News
CORINNE FITZHERBERT VICTORIA STAR -- September 8, 2017
A talented young Grand Falls musician was recently named to the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.
Madison Mulherin, the 12-year-old daughter of Scott and Irma Mulherin, learned she was accepted into what is considered one of Canada’s finest youth orchestras.
“It feels pretty great to be part of something so big,”said Mulherin.
There are about 80 members in the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and most are high school or university students. Only a handful of the musicians are preteens or early teens. Mulherin is the only member from Grand Falls.
The full orchestra meets for a three-day weekend once a month and a second weekend is spent in smaller groups who play similar instruments.
Mulherin has studied violin with Ypie Shaver of Woodstock since she was six years old so she was surprised to learn the orchestra wanted her to play the viola. Mulherin has played the viola for about a year.
“It’s the same kind of instrument,” explained Mulherin, noting the viola is like a violin but larger and tuned lower with a different note-reading system.
Mulherin plays several additional instruments and is also a vocalist. No stranger to the Grand Falls stage, Mulherin was only four when she started taking part in the Victoria County Music Festival. At the age of nine she became the youngest participant to win the junior star of the festival award and she won the title again in 2016 at age 11.
Mulherin has also participated in the New Brunswick Music Festival in the categories of musical theatre, solo violin and chamber ensemble/trio and has received second and third place honours.
An enthusiastic performer, Mulherin is a member of the Adagio Youth Singers, a junior choral instructor at Broadway Productions and a musician with the Carleton County Young Players Chamber Orchestra.
“I just love performing,” said Mulherin.
A Grade 7 student at John Caldwell School, Mulherin is also a member of student council.
While her schedule this year will be hectic, but Mulherin said she“loves travelling” and is looking forward to making appearances throughout the province. Being part of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra is giving her the opportunity to meet “amazing people,” she added, and she doesn’t mind the many hours of practicing.
“I really like showing people what we can do,” said Mulherin, adding it’s a joy to look out into an audience and see smiling faces.
The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra will perform in Woodstock on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. in the McCain Theatre of Woodstock High School and everyone is welcome.
