NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — Kingston Ho, 16, has already travelled through Latin America to play his violin and this summer his music will echo throughout Asia.
The junior at Union County Academy for Allied Health Sciences, was among 100 youth musicians chosen from across the nation — and one of five from New Jersey — to be part of Carnegie Hall’s 2018 National Youth Orchestra.
Ho, a NYO veteran, was selected to play the violin in the acclaimed orchestra last year and performed in Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia.
“It feels amazing to return to NYO this summer for a second straight year,” Ho excitedly told LocalSource in a recent interview. “Winning a seat on this year’s orchestra has given me lots of excitement especially after the great experience I had last year while we prepared for our Latin-American tour.”
This year, after again passing a comprehensive audition process, the New Providence resident will train and play at Carnegie Hall before departing for yet another global adventure.
Prior to travelling through Asia, the orchestra will train for three weeks on the campus of Purchase College in Westchester, N.Y.
Following the training, the NYO will begin its tour with a concert at Carnegie Hall, followed by performances in Taipei, Taiwan; Shanghai and Beijing, China; and Seoul and Daejeon, South Korea.
The group will travel to Asia with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and perform a Carnegie Hall–commissioned work by Ted Hearne along with other music.
“I am looking forward to have the opportunity to work with professional conductors and faculty, and to be able to play with the top players from around the country,” Ho told LocalSource. “Also, I am very excited to be able to represent the U.S.A. on our tour to Asia this summer and meet friends from last year’s orchestra.”
Although Ho’s musical practice has a global reach, he has spent years performing at the local level. He has played throughout the Garden State with the New Jersey Youth Symphony, an orchestra and ensemble that is part of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights. Ho told LocalSource that his success is a result of hard work and long hours of practice.
“I am very fortunate to be able to play an instrument that I truly enjoy,” Ho added. “I have to thank my teachers, parents, and everyone who has helped me along the way.”
“We are very proud to have Kingston chosen to participate in this year’s National Youth Orchestra,” Karen Deschere, executive director of the Wharton Institute, told LocalSource. “As co-concertmaster of the Youth Symphony, Ho exemplifies the talent and hard work that NJYS fosters across all of its ensembles.”
Deschere said she hopes Ho will bring back and share his music education and worldly knowledge with his fellow students.