The Cavalier Chronicle

Leading the band

Sunday, February 05, 2006 By Kasey Kilinski

Elizabeth Kalenik is a junior who enjoys listening to music, drawing, reading, and hanging out with friends. But that’s not all she’s about. “When I was in first grade, I decided that I really wanted to play the flute,“ Kalenik said, “and I begged my parents until they got me a flute and flute lessons.” She has been playing the flute for eight and a half years, and the piccolo for six years, practicing every night from 7:00-10:00. Kalenik participates in The New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (which rehearses and plays in Boston, making it a big commitment for Kalenik), multiple chamber music groups in Boston and Southern NH, and, of course, the HBHS band. “My main musical influences are recording artists Jean-Pierre Rampal, Emmannel Pahud, Jascha Heifetz, Jaqueline Du Pre, Renee Fleming, and Cecilia Bartoli,” Kalenik said. She has attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Interlochen Arts Camp, two highly competitive summer programs that changed the way she plays music from the intensive training to playing with the other people. She was taught that there can be a balance between music and other things in life. “I scored the best piccoloist in the NH All-State,” Kalenik said, “I am also the principal piccoloist [out of 2] in the Hershey’s All-USA band, and I was the principal flutist [out of 20] in the All-New England Symphonic Band.” She has also played concerts with many bands and orchestras in the area. You can hear Kalenik at Jordan Hall in Boston, where she plays often. Kalenik tries to make the most out of every bit of her time and tries to get things for school done as fast and as well as possible. All of the programs she participates in, including a pre-college program at the New England Conservatory she goes to on Saturdays, make for a hectic lifestyle, but she thinks they’re worth it. “It’s really nice because I can get a top-notch musical education on non-school days,” Kalenik explained. The New England Conservatory is an open enrollment program, meaning that there are classes and ensembles for aspiring musicians on all different levels. The orchestra Kalenik plays in has done PBS documentaries, International tours, and recorded CDs (which are commercially available). This busy young girl has multiple inspirations including the musicians and conductors she has worked with, her flute teacher, other artists, nature, and the people she sees every day. Kalenik is a very talented person, balancing school with all of her musical programs and doing very well in both. “I have had hundreds of students. Some of them had exceptional talent and some of them had an excellent work ethic,”said Mr. David Umstead, HBHS band director. What makes Elizabeth a rare and special musician is that she has both. It is not every day that an HBHS student gets recognized at the national level— we are lucky to have her here.”