A quick note on biographies...
Writing about yourself is hard! So, our students learn to write biographies through writing about each other. Each biography below is written by someone else in the group after an interview and multiple rounds of drafts, peer review, and revisions.
Gilbert Town Fiddlers | 2021 - 2022
|
Gabe Allen, violin
Josie Bickerstaff, violin Hallie Brinton, violin Hannah Buresh, violin Jenet Cole, violin Katie Dancho, cello |
Ally DeWitt, violin
Marlee Hales, violin Nestor Hernandez, violin Emily Houlihan, violin Vignesh Ilangovan, cello |
Kayden Karis, violin
Grace Mollenhauer, violin Bella Navarro, violin Jameson Parker, violin Michael Rencher, violin Valeria Tuka, cello |
Gilbert Town Fiddlers | 2021-2022 | Student Biographies
GABE ALLEN is one of GTF’s newest violin performers. He is a 15-year-old sophomore who attends McClintock High School in the lovely city of Tempe, Arizona. He has been playing the violin for 6 years. He played in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony for 3 years and his high school’s symphony orchestra for 2 years. He doesn’t play in MYS anymore, but he continues to play in his high school’s symphony orchestra. When he’s not at school, he enjoys playing badminton and is an expert in video games. Gabe has received many awards, including some for badminton and for school. Playing the violin is important in his life, so he wants to pursue violin performing in the future. If not a violin performer, he would choose to practice law. He is an avid listener to a lot of music, especially to his favorite genres, 80s music and heavy metal. Although it's hard to describe yourself, he describes himself as “diligent and self-motivated.” GTF is excited to have gained an amazing member this year!
Written by: Josie Bickerstaff
JOSIE BICKERSTAFF is a 15-year-old violinist of 5 years attending Gilbert High School, who is also a second year badminton player and choir student! Josie has participated in 4 musicals so far, and has even achieved the “ Excellent Leader” award all in her first year.
Josie is also a talented cook and baker, who enjoys baking exciting foods like snickerdoodle cookies and s'mores brownies. When she’s not cooking extravagant meals, she prefers just eating out at her favorite restaurant Chipotle. On top of that, she is an academic superstar, having received the Golden Scholar Award (Straight A’s) since 4th grade. Besides violin, she enjoys listening to country music and pop artists such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. Josie's aspiration in life is to be an engineer for amusement parks. Josie is outgoing and courageous and loves working together and will be a great addition to the new GTF season!
Josie is also a talented cook and baker, who enjoys baking exciting foods like snickerdoodle cookies and s'mores brownies. When she’s not cooking extravagant meals, she prefers just eating out at her favorite restaurant Chipotle. On top of that, she is an academic superstar, having received the Golden Scholar Award (Straight A’s) since 4th grade. Besides violin, she enjoys listening to country music and pop artists such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. Josie's aspiration in life is to be an engineer for amusement parks. Josie is outgoing and courageous and loves working together and will be a great addition to the new GTF season!
Written by: Gabe Allen
HALLIE BRINTON is a 15-year-old sophomore attending Gilbert High School. She has accomplished seven years of playing violin, and she has been fiddling with GTF for two of those years. Her favorite part of playing violin is when she gets to create music with other people, like in orchestra or GTF. At school she is always involved in a sport. In the past she has done cross country, track and field, and volleyball, and this year she is doing tennis. She also has a love for reading and creative writing. Currently, she is even writing her first book! When spending time with her dog, Horace, you’ll often find Hallie listening to Broadway musicals, her favorite being Dear Evan Hansen. Her plans for the future include studying psychology, and continuing to play violin as a hobby.
Written by: Katie Dancho
Starting her first year with the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, HANNAH BURESH is stoked to begin her debut season. Hannah is currently a freshman at Desert Mountain High School. She has been playing the violin for 6 years, and has been spending the last year studying under the incredible Taylor Morris. This year will be her first year exploring fiddle styles. Hannah is no stranger to the stage, she’s a part of the Desert Mountain Symphonic Orchestra and her church’s orchestra. After high school, she has her eyes on attending a prestigious college and becoming a biology professor. Hannah is interested in biology because of her love of finding out how things work, and she enjoys learning about the world around her. She has a special place in her heart for Stanford University- whether it be attending or teaching. She dreams of Stanford because it’s close to home and she plans attending with a friend. Whenever she’s not doing homework or practicing, she can be found enjoying rainy days while listening to country music and reading a classic book. With all of her aspirations there are no doubts that she will go far in her future.
