FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
In what is just another milestone in his musical journey, 16-year-old pianist William Hume, the son of a Fort Eustis-based Army colonel, will travel to Dallas, Texas, June 26 to perform on a special, military children-edition of From the Top, a classical music radio and television show celebrating young musicians.
William, son of U.S. Army Col. Robert Hume, Army Capabilities Integration Center Studies and Analysis Division chief, is one of four children of active-duty military parents selected to showcase their talents on the program.
"I'm fortunate to have this opportunity to do something that I love," William said. "Doing what I love gives me satisfaction. It gives me an opportunity to perfect and further my skill set."
William's foray into classical music began before he can recall. His mother, Laura, inherited her grandmother's upright piano when William as one year old. Growing up with the piano at his disposal, young William became enamored with the instrument, casually pecking at the keys as often as possible.
Noticing what seemed more than a passing interest or phase, Laura suggested piano lessons for William at age 7. He has never looked back.
As he progressed through study, William joined his school orchestra, and participated in the school music program. He enjoyed working alongside other musicians, performing higher-level ensemble work. Outside school walls, William accepted invitations to perform in the community, playing at nursing homes, youth ballets and symphonies, and even taking for-hire gigs at local clubs for brunch performances.
In August 2011, William and his family left Carlisle, Pa., and moved to Yorktown, Va., as his father received assignment orders to Fort Eustis. William immediately searched for opportunities to continue honing his skills. He joined the York High School band as a pianist, and received formal training at the College of William & Mary in nearby Williamsburg. Additionally, he joined several local groups, including Williamsburg's Tidewater Intergenerational Orchestra and Hampton's Liberty Academy of the Arts Orchestra, as a soloist.
Both fans of classical music, William and Laura regularly tune in to National Public Radio's broadcast of From the Top, and William joined the show's email mailing list. In January, he received an email seeking children of military personnel to audition for a spot on the show.
"It was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up," William said. "We weren't really sure what was going to happen, but we decided we might as well try; apply and see what happens."
The application process included a questionnaire, and required applicants to submit video recordings of their performances. As William had recorded several songs on video in the past, even creating a YouTube channel for his videos, he had plenty of material to choose from. William and his parents narrowed his submission down to four pieces of varying genres, hoping to demonstrate his wide range of musical disciplines, and mailed in the package.
It took nearly three months before From the Top made their decision. At the end of April, William received word that he was one of the four performers selected.
"I was shocked. You don't do things expecting to win, you just hope to win. I'm thankful we gave it a shot, and I'm excited," he said. "It should be a lot of fun. I'm nervous, naturally. It's the first time I'll have performed for an audience this big."
William said he is preparing for the big performance by practicing. He selected Romantic composer Johannes Brahms' rhapsody, Opus 79, No. 1.
"Brahms wrote it later in life when he was more mature. It's very complex, featuring several emotions. It's an ideal piece to play for people, because it lets me showcase my abilities," William said. "I play it once each day to keep it under my fingers."
Laura said the performance on From the Top is the result of her son's hard work, and will be a bright spot on his future resumes. More immediately though, it will be a nice addition to his college applications. William is considering attending several music schools, including the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music in New York, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, or Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Md.
"This is a gateway for William. It's just another example of him setting goals and focusing on them," Laura said. "All the different things he's doing will help him develop not only his musical skills, but his sense of self and person."
"My main goal is to become a better musician - the best musician possible. I love music enough to want to make a career out of it," William said. "I'd like to become a teacher of music. You build a respect for teachers in their ability to connect and instruct students in music. I'd like to do more work with other musicians in ensembles and orchestras, perhaps even being a composer and collaborating with others."
William's father said he has been "very fortunate" to have found so many good teachers along the way, regardless of the family's travels.
"The fact that we've bounced around is actually been beneficial. Like with all military kids, being bounced around has a downside, but it exposes kids and families to different things," the colonel said. "We've tried to take advantage, and look for opportunities for all three of our sons.
"Kids are all a little different. We've invested in his passion to provide opportunities for him, and it's well worth the investment to fuel any passion," he continued. "At the end of the day, we're very proud of William. He works very hard at what he does."
The special military children-edition of From the Top is expected to air in Fall 2012.