Henry Gralish (left) at PIMF in a chamber ensemble coached by John Koen, cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra.

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- The prestigious Philadelphia International Music Camp and Festival awarded the Alice Downs Scholarship for Young Violinists to Henry Gralish, 12, of Haddonfield, NJ, who used it in July to immerse himself in PIMF's intensive classical music training program on the grounds of the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, PA.

“Hearing how people around me played in the orchestra, and how they THINK in my lessons, it helped so much,” Henry said. “I got better at sightreading music, and once you do that, you learn music faster and combined together, it’s all making me better and more efficient when I practice.”

While Henry’s goal at PIMF was to experience playing in a full orchestra and to improve his skills as a violist, he found the reality of a seat in the Senior Orchestra with high school and college students at the outset a bit daunting, calling the repertoire “probably the most difficult music I’ve ever played. But it’s really great to be around a lot of people who are better than I am, so many people who are so skilled and so good. To see how quickly these other players can learn a piece that seemed kind of overwhelming at first. It’s really amazing to see all those people who are so, so good, just doing what they do best, in their element.”

Over 200 instrumental music students ages 8 through 19 travel to the Main Line from all over the nation and the world for the opportunity to learn from members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and other distinguished musicians. Henry took private lessons with Philadelphia Orchestra violist Marvin Moon and with Hannah Nicholas, Principal Viola of the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra.

Henry feels the experience expanded his approach to technical challenges: “If I showed them a spot in a piece that I’m having trouble with, they have great answers to the problem that would be completely different. It’s so cool to be able to learn how they think, and then combine their ideologies, how they play, how they practice, and then use that to better myself.”

The Alice Downs Scholarship in honor of Valma Lock Hunter was established by her son, David Hunter, Publisher at Haddonfield media company The Gumnut Group, LLC. The select scholarship is open only to a promising student of the violin or viola residing in Camden, Gloucester, or Burlington County in New Jersey.

The Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) is a resident summer music program directed by Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra, offering student musicians from around the world the unique opportunity of spending up to four weeks immersed in music education and performance training with members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.

PIMF offers summer camp programs both online AND live on Philadelphia’s prestigious Main Line. Since March 2020, PIMF’s online platform has expanded its training programs year-round with Master Classes taught by principal players and other members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The audition portal for “Music in the Mansion” Solo Performance Intensive during winter break in Miami is open at PIMF.org. Young cellists and violinists will polish their musical skills with members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra in an elegant estate setting from December 28, 2024 through January 4, 2025.

Photos courtesy of Philadelphia International Music Festival