Pink Martini toasts CMS students

RALEIGH — Three high school students from Raleigh’s Community Music School (CMS) were chosen to perform with the band Pink Martini and the N.C. Symphony Dec. 9 and 10 at Meymandi Concert Hall.

Three students from CMS – a nonprofit that provides $1 private music lessons for children who could not afford them elsewhere – submitted video auditions to the band. All three were chosen to perform as featured soloists in one of three A Pink Martini Holiday concerts this weekend.

Tenor saxophonist Nolan Waddill, 16, and flutist Kyrese Washington (pictured above), 16, both of Millbrook High School, and alto saxophonist Vinson Williams, 17, of Enloe High School will each get to solo on Pink Martini favorite, “Hang On Little Tomato”.

“We are truly appreciative of Pink Martini for giving this amazing opportunity to Nolan, Vinson and Kyrese,” said CMS Operations Manager Erin Zanders. “It’s immensely gratifying and exciting to see their talents, hard work and passion for music recognized and encouraged in this way.”

Bandleader Thomas Lauderdale is passionately interested in music education, and in providing opportunities for young musicians. The band has a long history of collaborating with young artists; both the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Portland Youth Choir (PYC) have performed live with the band and PYC has appeared on four Pink Martini albums. These collaborations have been so successful that the band decided to take the program on the road and engage with local high school musicians while on tour. The band feels it is as important as it is fun to share the magic of a lit stage and an engaged audience with young artists who are putting in all those earnest hours behind the music stand.

Timothy Nishimoto, vocalist and percussionist for Pink Martini, captured how the band feels about performing with young musicians such as these CMS students. “One of the greatest things about being in this band is knowing when we’ve had a connection with budding musicians. Having the chance to perform with them on stage is even more special.”

Community Music School of Raleigh positively enriches the lives of children from low-income families through affordable, high quality music education. In addition to music lessons, CMS offers ensemble opportunities, group classes in music production and musical theater, and online learning resources to foster a lifelong passion for music in Wake County children.

For additional information or to donate, please visit www.cmsraleigh.org or call (919) 832-0900.

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Photos by Michael Zirkle, courtesy of N.C. Symphony