Written by: Valeria Tuka
With big dreams and a bright smile, JENET SCOTT COLE sets out to do her very best this year in GTF. She’s an accomplished musician, playing violin, piano and ukulele. Jenet will gladly sing along to almost any genre of music, especially musicals like Wicked and Dear Evan Hansen. Jenet loves painting, from her shoes and clothes to the decorating murals on the walls of her own room. She loves music theory and seminary. When asked about her dream, Jenet said she would love to major in design at BYU and end up as a mother of at least three children. This year is her sophomore year at Casteel High School.
Written by: Grace Mollenhauer
KATIE DANCHO, an animated 15-year-old sophomore, loves playing the cello. At Hamilton High School, Katie is a member of her school’s orchestra program. With four years of cello experience, 2021 marks her first year in the Gilbert Town Fiddlers. She enjoys taking private lessons with her cello teacher Chris Rice. Along with the cello, Katie has played the piano for 10 years, and enjoys classical styles of piano, as well as more modern songs and improvisation. She decided to take up cello after playing the piano for so long because she wanted to try playing music in more interactive settings such as in an orchestra. When she’s not playing music or listening to BTS, she likes to paint, draw, craft, and do anything creative. Katie is also a member of her school’s Math and STEM Clubs.
Written by: Hallie Brinton
Buckle up, GTF! This freshman from Highland High School, the sweet and social ALLY DeWITT is joining us for her first year of Gilbert Town Fiddlers. We are extremely lucky to say we have captured a place in Ally’s crazy busy schedule. Between school, homework, music, and babysitting, Ally is a master at managing her responsibilities - and for that, we are eternally grateful.
Music holds a special place in Ally’s heart; she has spent four years dedicated to violin and even magically conjures up enough time to teach herself piano. Aside from creating music, Ally also loves to listen to it. Music from the 1980s, 2010s, and musicals have captured her heart, and while doing her chores you can catch her happily humming along.
Ally loves to travel. So far Canada, Mexico, Washington DC, California, Utah, Idaho, and Las Vegas have been blessed with her presence. Her favorite trip so far has been Canada where she remembers going to her aunt and uncle’s store, fingers sticky and stained from picking wild cranberries. So many sweet memories were made that she’s patiently waiting to return.
Though not for a while, it’s no surprise such a put-together student like Ally knows what she’ll study once she’s done with high school. Having a severely autistic younger brother has nurtured compassion in her that has inspired her to become an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapist, forever taking care of children in similar situations. We can’t imagine this season without one of our newest, yet easily loved members, Ally DeWitt!
Music holds a special place in Ally’s heart; she has spent four years dedicated to violin and even magically conjures up enough time to teach herself piano. Aside from creating music, Ally also loves to listen to it. Music from the 1980s, 2010s, and musicals have captured her heart, and while doing her chores you can catch her happily humming along.
Ally loves to travel. So far Canada, Mexico, Washington DC, California, Utah, Idaho, and Las Vegas have been blessed with her presence. Her favorite trip so far has been Canada where she remembers going to her aunt and uncle’s store, fingers sticky and stained from picking wild cranberries. So many sweet memories were made that she’s patiently waiting to return.
Though not for a while, it’s no surprise such a put-together student like Ally knows what she’ll study once she’s done with high school. Having a severely autistic younger brother has nurtured compassion in her that has inspired her to become an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapist, forever taking care of children in similar situations. We can’t imagine this season without one of our newest, yet easily loved members, Ally DeWitt!
Written by: Marlee Hales
MARLEE HALES is a bright and joyful 16-year-old girl who has played and loved the violin for about 7 years. As a junior at Mountain View High School, she is super excited to play in her third year in GTF. Not only is she an amazing violinist, but she also finds the time to do other activities such as swim, and excel in AP World History and AP Language. Marlee has proven that she can not only juggle, but thrive in athletics, academics, and music. In fact, Marlee swims all the strokes, although she mostly does long distance, for both her club and school team! Among her three sisters and one brother, Marlee is the middle child, and while she loves playing with them, she also loves traveling with them and has been to a variety of places such as Paris, England, and Costa Rica. She and her family also go to Mexico when they can, always enjoying their time together. As long as Marlee is with the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, we will undoubtedly have one of the best years ever!
