Cadence Strange, 12, gets up at 5:30 a.m. to make the two-hour commute from Pittsburg by bus and BART to Oakland, where he attends the Pacific Boychoir Academy. In addition to taking regular classes, Cadence spends three hours a day studying music theory, learning to sight-read, and rehearsing choral works in Latin and German.
California Symphony Orchestra (CSO): What’s the best thing about being a student at the PBA?
Cadence Strange: There is so many wonderful things about being here at PBA! We get individual attention from teachers, I get to sing classical music, and I have made tons of friends here — the campus is so small you can’t miss anyone!
CSO: What’s the most fun or interesting performance you’ve ever sung at and why?
CS: The most interesting performance has to be Boris Godunov with the San Francisco Symphony. We got to go on stage and act and sing; it was a semi-staged opera. Also, I got to one more language to add to my collection: Russian! We got to sing with a professional tenor; he and I stood next to each other and practice together — it was AMAZING.
CSO: Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
CS: I’ve always been a fan of being in business, that might be something I’d like to explore. I’ve also thought about becoming an opera singer or maybe a NASCAR driver.
Read more about Cadence in this interview with the East Bay Times “Pittsburg Boy’s Voice is Opening Doors in the Music World”
The Pacific Boychoir Academy joins the California Symphony for the ’Tis the Symphony holiday concerts, Saturday, December 22, at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, where they will sing festive selections with the full orchestra and perform to the soundtrack of The Snowman as it plays on the big screen.
Tickets start at $42 / $20 for kids and students under 25 with valid student I.D. at californiasymphony.org or call the Lesher Center Box Office at 925.943.SHOW.
