Arts Student of the Week Abby White

“Music,” Abby White says, “is important to so many aspects of life. It uses so many different parts of your brain in different ways than you would get from academics. And that has really helped me in my academic success. And I think it’s just good for your soul.

“Music makes us happier. And it’s something that you can really work hard on. It’s difficult, but it gives you such a sense of accomplishment when you’re able to perform something at a high-level or like get through a hard passage.”

Keynes Chen, NHS Orchestra Director and the Assistant Director of Band, selected White as Arts Student of the Week. “Abby is a senior and she is currently playing as the concertmaster in our Symphony Orchestra, as well as the first violin in the Pro Arté Chamber Ensemble,” Chen said. “Abby is not only a very dedicated musician in our program during the past four years, she is always on-task, reliable, and has been a quite contributive member in our ensembles and in our orchestra's student leadership club (O.A.S.I.S.).”

This is White’s second year in Symphony Orchestra. “We have three levels of orchestra groups at Niwot, namely the Symphonia Orchestra,” White explained, “and then the Conservatory Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra.”

“This year, since I am the only senior violinist, I get the honor of being concertmaster. And it’s also my second year in small ensemble. I think both those ensembles bring different musical experiences.”

White studied piano as a child in elementary school, before taking up the violin. “My family,” White said, “is pretty musical. And my mom and both my brothers all play band instruments, like saxophone, trumpet.” Her mother, who holds a master’s degree in saxophone performance from the University of Denver, was one of White’s biggest influences.

White started in orchestra when she was in sixth grade, at Altona Middle School. She explained, “They tell you to choose an instrument, so I chose violin. My top two instruments were violin or flute. I tried the flute, but I realized I didn’t have the lung capacity for flute. So, I chose violin, and I’m very glad that I did.”

Although she loves many different kinds of music, White especially likes playing Bach’s solo pieces. And last year, in small ensemble, NHS played the “Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8,” which is probably one of her favorites. “It’s like a very, very cool piece that took a lot of time and effort to put together,” she said, “but it was very, very cool when NHS was able to pull it off.” She also likes “The Planets” by Gustav Holst. The orchestra is working on “Jupiter” by Holst right now.

NHS’s Fall Extravaganza, which will be coming up in about two weeks, is perhaps the concert she enjoys most. The orchestra, the band and the choir all perform in the same concert and there are combined pieces. “So, the orchestra and band will accompany the choir in a big piece,” White said. “It’s cool to get to work with everyone, and see how that fits together.”

“She always brings positive energy in rehearsals with lots of smiles and laughter,” Mr. Chen said, “and she does not shy away from helping others either.”

White has been playing in the St. Vrain Valley School District Orchestra since middle school, and also performs with the Combined League Honor Orchestra. She also performed in the Pit Orchestra for “Beauty and the Beast” at Niwot last year. “I played first violin with the old concertmaster from last year who graduated. That was a super cool experience.”

White is delighted that she chose Niwot High School. “It’s been amazing. There’s just a great community there and I feel like it’s helped prepare me for college. And I found so many great friends, so many good teachers that have taught me so much. I think Niwot offers so many opportunities in different areas, and is very academically focused, [with] lots of opportunities for advanced classes and then also music. And there are so many clubs, and athletics. I think it’s just a very well-rounded school and I’ve had a great experience.”

Outside NHS, White is a figure skater and loves doing anything outside like family hiking, camping, and skiing. She likes to sew, and she also does quite a bit of volunteering with children as part of the youth worship team at White Fields Community Church. White is quite involved with music at her church and performs violin recitals in connection with her ongoing private lessons.

Although White plans to attend college to study mathematics, she also hopes to continue with music in some form. “So that might end up being minor in music, or just being a part of the ensembles that the college has to offer,” she said.

Currently, she is considering Wheaton College, Grove City College, Biola University, Westmont University, Cedarville University and California Polytechnic State University. Her favorite at the moment is probably Wheaton,” she said, “although I’ve gone to some college fairs in recent weeks.”