Written by: Ally DeWitt
NESTOR HERNANDEZ, 16, is a talented and accomplished musician who has been playing violin for seven years. A junior at Gilbert High School, Nestor exercises his talents in the East Valley Youth Symphony and is in his third year with Gilbert Town Fiddlers. He is an active member of his school orchestra having received awards such as Most Improved Musician, and participated in the 2021 All-Region Honor Orchestra. He is one of the 300 students in his 1,900 student body that earned the Golden Scholar Award, which he won three years in a row. He also earned Most Outstanding Swimmer. Besides playing his violin, Nestor enjoys playing the mandolin, experimenting with chords on the piano, and arranging music. Nestor has interests in many different types of music. His favorite fiddler is Casey Driessen, and he enjoys music from the 80’s, the early 2000’s, and especially music by Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter Calvin Harris. Nestor can also be found cooking, playing volleyball and weightlifting, or “just experiencing nature.” Nestor has a bright future, aiming for a scholarship to BYU for creative writing and business, and eventually pursuing a career as a producer or even a plot writer for books. Being well-rounded and having a creative mind, he will be successful in whatever he chooses!
Written by: Emily Houlihan
With her incredible desire to express her artistic imagination and her magnificent talent to make crafts, EMILY HOULIHAN joins GTF with a bang! Coming in as a senior for ASU Prep Digital, she began to play violin in 4th grade and has since decided to take on the challenge of learning the piano, ukulele, and even composing her own music which consists of pop songs and bite-sized melodies on her various instruments. With her hard work and musicality, she has also participated in the 2019 and 2020 Regional Honors Orchestra. All of which has been supported by our own co-director Taylor Morris, and her private teacher Vivi Erickson. Even though it's her first year in GTF, she has already made a mark on her peers with her excitement and joy for playing music. Dealing with creativity and decision-making in music are right up Emily’s alley, as she aspires to become an illustrator and creative artist for Disney! While she’s drawing and working away, Emily’s room is typically filled with the sounds of foot-stomping fiddle music or the funky, heartfelt riffs of Ed Sheeran. After which, she loves to watch movies and conduct big projects such as watercolor and acrylic paintings, jewelry, and even custom Mickey Mouse ears for her friends! After high school, Emily plans on attending the Art Studies program at ASU, with an application to Barrett, The Honors College in the works there as well. Though music may not be her lifelong profession, the experiences and friends she’ll make in GTF will greatly support her as she strives to reach her dreams and dives headfirst “into the unknown.”
Written by: Nestor Hernandez
New to the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, 14-year-old VIGNESH ILANGOVAN brings outstanding abilities. Being a freshman at Basis Ahwatukee, he has taken on many challenges. He's been discovering his way around a cello for three years and has been guided by his private teacher Christi Elie for one year. With his knowledge of cello being limited, he has managed to match the skill of fiddlers with multiple years of fiddling in their fingers. This could be that he utilizes his free time to listen to the work of violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. But, who is Vignesh when he puts down the cello? Vignesh has competed in a number of chess tournaments and once snagged third place in a competition of 250 players! When he graduates high school, he wants to pursue a career in architecture. Other tidbits about Vignesh are that he enjoys the show "Black Clover" and his leg has even caught on fire once (don't worry, he's alright)! With all of this taken into account, Vignesh's stunning skill and fun life makes him a more than welcome addition to the Gilbert Town Fiddlers.
Written by: Kayden Karis
With his school mascot at Highland High school being the hawk, KAYDEN KARIS sure does soar with musical ability! Having 6 years of classical music experience in violin, 5 years of fiddling music experience, and even a year of digital music experience, it's no wonder that Kayden wants to be a musical producer when he grows up. At first glance, Kayden may seem like an irresponsible 15-year-old from his heavy interest in video games such as Super Smash Bros and Persona, but have no fear! His impeccable record as a sophomore with 4 straight years of honor rolls is sure to have any parent glimmer with pride. Even with his talent in music producing and violin playing, Kayden finds time to appreciate the small things in life. Getting breakfast from The Henry, playing Super Smash Bros with friends, and having dinner at home may seem like everyday experiences, but they’re cherished moments for Kayden. His eccentric, charming, and humorous personality brings joy and laughter to anyone who is willing to listen to him, and he spreads it the only way that Kayden Karis can. Gifted with an amazing personality and an incredible amount of talent, Kayden is ready to make a lasting impact on Gilbert Town Fiddlers this year!
