Apple Tree Arts student will make Carnegie Hall debut
Elena Baker, a student of Apple Tree Arts, has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall Nov. 16 by the Royal Conservatory of Music for her outstanding accomplishments on the Level 2 voice examination of the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program.
Baker has been a student of the nonprofit community music and theatre arts school for several years and is the daughter of Graciela Vargas-Baker and Alan Baker.
Baker, a seventh-grade student at Grafton Middle School, received the State Certificate of Excellence, which is awarded in each state to the student who receives the highest marks in their discipline and level for the examination.
“Her mother and I were excited to learn that Elena received the very highest rating the RCM gives and the best of anyone who took the test at Apple Tree Arts during this time,” said Mr. Baker.
Apple Tree Arts became a site for the Royal Conservatory Examinations one year ago to provide instrumental and vocal students with the opportunity to take the examinations, an integral part of the RCM’s renowned system of study. Exams are offered to give students a challenge to prepare for and overcome, help them set goals and round-out their musical education. The program helps build students’ confidence too.
“Elena had to perform two prepared pieces and do sight readings for the Level Voice 2 exam which involves learning and performing a new four-measure piece on site. She had to read and sing the notes to the music in the correct rhythm,” her dad explained. “Elena had to show her technical ability in vocal expressions and ear training tests as well, too,” he added. The prepared pieces were based on specific mandatory selections. “It’s an excellent way over a course of a few years for students and parents to see how they (students) are progressing in their lessons and encourages them to improve, too,” Vargas-Baker added.
Elena prepared for the examinations with the assistance of her voice teacher, Alaina Calloway Bolton, music education director at Apple Tree Arts.
“I’ve been having students participate in the Royal Conservatory program since shortly after it was offered in the United States in 2011,” Calloway Bolton said. “Music exams are the standard in Canada, Australia, and the UK, but are relatively new in the US. They’re a wonderful way of ensuring that students are well-rounded and thoroughly prepared for future studies, especially if they are interested in pursuing music in college. As soon as Elena started studying with me, it was clear that she was both gifted and motivated, so I wanted to be sure to get her involved in the RCM program to ensure that she has all the tools she needs to be successful, both short and long term. Her parents are very supportive and encouraged her to work hard to prepare last year. It showed in her impressive results! she explained.”
“Both Shannon May, Elena’s theatre arts teacher and Alaina told us that Elena had real talent and a good voice and needed to be challenged,” said Mr. Baker.
The Bakers heard about Apple Tree Arts from a neighbor. Elena did her first full-length show “The Lion King” under the aegis of theatre arts director Lisa Scarlett and faculty member Laurie Baker. She participated in many programs with May such as “Lights Camera Action” and “Show Choir” and then several taught by Matt Mariner, creative dramatics manager that also focused on teaching performance and singing.
“We were looking for a program that she could take that focused on voice training,” explained Vargas-Baker. “I kept on calling ATA’s office and asking Kathy (Vandenengel) to let me know if a program was available for her age group. Then Kathy called me back in the spring of 2017 and told me about “Young Voices,” a summer program to be taught by Alaina,” she said. After the class ended, Elena continued with private music lessons with her in the fall.
“Elena benefited from the variety of instruction offered by ATA and working with the staff to improve her technique, voice quality and become a more rounded singer,” Mr. Baker said. “During this time, she became interested in Broadway shows and being on Broadway which was a change from an earlier interest in pop stars like Taylor Swift. Being in various shows that Lisa directed increased her desire to do so. She worked very hard with Alaina in private lessons for several years and preparing for the RCM exams with her,” he said.
Now the family attends local community theatre shows in the Worcester area and travels to Boston and Broadway. Elena’s main interests are singing, acting and dancing. Her collection of playbills continues to grow as the family plans to see more shows like “Rent” and “Come from Away.” With her mom and dad Elena paid homage to her roots by attending ATA’s recent production of “Yee-Haw” co-directed by Ms. May and faculty member Susan Upham.
Only two seats are given to each family of the esteemed students who have been asked to perform at Carnegie Hall for the RCM’s Northeast Region Celebration of Excellence Recital. Elena’s parents will be attending the recital while other family members will join them in New York to share in the excitement. These family members include Elena’s older sister Alexis and Elena’s grandmother who is traveling from San Francisco where she immigrated to many years ago with her daughter Graciela and family from Chile.
Seventy performances are scheduled to be given by voice, violin, piano and other instrumental students. Elena will be accompanied by Apple Tree Arts faculty member and distinguished pianist Corbin Calloway Bolton. The recital seating capacity is 300.
