Youth in Focus

By Richard A. Ross

Sisters’ opus: “A” major success

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Laura and Julia Berger of Sullivan West at Jeffersonville. (Click for larger image)

Once upon a time in a place far, far away, two little girls named Laura and Julia Berger started playing the violin. Annual winter sojourns took their family to Port St. Lucie, Florida since their dad’s local swimming pool business was dormant in winter. It was there that the toddlers were first exposed to the sweet strains of violin music.

Their parents enrolled them at Morningside Academy, a private school where everyone played a string instrument. Dr. John Enyard, the musical director at the school, played in the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Enyard suggested that they begin Suzuki instruction in the violin.

It was a natural fit.

Returning home to Sullivan County, the girls began to study with Pat Lubin of Liberty, and for the past five years, Laura and Julia have had the privilege of studying under Theresa Gao of Monroe. Gao normally spends an hour with each of the girls, though sometimes she works with them together.

“She makes us feel comfortable,” said Julia, a seventh grader. “She works on the littlest details that make our playing better,” noted Laura, an eighth grader. “She stresses technique, such as how much pressure to put on the bow, posture and the importance of having your shoulder relaxed.” Laura loves the vibrato sound that the violin produces.

The results have raised eyebrows. On April 13, the girls played the La Folia duet in a chamber music concert at the Tusten Theatre arranged by Sullivan West music teacher Patricia Ellmauer. The audience was entranced.

They have also played in All-County and received extremely successful NYSMA evaluations. Reflecting back on their violin careers, both are extremely positive about the experience, though Julia remembered, “It was hard in the beginning.” Two years ago, the winter trips to Florida ceased. With no string program at Sullivan West, the girls sought other musical outlets in addition to their violin studies. Julia plays clarinet in the school band. For her part, Laura has taken to the bass and drums, though not in school. Their father Bob plays guitar and has a band of his own called Target. The girls often play along with Bob and entertain the thought of one day playing with the group for fun. “I love all kinds of music, except country,” Julia notes.

The girls are heading to the Hartwick College Music Festival Camp in Oneonta this summer. Their principal study will be in violin of course, but they will also study voice. Laura will take a class in bass and drums while Julia studies clarinet.

Both have extremely positive things to say about how music has influenced their lives both in and out of school. “Having had music all throughout our lives has made us more disciplined,” said Laura.

“Playing an instrument helps your comprehension. Having to practice and fit it all in with schoolwork can be stressful, but it tends to make you much more organized,” said Julia.

Both girls love school, which affords them a friendly social context. Julia is the top student in her class and recently won the seventh grade departmental awards in math, history, English, home and career skills and general music. Laura was one of the recipients of the eighth grade President’s Education award.

Though they like sports, they choose to spend their time making music instead of goals, baskets or home runs.

As to the role of music in their future, Laura says she definitely wants to study music in college. Julia feels the same way but at this point, neither one speculates about what else her studies might lead to. Whether they end up playing for the Philharmonic or just for themselves, it is clear that this week’s youths in focus are already making memorable music.