With St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra auditions ongoing, here is more proof that good things come out of YO experience:
St. Louis Symphony English horn and oboe player Cally Banham joined the Philadelphia YO as fourth oboe when she was a teenager. Her “first principal ever,” would later move from double reed to become one of the most distinguished bass baritones of our time: Eric Owens. Yes, the very Eric Owens who joins the Symphony to sing Mozart and Wagner at the League of American Orchestras Conference Concert, here at Powell, June 18.
“He was the first one to tell me how to play in an orchestra,” Cally told me. “He was very nice to me. Eric went on to Curtis [Institute] to pursue his singing career, but over the years our paths have crossed. Every couple years Eric would say hello on the stage or come to the orchestra pit. Sometimes he would ask to play my oboe and he always sounded great. I’m kind of glad he got out of that habit because he made playing the oboe look so easy.

Eric Owens as Alberich in Das Rheingold
“I didn’t hear him sing until his career had progressed,” Cally continued. “I went to the Met for Das Rheingold to see him as Alberich, the role that really elevated his career.
“He last sang with the Symphony in 2009. I’m happy that he’s coming back. I can’t wait to see him.”
Another alum of that YO squad: Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who has been a guest conductor in St. Louis and is music director of the Fort Worth Symphony, was the assistant conductor of that ensemble.