Spotlight: Hayden Green
SPYO Concertmaster Has Goals Of Going Pro Helen Tipton
Youth Orchestra Co-Manager
Concertmaster of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Hayden Green, is looking toward his future in violin performance. As a senior at Spartanburg High School, he has a growing list of achievements that not only make his parents and teachers proud but the community of Spartanburg as a whole. His humble and easy-going attitude makes him easy to teach, easy to work with, and easy to love. Music is a large part of the Green family, with both Hayden’s father and grandfather playing the guitar and banjo, respectively, something he and several of his five siblings have carried on. Beyond his family’s natural appreciation for music, Hayden was also introduced to the violin very young. While born in Boone, NC, the Green family moved to Spartanburg when Hayden was three. At the time, Spartanburg was home to a vibrant Suzuki violin studio lead by Mrs. Lyn Acosta. It was here Hayden first began his musical journey. As part of Acosta’s program, he enjoyed group classes and private instruction, which was the foundation of many things to come. Early in high school, Hayden’s journey landed him at the doorstep of Spartanburg Philharmonic’s beloved violinist and teacher, Mary C. Irwin, who has nurtured 54
and guided Hayden for the past several years. Hayden himself credits Mary for much of his success as a student musician saying, “Mary wants the best for you and will go out of her way to push you and make you the player you want to be.” With Mary’s continued guidance, Hayden has had some wonderful opportunities. Besides being a vibrant part of the District 7 Orchestra, All-State and Regional orchestras, he also played violin from 2017 to 2019 with the Carolina Youth Symphony. Hayden fondly remembers playing with that group on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City. Hayden has also played with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra, the summer intensive Masterworks Festival. “Hayden has a natural musicianship and stage presence, Mary says. “He has all the potential to become a very successful violinist.” As a senior in high school in the middle of a pandemic, it has been a challenge to find opportunities to perform, but even so, Hayden has been quite busy! Early last spring Hayden performed Wieniawski’s ScherzoTarantelle with his classmates in the Spartanburg High School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mr. Jeff Kuntz. Mr. Kuntz speaks of Hayden with pride. “To have a high school violinist in your orchestra that is as serious as
