Joseph Hendricks, a junior majoring in music at UMSL, performs his bassoon during December commencement at UMSL. He’ll play bassoon with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra throughout the 2012-13 season. (Photo by August Jennewein)
Joseph Hendricks has recently found himself performing in one of the most renowned concert halls in the United States, Powell Symphony Hall, home to the St. Louis Symphony.
Hendricks, a junior majoring in music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, will play bassoon with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra throughout the 2012-13 season. He made his debut during a November concert.
“All I was thinking was, ‘I’m playing at Powell Hall!” he said.
Waiting in the wings to go on stage he admits to some nerves, but said once he stepped on stage he was just really excited.
“It’s a really, really cool experience” Hendricks said.
He’ll next perform with the youth orchestra at 3 p.m. March 10. Youth Orchestra concerts are free and open to the public. The Youth Orchestra consists of 95-100 young musicians ranging in age from 12-22. Participants get to experience what it’s like to be in a professional orchestra.
Hendricks, who’s from East St. Louis, started his music journey when he took up the saxophone in middle school. In high school, he gravitated toward the bassoon.
“It’s a fairly uncommon instrument, which is part of the reason I stuck with it,” Hendricks said. “I started it completely by chance. I had never heard of it until my friend found out about the oboe and the bassoon. He wanted to do the oboe and I figured, ‘hey, if I do the other one we’ll have a complete set.”
He developed an instant connection with the instrument.
“I loved it and I stuck with it,” he said. Plus, he knew it would help him attract college scholarships, like the symphony’s IN UNISON scholarship, which he has received the last two years. The program funds music scholarships for minority students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in music or music education.
He first saw the Youth Orchestra perform when he was a senior in high school and thought to himself, “Oh, I should do this.” The first year he auditioned he didn’t make it, but a year later he aced his audition.
At UMSL, Hendricks performs with the university Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. He has high praise for Gary Brandes, director of bands at UMSL, calling him one of the best band directors he’s ever worked with.
In turn, Brandes is complimentary of Hendricks, describing him as conscientious, dedicated, a hard worker and a very diligent musician and student.
Hendricks auditioned for acceptance at UMSL as an alto saxophone student, but happened to mention to Brandes that he also played bassoon.
Brandes, needing a bassoonist, asked Hendricks if he wouldn’t mind auditioning on bassoon.
“He played saxophone quite well but I heard potential on the bassoon and asked if he would consider playing bassoon as a member of the band,” Brandes said. “In Joe’s typical thoughtful and considerate manner his response was, ‘sure whatever you need.”
One would assume that Hendricks’ story would end on a musical note. But when asked what he wants to do when he graduates, he said he’s eyeing a career in medicine, not music.
Since he was a kid he’s wanted to be a veterinarian. In addition to his music courses, he’s been taking science courses to pass the test necessary to get into vet school.
However, his bassoon won’t be relegated to the back of a closet. He says even if he goes to vet school he’ll continue to play the bassoon, whether in a university ensemble or community orchestra. Ideally, he’d like to join a professional orchestra, like the St. Louis Symphony.
When he’s not performing, Hendricks works as an usher at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center and the front desk of Oak Hall.
Media coverage:
St. Louis Beacon
St. Louis American