Artist of the Week: Andrew Redling

Andrew Redling’s journey with music includes discovering his talent for the violin, realizing the impact music could have on his life, and growing his confidence and accepting mistakes  – all through the encouragement and support of his teachers. Now, the Warwick Valley High School senior is planning to pursue a degree in music education and become a high school music teacher so he can have the same type of influence on his students.

He specifically credits Orchestra Director Elissa Maynard, whom he has known since he arrived at Warwick Valley Middle School in sixth grade from another school. Ms. Maynard remembers one specific day from their first year together when she realized Andrew was special musically.

“I first met Andrew when he was in the sixth grade and I knew then what a mature ear he had for music,” said Ms. Maynard. “I will never forget the time his E string broke, and his mom bought a student level E string to replace it. Andrew was so offended by the sound of the student level string that his mom called me in a panic. That day I told her that Andrew was beyond his years as a musician and would require professional strings on his instrument because anything else would literally create mayhem in his world. His ear is even more refined now and his tone and musicality are top notch.”

Andrew remembers that day too.

“I could see her face light up when she realized that the string I needed wasn’t the one that I wanted,” he said.

“I have a vision of what I want to hear. Well, I guess I don’t have a vision. You can’t see that. But the idea I have is a vision of what I want to hear and what sounds right to me. What sounded right to me was just more expensive string taste, I guess,” he added with a laugh.

This year, he is a co-concertmaster of the Warwick Valley High School Chamber Orchestra and the concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra, helping students in both orchestras stay synchronized together and even conducting. Andrew has been accepted into Area All State as a first violinist and All County as a first violinist. He is also a tenor in Meistersingers and a member of the National Honor Society. 

“Andrew is an exceptional musician and violinist,” said Ms. Maynard. “He is an extremely hard worker and is a teacher’s dream. Anything I give him to work on, he does it and succeeds. Not only is Andrew a great musician but he is kind and friendly to everyone. He isn’t shy about trying new things and in my opinion, the definition of music.”

It wasn’t always that way as he was a very shy ninth-grader. Andrew remembers taking music seriously in middle school, but freshman and sophomore years were big growth years for him.

“In middle school, I didn’t realize how much and how important music would be in my life today. Ms. Maynard made me realize how special music was to me. That really didn’t happen until ninth grade. I was very timid, obviously coming in as a freshman and you don’t know anyone else. She made me realize how much orchestra had an impact on my life. She made me realize how special music is and that music can be your life. I feel like I want to give that opportunity to other people too. To make them feel how music can bring such happy emotions and joy to you.”

With the encouragement of Ms. Maynard, he performed an All-state level NYSSMA solo in his sophomore year.

“I was like ‘Oh wow, she believes in me.’ Like she believed in me to do something that typically sophomores would never do. I feel like because she believed in me, I gained that confidence.”

She also created an environment in school where students can grow from their mistakes, which is helpful even in competitions that involve judges, he said.

“I’m definitely not trying to limit myself anymore,” he said. “When I realized that it’s OK to make mistakes it really helped me. You’re in a room of really talented musicians, but no one is perfect and ever will be perfect. And it makes you feel more comfortable with your own playing. I realized that even if I make a mistake that everyone else is going to too. So, you just have to think about it like your one big family.”

Andrew hopes to major in music education focusing on classical music at either William Patterson University, Ithaca College or the University of Hartford. He will perform auditions for the schools in the coming months and hopes to learn of acceptances in January or February.

“I look back at my freshman year and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I was super shy. But, each year I slowly inched up and I gained so much more confidence.”