/Creative Commons

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Most teenagers look forward to milestones such as getting a drivers license and going to prom. Luther Warren is approaching a different kind of landmark: his solo debut at Orchestra Hall.

The tenth grade violinist from New Brighton will take the stage of one of the most prestigious concert halls in the country on Sunday evening, accompanied by his fellow musicians of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies.

Over the past forty years, the Minnesota Youth Symphonies has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s premier youth orchestra education programs, dedicated to conservatory-level orchestral training for elementary, middle and high school students. With four orchestras, over 350 students, and a rigorous audition process just to be accepted into the program, standing out amongst a sea of talent is no easy feat.

But that’s what Warren did in landing top honors at the organization’s annual solo competition, where he beat out the crème de la crème of his fellow student musicians. Beyond winning serious bragging rights and the respect of his colleagues, he won Sunday’s dream performance opportunity.

Warren isn’t an overnight sensation, however. He picked up the violin at just six-years-old, hoping to mimic his older brother who was taking lessons at the time. With natural talent, music came quickly to the youngster.

In preparation for his solo debut, Warren has been practicing up to three hours a day in addition to taking regular private lessons with violin teacher Cheryl Stewart. And while some might consider the practice regiment a mild form of torture, Warren loves the challenge. “When I’m practicing, I see the music as a set of problems that need to be solved,” he says.

Though he has his own musical idols – among them Frank Sinatra and violinist Fritz Kreisler – the affable young man says he “doesn’t like to listen to recordings of other violinists while preparing a piece of music, or impose other performer’s ideas.” Instead, he says he takes the music “at face value” looking for what it says rather than what others are doing.

He does have some guidance on stage however. Manny Laureano, co-artistic director at Minnesota Youth Symphonies and the principal trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra, will be conducing Warren and the Symphony Orchestra on Sunday.

Warren describes the maestro as someone who “Knows what he wants and knows how to get it. He’s extremely clear, precise . . .he’s Manny.” (The conductor has a bit of a cult following amongst students, his quotable rehearsal sayings have become long-repeated and revered “Manny-isms.”).

As the performance approaches, the calm, collected, and humble 16 year-old admits to being “a little nervous for the ending of the piece.” Outweighing his nerves is his excitement. Warren says with a smile, “The thing I’m most excited for on Sunday is the possibility of giving a good performance.”

Possibility? More like probability. Ah, to be 16 again.

+ Hear Luther Warren perform the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the Minnesota Youth Symphonies Winter Concert, Sunday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, Mpls.; Tickets $13.25 – $22.25, minnesotaorchestra.org