We Channel 9 producers are often asked how we come up with ideas for their stories. Sometimes, we’ll run across an article that piques our interest; sometimes, we’ll get a great suggestion from a viewer, acquaintance or someone we’ve interviewed. And sometimes, a great story falls into your lap by sheer chance. That’s what happened to me on a segment involving a St. Louis student and musician who was a semi-finalist in the first national music competition he’d ever entered.
It all started in November of 2007 when I was in the middle of taping for a segment on the newly-formed Sheldon Chorale. I was waiting for a rehearsal of the Chorale to begin at the Community Music School and was checking out one of the bulletin boards. On it was a brochure for the Sphinx Competition. The annual contest showcases young black and latino classical string players. Noticing that the 11th annual event was coming up, I called the Sphinx Organization in Detroit (there are also offices in New York) to ask if they would notify me should they name any semi-finalists from the bi-state area. And as luck would have it, a St. Louisan made the cut.
That’s how I met 17-year-old violinist David Ramos (a Junior at Metro H.S.) and his terrific family. David’s parents both play in the St. Louis Symphony, and his two sisters are string players as well. None of the kids were coerced into following into their parents’ footsteps–in fact, Manuel and Cathie Ramos are the farthest thing from the dreaded Stage Mother or Stage Father as you can get! It’s clear just from speaking to them for a few moments that their number one concern is for their children’s health and happiness.
Among the “tidbits” that didn’t make it into the story is how the Ramoses enjoy those rare times when they play together. Every year at Christmastime, they perform at Union United Methodist Church in Belleville. They also play when they travel to Mexico to visit Manuel’s family (which includes many string players). Cathie recalled one such visit when David was very young (before he first picked up a violin). He and his pre-school aged cousins would be assigned to bell-ringing in the extended family orchestra.
SLSO Music Director David Robertson told me about an evening when he went to a local Mexican restaurant to see Manuel and David perform in Manuel’s Mariachi band (it must be nice to be so versatile). Both the food and the music, Robertson said, were wonderful.
On February 17th, I was at Powell Hall for a St. Louis Youth Symphony concert, in which David and dozens of other gifted young musicians play. I would encourage everyone who enjoys classical music to go to their concerts. You can’t beat the price (the most expensive ticket is $18). And who knows: you might witness stars-in-training.
- Ruth Ezell
