14 • THE GRYPHON Fall/Winter 2019-20
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Saturday Serenade
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF STUDENT MUSICIAN JAKE TODD ’20 Meet Jake Todd ’20, a boarding student from Jackson, WY, and one of ten current CSW students who study at NEC Prep, a musical preparatory program at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Jake found out about NEC when he came to CSW for a campus tour and was introduced to Michael Weinstein, chair of CSW’s Music Department. For a serious cellist like Jake, the idea that he could attend a school like CSW with its unique, student-focused academic program, and also be in close proximity to one of the best music programs in the world, felt like an ideal situation. He accepted his admission offer from CSW and auditioned to join NEC’s Youth Repertory Orchestra. Now, every Saturday, Michael drives Jake and at least one other classmate to NEC, where the students spend the day fine-tuning their craft and preparing for upcoming performances. Participation in NEC’s prestigious ensembles is by audition only and requires a high level of skill and musicianship. By all accounts, it is an intensely challenging program, but for students like Jake, it is equally rewarding.
