La Cañada’s Kerstein helps local students break into conducting
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La Cañada resident Steven Kerstein has never forgotten the difficulty breaking into musical conducting, having received his first opportunity at the high school level.
The Burbank Philharmonic conductor, who is readying for an opening-night celebration this Saturday at 8 in Lanterman Auditorium, heads a program known as Discovery Conductors that provides students real-world training and experience leading an orchestra.
Kerstein and Burbank Philharmonic assistant conductor Michael Stanley, former music director at Burbank High School, will mentor La Cañada High sophomore Henry Thuss, Mendez High sophomore Stellaluna Lopez-Ramirez and Glendale High senior Elizabeth Kim.
“My assistant conductor and myself both started out in high-school conducting,” Kerstein said. “The problem is, it’s so difficult to get podium time.
“Most conductors now have to wait not only until they’re finished with their bachelor programs, but until they’re doing master-level work.”
The three students were selected among a “competitive field,” according to Kerstein, and will work with the conductors throughout the philharmonic’s upcoming season.
Stanley will offer a master class for the group this winter, while Kerstein will work on an array of items, such as finishing touches and honing conducting skills in the spring.
Most of the work will take place during practices, which affords students the chance to direct a professional orchestra without the pressure of a live audience.
Kerstein believes this type of hands-on training is invaluable.
“It’s very expensive to conduct a professional symphony orchestra, and they don’t give anyone without that experience a chance,” he said. “So how do you get started? It’s much more difficult to get started because the barriers to entry are so high.”
Thuss’ talent stood out to Kerstein immediately.
“One of the reasons we wanted to use Henry is he’s an enterprising composer doing some of his own compositions,” Kerstein said.
While the students will all receive training, Kim’s apprenticeship is going one step further.
The 17-year-old violinist, singer and snare drummer will conduct the Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart on Sunday before handing the baton to Kerstein and Stanley for an evening that includes Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 and Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C.
“What we want to do is highlight the fantastic youth we have,” Kerstein said.
Kim’s versatility and passion stood to out to Amy Rangel, Glendale High School’s director of instrumental music, among a sea of the almost 200 kids in her program.
Unlike only playing a specific instrument in an orchestra, however, Kim will be quarterbacking an entire team.
“It’s difficult because she has to be able to read the score, which means she has everyone’s and every part of music in front of her all at once,” said Rangel.
Rangel, though, is supremely confident in her “superstar student,” is excited for her opportunity and wants Kim to “enjoy every moment of that professional sound coming at you.”
