Cyrano Rosentrater Senior Spotlight

You play the violin, piano, sing, conduct, and compose with plans to pursue music. Which came first, and what attracted you to music?

My musical life really began through media and listening to things on the radio, and TV… this is when I was a toddler…I just liked listening to music that I heard…and it just fascinated me …I was always really fascinated with…musical ensembles. Like, what makes them able to play together? What makes the music work?

I would say the violin came first, I started playing when I was four and then piano I started when I was five, and then composing was something that I gradually started…I wrote my first serious piece when I was about eight…got my feet wet initially and then I just, you know, immersed myself into the pool. Masterman has definitely influenced my experience of singing and conducting.

Favorite memory with Sweet Sixteen, Masterman’s High School Acapella Choir?

I remember in Middle School. The first time I ever saw sweet 16. They just burst into the fifth grade classroom…I think it was Ms. Donahue's class.

And I was like, how do I join? Because they looked like they were having so much fun and they can just bust into any classroom and start singing. So I saw that, and I was like, “that's incredible, I'm going to do that.” And unfortunately I was upset when I realized that middle schoolers can't join Sweet 16.

How do you manage your practicing time?

Musicians have a schedule that is difficult to manage and a schedule that changes by the moment. And frequently things get added and taken away, so our time to practice is generally like very thrown off… I find that for composition, it's easier to work in longer stretches…for violin, I can do either.

What are you looking forward to most in the winter concert at Masterman this season?

I would say probably Sweet 16 just because whenever we're on stage, we try to really engage with the audience, we try to really form a connection with the audience. And we feel the energy coming off of the audience and it affects the way we're performed. And that's one of the most exhilarating things. It's like a feedback loop, you know? You put energy input and the audience gets excited which causes the performer to get more excited etc, etc.

What will you miss most about Masterman?

The community. I think the people here are excellent. The faculty is incredible. The students are incredible. Just the sense of community here is unmatched, I would say. It's just that it's such an inclusive place and people seem to really respect each other, respect each other’s differences. I also will really miss…the very strong and vibrant music program.

What are you looking forward to most in college?

Just getting time...time to work. And to think…time I think is the most valuable resource. And you have to guard your time, protect your time, buy your time. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to reform the way that I use my time. Time management, I think, is one of the most valuable skills.

Which piece of music do you recommend to people who might not be familiar with classical music?

Western classical music may not be everyone’s cup of tea - there’s a lot of music out there to explore and enjoy! However, if someone wanted to get into this style, I might recommend a short piece for piano named the “Butterfly” Etude (op. 25 no. 9) by Frédéric Chopin. The piece contains a sparkling and impassioned journey in one minute!