By: Tatiana Roitman Mann

It’s time for another edition of Musician in the Spotlight, and this time there's a twist! Each week we highlight a musician with a few fun facts our patrons may not have otherwise known. This week our Musician in the Spotlight is one of our Youth Orchestra members, Wilson Vanderslice. Here are a few facts you may not know about Wilson:...

When is your birthday?
August 19th 2000 (same as Romanian composer, George Enescu)

What is your hometown?
Conway,  Arkansas

What is your favorite food?
Maybe a good Margherita Pizza?

What instrument(s) can you play?
I play cello, but took guitar lessons for six years when I was younger.

Who is your favorite composer and why?
My favorite composer is Claude Debussy because of the incredible palette of colors in his compositions. When I listen to Debussy's music, such as La Mer, paintings like those by Winslow Homer often come to mind.

What sparked your initial interest in music?
I grew up with parents who really loved folk music and singer/songwriters. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in music.

What other hidden talents do you have?
I used to draw very often and developed some talent in my drawings.

In what store could you max out your credit card?
Probably H&M or a great violin shop like Reuning & Sons

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If I had a superpower, it would be to be able to live without sleep. I’d get so much done!

What are three things on your bucket list?
I want to perform in an old European hall, play a Bach composition in a Baroque church, and visit Asia.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
When people don’t wash their hands.

Do you have any pets?
Yes; two dogs and one cat.

Do you have any nicknames?
Not really-- some people call me by just my last name: “Vanderslice.”

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I am addicted watching certain channels on Youtube.

How long have you played with the ASYO?
3 years

What is your favorite movie?
Probably 2001: A Space Odyssey

What is the last book you read?
The Stranger by Albert Camus

Who inspires you?
Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. His sound is just so awe-inspiring and I think he has performed some of the best cello recordings.

Which four individuals, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with and why?
Rostropovich- so I could poke at his mind and learn about his approach to cello from someone who inspires me so much.
Mozart- So I could tell him to write a cello concerto!
Bach- So he could tell the whole world which manuscript of the six cello suites is the correct copy.
Albert Camus- So I could talk to him about what he planned on doing had he not died so early.

Any other fun facts you'd like to share about yourself?
Not particularly

What is your favorite thing about playing for Youth Orchestra?
My favorite thing about playing for the Youth Orchestra is the repertoire we perform. My first year we played some movements from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. I am a big Proko fan and Romeo and Juliet is very satisfying to play.

This Sunday, the ASYO will perform their fall concert, Symphonie Fantastique. What aspect of the Fall Concert are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to performing with the choir on the Nelson Mass. I have played with choir before, but never in a composition such as a mass, so I am looking forward to the new experience.

Thanks for stopping by our blog and learning a little more about Wilson!