Boston Symphony admits youngest player
NewsThe orchestra has a new contrabassoonist.
Samuel Watson, from Texas, is just 20 years old. He succeeds Gregg Henegar who retired last year.
Watson has been playing for the past year in the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Watson is Boston’s youngest present player, but not the youngest ever. That was Roger Voisin, who joined the trumpet section in 1935 at the age of 17.
That should be “Roger” Voisin, not Robert.
And congratulations to Roger who is still playing in Boston at 105 years young! Who says: ” Music is immortal; musicians aren’t”?
Online sources indicate that he died in 2008.
Were you there?
I believe Roger Voisin died in 2008.
And in spite of what Wikipedia and the BSO press release says, Roger was actually 16 in May 1935 when he began his term as Assistant Principal of the BSO and Principal of the Boston Pops. He was born 105 years ago yesterday, June 26, 1918.
Roger’s father, Rene,also a trumpet player, was playing in the BSO at the time Roger was hired.
And he’s still blowing strong!!! BTW…Happy B’Day, Roger…and give my regards to your Dad!!!
Congratulations! Both of these players also studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Watson with Barrick Stees and Hennegar with George Goslee. Not a bad record!
How appropriate that the youngest person should play the largest instrument.
You don’t see people on the subway with a contra bassoon. They are usually bought and left at the hall. The guys that set up the orchestra move them around when they travel. It is probably the heaviest wind instrument, even heavier than the tuba.
Definitely not heavier than a tuba, either in or out of case. A Mollenhauer contrabassoon weighs, according to a post I found, 6.3kg. That, I presume, is without case. My PT 6 C tuba, standard orchestral size, weighs 7.4kg, according to my luggage scales, also without case.
I’m sure we all are familiar with young musicians with large instruments…my brother played the tuba when he was five!
You couldn’t find a better photo of Sam?
another rich kid
what’s that supposed to mean??
An ill-informed fart of a post from someone I’m guessing could be described as a “poor sonovabitch”?
As a bassoonist who studied with Sherman Walt, and chamber coaching with Matt Ruggiero and Dick Plaster, I know they would be happy to welcome you to the section! Congratulations and many happy years ahead!
You get the best job in the world at the age of 20. Talent yes. Hard work yes. A bit of luck yes. Nicely done young man.
Congrats but what next?
Climb Everest, learn to skydive, get your med degree or become a pilot on the side?
Just don’t quit the music business to become a conductor.
Weren’t violinists Julianne Lee and Takumi Taguci also 20 when they joined BSO straight from Curtis?