The opening concert for the West Windsor-Plainsboro based Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra is on Sunday, September 26, at 7 p.m. at Princeton Alliance Church in Plainsboro. The program includes Rossini’s “Barber of Seville,” featuring comedy within music; Morton Gould’s “American Salute” written in 1943 as a tribute to the nation during World War II; and Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra featuring Paul von Autenried Jr. of West Windsor. The orchestra recently received the second prize of the American Prize Award recognizing excellence in orchestral performance for community orchestras in the United States.
Von Autenried Jr., 16, is the first recipient of Bravura’s West Windsor-Plainsboro Award and the grand prize winner of the orchestra’s Young Artist Concerto Competition. A junior at High School South, he plays cello in the school’s philharmonic orchestra, is a member of the tennis team, was president of the Class of 2012 for two years, and is in the math honor society. He also volunteers on the West Windsor Township Human Relations Council. In his spare time, he teaches piano and music theory. With an unweighted GPA of 4.0, he is considering majoring in law or political science with a minor or second major in piano performance.
“As a pianist, there is no better feeling than to have a full orchestra behind you when you perform,” says von Autenreid. “Winning solo competitions is great, but having the opportunity to perform a piece as beautiful and iconic as Rachmaninoff’s 2nd with Bravura is truly special.”
Von Autenried has performed as a soloist with the Manalapan Battleground Symphony and with Shanghai Musicians Chamber Orchestra at the Grand Theater in Shanghai, China. His recorded piano performances have been broadcast on West Windsor Channel 27 and he has performed on Kansas Public Radio. Most recently, he performed as a soloist and as a chamber musician at the Vianden Music Festival in Luxembourg.
A three-time first place winner of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Musician’s Competition, a two-time first place winner of the Steinway Society Scholarship Competition, he is the first place winner of the Shore Music Educators Association Distinguished Artists Competition and the Special Award Recipient of the Suburban Music Study Club Competition. In addition, he has earned the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) and the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM), both with distinction.
He began playing piano when he was four years old with the Suzuki method. “During the school year, on average, Paul practices at least one hour per day. However, during the fall, which is competition season, he practices up to four hours per day on the weekends,” says his mother, Elizabeth, who was also his Suzuki coach. “School work is Paul’s highest priority, then piano and everything else.”
Elizabeth, who had never studied piano, had some musical experience playing the flute for six years. An engineer by education she has a master’s in business administration. Formerly a compensation manager at a medical devices company, she now devotes her time to volunteer work in the High School South and Grover Middle School PTSAs, West Windsor Arts Council, and the West Windsor Human Relations Council.
The family has lived in West Windsor for 13 years. His father, Paul Sr., is the senior vice president and chief information officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb. He is also a board member of Eden Autism Services. His brothers are Christopher, a freshman at South, who competes in area golf tournaments; and Kurt, a sixth grade student at Grover Middle School, who swims year-round with Hamilton Aquatics Club.
“I think that just as an athlete has a home field advantage, so does any pianist. I really love to perform,” says Paul. “So, to me, performing with my hometown West Windsor orchestra is exhilarating. I hope the audience will enjoy the music as much as I do. The entire concerto spans over 30 minutes, so it really will feel like a marathon. I’m thrilled to be performing for my friends and the community.”
— Lynn Miller
Celebrating Arts in West Windsor and Plainsboro, Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, Princeton Alliance Church, 20 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro. Sunday, September 26, 7 p.m. $15 to $25. 609-790-9559. www.bravuraphil.org.
