Senior Spotlight: Austin Snavely, Joseph Fiore, & Ian Kohn - PYO Music Institute

Name

Austin Snavely, Joseph Fiore, & Ian Kohn

Instrument

Austin: Drumset/Percussion
Joseph: Percussion
Ian: Percussion

Current Teacher

Austin: John Riley/Dr. Willis Rapp
Joseph: Bill Wozniak
Ian: Bill Kerrigan and Bill Wozniak

High School

Austin: Daniel Boone High School
Joseph: Lower Merion High School
Ian: Germantown Friends School

College / Major

Austin: Eastman School of Music / Jazz Music Performance
Joseph: Boyer College of Music / Percussion Performance
Ian: Boyer College of Music / Percussion Performance

How long have you been a member of the PYO Music Institute and in which ensembles did you participate?

Austin: I’ve been a member of the PYOMI organization for 2 years participating in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Joseph: I have been a member of PYOMI for 5 total years. I was in PYAO for two and this is my third year of PYO.
Ian: One year (PYO; subbed in for Bravo Brass and PYSB).

Do you have any plans or activities planned for the summer?

Austin: I plan to not only prepare for college, but to also relax and make amazing music with my friends and colleagues on and off the stage.
Joseph: I’m going to be starting work as a lifting coach/personal trainer. Other than that, most likely just in the gym, practicing music, hanging out with friends, hiking, and biking. I like keeping summers easy.
Ian: Off to BUTI to participate in the percussion workshop and the Young Artists Orchestra.

What is one of your favorite PYOMI memories?

Austin: Performing the piece Fables of Faubus at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
Joseph: Playing snare for Stars and Stripes Forever at the Union League of Philadelphia during Christmas time. With Abraham Lincoln looking over me, it was the most patriotic I have ever felt.
Ian: Though Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 1 was a joy to perform, I particularly enjoyed the convenience store runs I’d make for myself or my percussion mates when I was tacet. I found the idea of it incredibly amusing.

What are your most recent musical and/or academic achievements?

Austin: My most recent academic achievement is winning my school’s Berks Best Nomination for my performance on and off the stage. My recent musical accomplishment is earning spots in some of the top jazz conservatories in the United States.
Joseph: Graduating high school…

What are some of your favorite pieces of music that you have performed with PYOMI?

Austin: Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10, Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis, Fables of Faubus, Little Old Lady, and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
Joseph: Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Holst’s The Planets, Guilmant Symphony No. 2, Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1, Symphonic Dances, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Meyer’s Concerto For my Family

When you are not in rehearsal or practicing your instrument, what other activities or hobbies do you enjoy?

Austin: I normally would be at school community events or swimming events due to my participation on the high school team.
Joseph: I compete in powerlifting. I was ranked 28th in the country and came 4th at nationals. I also like to go to car meets, spend time in nature, and watch baseball.

What is one unique attribute about you that people find surprising?

Austin: That I am a competitive swimmer.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What do you see yourself doing?

Austin: I see myself performing for amazing people and amazing musicians, around not only the United States, but also the rest of the world.
Joseph: The dream is to be in an orchestra as a percussionist or timpanist, hopefully in Italy.