Senior Spotlight: Abigail Leary, flute

What AYPO ensembles have you played in and for how long?

AYPO Flute Ensemble (1 year), AYCO (1 year), AYSO (1 year)

Your advice for young musicians?

Even if you're last chair for the third year in a row, don't give up. Your genuine passion for music is more important than how flashy your accomplishments look on paper, and playing any instrument poorly and with determination is more worthwhile than playing it well and apathetically.

What college/university do you plan on attending this fall?

Ithaca College; Flute Performance

A favorite, or memorable AYPO experience?

Last year in AYCO, we were given name tags with our name and instrument on them that we hung on our stands. A week or two into we began switching names among members of the woodwind section and responded to the names on the tags when called upon. Eventually, my friend found the exact font and size that the signs were written in, and printed name tags with the name "JD Andersen, Conductor" for the entire woodwind section. Mr Andersen didn't find this quite as funny as us and some of the string players did, but it was one of the most memorable and funny moments last year in AYCO.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

After high school graduation, I plan to study music at Ithaca College for my undergraduate degree. After this, I plan to pursue a Master's degree and/or study abroad. I hope to one day be able to play in an orchestra or band, and my dream is to live and play abroad in Europe.

What musician, conductor, or orchestra inspires you and why?

I am inspired by Alison Fierst, one of the principal flutes of the New York Philharmonic. She is the youngest musician to hold this position, and does so with grace and humility. She did not come from a big and famous musical family, and this inspires me that I can make it with my own hard work without having to be born into success.