Lincoln-Way North Senior Among Country's Top Teen Tuba Players

Caption: Lincoln-Way North student Anthony (AJ) Brattoli has gained national recognition as one of the country’s top teen tuba players.

From Lincoln-Way High School District 210

Lincoln-Way North student Anthony (AJ) Brattoli is having a very exciting senior year, gaining national recognition and honors as one of the top teen tuba players in the country.

AJ Brattoli is one of only six high school students in the country to be selected as a finalist for the Marine Band Concerto Competition.

AJ moved on to the final round of the Marine Band Concerto Competition, held February 15 at John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in Washington, D. C. The final round was presented as a recital and was open to the public.

The winner will perform in concert with the Marine Band at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 22 at Northern Virginia Community College’s Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, Virginia. The winner will also receive $2,500 cash prize from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

“In addition, AJ heard this week that he has been selected to perform with the National Youth Orchestra for the 2015 season,” said Justin Barnish, Music Department Chair for North.

“The awards just keep on coming for him. One of two tubas nationally to be selected. Clearly one of if not the best, most decorated and talented music students I have had the pleasure of teaching.”

“We are touring China and Hong Kong, and our headliner piece is Berlioz’s ’Symphonie Fantastique.’ Thank you both for supporting me in my musical endeavors up to this point,” AJ told his music teachers, Justin Barnish and Kirk Hickman.

Brattoli received a letter from Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director, Carnegie Hall, congratulating him for becoming a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) for the 2015 season.

Gillinson told AJ in the letter, “For the program’s third year, we have had the largest and most gifted group of young musicians yet audition for the NYO-USA, and your application was among the best of the best.”

Gillinson continued, “To be selected for NYO-USA is a remarkable accomplishment and a tribute to your dedication, hard work and musical achievements. I am sure it also reflects the extraordinary support your passion for music has received from family, friends and teachers.”

NYO-USA’s 2015 season runs from June 27 through July 28 and begins with a two-week residency at Purchase College, SUNY, where orchestra members will work with Orchestra Director James Ross and a faculty of principal players from many of America’s greatest orchestras.

“AJ is an incredible talent and a wonderful young man. He works very hard at everything he does. He puts a lot of time into his music and it shows,” said Dr. Mark Cohen, principal.

“I thank him for his leadership in Lincoln-Way North’s wind ensemble; and wish him the best in the final round of competition with the Marine Band and their spring concert. I also am excited for his opportunity to play and travel with the NYO-USA this summer.