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Flourish Online Magazine | Winter 2009 |
Student Spotlight: Tyler Mitchell
Maestro in the making
By Jarmea Boone
Classical music brings junior violin performance major Tyler Mitchell an exuberance that takes over so naturally, and its glow never goes away. Mitchell remembers having been introduced to an electric violin by his fifth grade teacher and he began playing the violin
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Tyler Mitchell Photo by Cheryl Anderson Brown |
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Photo by Anne Almasy |
in the sixth grade. A performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra then sealed his love for music. Over the years, he has collected more than 350 CDs of classical music and has decided to work towards a career as an orchestra conductor. “I took piano lessons for a couple of years because I thought it would be good to know more than one instrument. I have never, however, stopped playing the violin. It is my life,” Mitchell said.
While Mitchell was in high school, KSU Assistant Professor of Music Education Barbara Hammond taught a lesson in one of his music classes. “I loved her energy,” Mitchell said, “and thought that Kennesaw State’s music program was a great option to consider for college.” Mitchell also met KSU Assistant Professor of Violin Helen Kim in high school. “I thought that she definitely had a good sense of compassion for violin students,” he said. “I looked forward to working with her at KSU.”
Mitchell has not regretted his college decision and finds that the culture of the arts at Kennesaw State is one that has helped him build up a good, progressive work ethic. Mitchell practices five hours a day. “Your learning is all in the dedication.”
Mitchell particularly credits Kim for her mentorship. “She has so much experience and is so accomplished,” he said. “She taught me that playing my instrument has to become a part of my lifestyle and not just something I ‘like’ to do. I must love music more than anything, and I must believe in music.”
So far at KSU, Mitchell has been a part of the Student Aid Council and has been a member of a few chamber groups. As a first-year student, he joined the KSU Orchestra and served as the orchestra’s concertmaster, a challenging position that Mitchell feels further developed his performance skills and his leadership ability. “For concertmaster, I auditioned at the beginning of fall,” he said. “I had to be sure it was what I really wanted because a lot of responsibility is involved. I had to be familiar with all aspects of the orchestra to be able to properly lead the group.”
After graduation, Mitchell plans to go for his master’s and doctorate degrees, and he wants to study abroad. “I will have a rewarding career, and KSU is preparing me for that,” Mitchell said.