Succeeding as a classical musician is a difficult task, but junior August Ramos, driven by his love of music, is determined to try.
Ramos played the guitar at a young age and later transitioned to the double bass in fourth grade when the music teacher at Lawrence School asked him to choose an instrument for the school’s orchestra.
The double bass is not one of the instruments students are normally allowed to choose, but Ramos was granted special permission. Ramos’ parents wanted him to choose an instrument that allowed him to go in the direction of any genre.
Through playing the double bass, Ramos has realized that he wants to pursue a career as a classical musician.
According to Ramos, it is necessary to get a symphony job before becoming a classical musician. However, doing so is very difficult.
“For a symphony job, all the musicians in the circuit who play the music are going to be auditioning for that job,” said Ramos. “You need to be good enough to not make any mistakes to get the job. It’s that hard.”
According to Ramos’ private double bass teacher, Irving Steinberg, Ramos is a well-prepared student who goes the extra mile and shows a real commitment toward playing.
Ramos practices 1.5 hours after completing his homework every day during the school year and practices four to five hours per day during vacations.
Ramos’ father, also a musician, pushes him to practice every day and monitors his practices to help his future auditions for college.
Ramos is currently playing in multiple orchestras, including the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. During the summer, he attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute with members of his orchestra.
Ramos is driven to become a musician by his passion for music.
“It can convey your emotions like no other art form can,” said Ramos. “With music, I feel like it’s an experience, like you can tell a story. You’re showing emotion to the listener.”
“It’s unusual to see somebody of such an young age enjoy practicing that much and also be so inquisitive and curious about all kinds of orchestral music,” said Orchestra conductor Steven Lipsett. “I think his curiosity and his appetite for musical opportunities and different kinds of works are distinguishing.”
“I know by now that if I were to try to pick a career besides music, it would probably make me unhappy,” said Ramos. “I feel like this is who I am. I’m a musician.”
Jennifer Sun can be contacted at [email protected].
