We’re thrilled to celebrate one of our talented Granville Junior High students, Conor Thomas, who has been accepted into the prestigious Rising Artist Program from S.E. Shires Company!
Conor's musical journey began in fifth grade at Granville Elementary, where he joined the band—originally, he admits, to be near a girl he had a crush on. “I didn’t think band class would be that interesting,” Conor laughs. But as time went on, his interest blossomed into a genuine passion.
A pivotal moment came when Conor attended a local Vermont Symphony Orchestra performance with his mom and grandma. “That’s it,” he recalls. “That’s what I want to do.” With the support of his family, Conor began taking private lessons with Master Trombonist Philip Brink in Glens Falls and attended summer music camps at the Crane School of Music.
Now an accomplished eighth grader, Conor stands out as the first Granville Jr/Sr High student to apply for and be accepted into the Rising Artist Program, which features students from renowned institutions like Yale and Juilliard. This incredible opportunity offers two years of online Master Classes with professional musicians, networking, and summer workshops with other aspiring artists.
“I hope to one day attend a music college and become a classical musician, traveling and playing in an orchestra,” Conor shares with excitement.
Ms. Stout, our Jr/Sr High Band teacher, reflects on his journey: “We are really proud of Conor. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to grow as a musician.”
Join us in wishing Conor continued success in both our music program and the Rising Artist Program. We at Granville CSD are incredibly proud of you, Conor, and can’t wait to see where your musical talents take you!
RESOURCES
Here is the link to see Conor featured in the Rising Artist Program.
Take a local day trip to watch the Vermont Symphony Orchestra perform. Here is the link to view the schedule. Or visit the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra schedule with this link.
Here is the link to learn more about career paths in music, including non-musicians.