Stephen Perkyns
Stephen Perkyns, age 17 and a junior at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, has been studying cello for 12 years. He is presently a student of Christopher French. Past teachers have included Lisa Vosdoganes and Diane Bonds.
Stephen has been 1st chair in TMEA Region Symphony Orchestra for 2 years, 2nd chair for 3 years, and most recently earned the 1st chair position in TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in several regional and national solo and concerto competitions and won 2nd prize in the Houston Civic Orchestra competition in 2013. During the summer of 2012, Stephen attended the Sewanee Music Festival in Tennessee and was one of only 2 high school students in the cello section of the top orchestra, sitting 1st or 2nd chair for the entire summer program.
He will be attending Baylor String Quartet Festival for the 2nd time this summer, an invitation only event. Stephen has also been accepted with scholarship to the 2013 summer festival at Domain Forget Music Academy in Quebec, Canada where he will work with 7 internationally renowned cellists on solo and chamber music repertoire.
Along with classical music, Stephen enjoys playing for musical theatre shows and has played in productions both at HSPVA and at Theatre Under the Stars. In the past, Stephen has been a member of a varsity baseball team and in 2010 was the recipient of the Principal’s Award for all-round outstanding achievement in the areas of Academics, Athletics and the Arts. Stephen plans to pursue a music performance degree after graduation.