Burr Ridge violist performs with Chicago Philharmonic

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Benjamin Wagner of Burr Ridge, rehearsing his viola music.

Updated: November 24, 2011 2:59AM

Burr Ridge teen Benjamin Wagner usually plays his viola among peers, but May 15 he will share a stand with a professional violist as he performs with the Chicago Philharmonic.

His performance is part of Side by Side, a mentoring program allowing the best high school musicians to experience performing with a professional orchestra. This year three students were selected to play during the performance of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Hall in Evanston.

“I thought it was a double win in that this is such a great opportunity and that I would be able to play with such great people,” Wagner said.

Wagner is principal viola in Chicago’s Protégé Philharmonic, a youth training orchestra for serious students, and a member of Elmhurst’s Timothy Christian High School’s orchestra. Principal viola is fun, but a big responsibility to him.

“I like being that type of leader because sometimes it gives me reason to be a little bit extra expressive,” said Wagner.

Wagner considers himself an expressive player because he moves around and makes facial expressions based on the music’s intensity, insisting it adds to his music.

“I just get the chills when I’m playing just because there’s a melody, which I don’t even know why I like it, just inside, I really like it.”

His dedication began at 10-years-old when he signed up for the school orchestra, choosing the viola to be different from his classmates. At 15, after overhearing a conversation in the school hallway, he decided to audition for the Protégé Philharmonic and receive further instruction.

“I wanted to be in a more serious environment than just school orchestra,” he recalled.

That’s when he and Protégé Philharmonic Conductor Joseph Glymph began working together. Through conducting the orchestra and formal instruction, Glymph has observed Wagner’s music career blossom.

“The fact that he’s come so far, so fast, in such a short period of time, that makes him stand up above many young people,” said Glymph. “(he has) Great work ethic, an incredible ear and everything you need to succeed if you want to be in this profession.”

Donna Milanovich, executive director of the Chicago Philharmonic, heard Wagner perform a concerto solo at a Protégé Philharmonic concert, an honor he won in Protégé Philharmonic’s Concerto Competition. His performance made him an obvious candidate for Side by Side.

“I specifically asked (Glymph) for him because I heard him in a setting that I thought was very high pressure, and he played beautifully,” Milanovich said. “And, he played with poise and control.”

He had a week and a half before the first rehearsal to learn the difficult piece and remains excited. Preparation includes learning and practicing the music, constantly listening to classical music on his ipod, which is also overloaded modern pop and staying up late at night watching professional orchestras on YouTube. With the event approaching, he is excited, especially about the rehearsals.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to is the first rehearsal where I get to walk in and I get to meet people and I get to hear how good everything is going to sound because I don’t know what to completely expect,” said Wagner.

Next year Wagner will be attending Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with a scholarship. He will study with Stephen Wyrczynski, a teacher who was a factor when choosing the school. Wagner knew he could have fun working with him and could go places after college.

“The Jacobs school just has such a rich history for music and such a great program,” Wagner said. “So many have walked through the same hallways and have had such successful careers after, so that’s also very inspiring.”