Written by: Vignesh Ilangovan
Everyone is so ecstatic to have GRACE MOLLENHAUER returning to GTF for her second year! She has studied violin for eight years with her private teacher Heidi Wright. Grace found fiddling four years ago and also loves singing, playing piano, and ukulele. This fabulous fiddler attends Highland High School as a sophomore and loves to sing with her school choir and play in the orchestra. One day she aspires to be a therapist or a forensic specialist. At home, she has five siblings and six chickens. Grace enjoys eating sandwiches and has the coveted ability to build Ikea furniture. She loves to read all sorts of interesting books and has even spent significant time writing her own stories! Along with reading and writing, Grace also loves performing. In the past, Grace has been an actor in 6 plays. She grew up watching her mom cook and because of that she now loves to cook herself; her favorite things to cook are Chicken Makhani and Naan (two Indian recipes). Grace is excited for this year in GTF and can't wait to improve as a fiddler. The Gilbert Town Fiddlers are lucky to have her!
Written by: Jenet Cole
Now a junior at Dobson High School, GTF is incredibly lucky to have BELLA NAVARRO in her third year. Bella has been taking lessons with GTF Co-Director Taylor Morris for around seven years, and has been playing for just over 14 years! In addition to her exploration of violin, Bella also plays the ukulele and the mandolin, which she has been doing for two and four years, respectively. Known for her charisma, commitment, and enthusiasm, Bella has been elected VP of multiple groups, including the Drama Club and Choir Council at Dobson. Bella is part of many other extracurriculars, including the National Honors Society, Student Council, and Girl Scouts. For many years, Bella has taken a multitude of tap-dance lessons, continuing to tap dance in and outside of the studio today. One of Bella’s favorite things to do is dress up and make costumes, especially for Halloween! Two of Bella’s favorite costumes are Elphaba from Wicked and the Abominable Bride from Sherlock Holmes. Bella also loves theatre, with one of her favorite musicals being Into the Woods. In 2018, she was awarded first place at the Arizona National History Day, because of her passion for history, allowing her to advance to the Nationals round. Bella made a performance based around the events of the Stonewall Riots. Then, she had to make a bibliography and make historical costumes and sets. Finally, she performed it in front of judges and won first place in the Arizona competition. Last but not least, Bella would like to go to a college in Boston and “keep doing the fiddle thing,” while continuing to explore theatre. When she grows up, Bella said that "I want to be a working actress, fiddle player, and Glossier showroom editor."
Written by: Jameson Parker
It’s hard to believe 13-year-old JAMESON PARKER is only in his first year of GTF! Being homeschooled, Jameson has had a unique experience with music that started outside of a school orchestra. He began playing at the young age of four, and has been exploring fiddle music for three years. Jameson studies violin with Taylor Morris and has been avidly a part of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony for four years! In addition to violin, he also has a love for piano and has been playing since he was five. Outside of music, Jameson sports an impressive interest in math, shown by his many testing awards in the subject. He has participated in an invitation-only math camp 3 times in a row, taken the AMC8 exam five times, and the AMC10 exam once. Jameson is also an eccentric reader and gives high praise to his favorite series, The Stormlight Archive by Branden Sanderson. When he’s not enjoying a hefty book, board games are a must! Jameson recommends Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (available on Amazon) if you have lots of free time. In the future, Jameson wants to keep doors open for potential careers, but he has a particular interest in bioengineering. All in all, Jameson is a phenomenal violinist with a great sense of humor!
Written by: Bella Navarro
The Gilbert Town Fiddlers are excited to have violinist MICHAEL RENCHER back for his second year in the group! Although this is his second year with the organization, he has about nine years of classical playing and two years of fiddling already under his belt. He has been taking private lessons from our very own Taylor Morris for about three years. This junior is a prestigious member of the orchestra program at Red Mountain High School. His interest in music doesn’t end here; Michael also plays piano, guitar, and even sings, performing with his school’s advanced choir. When it comes to listening to music, he claims that his music taste is “kind of all over the place,” ranging from Mega Man level themes to German power metal.
When he is not fiddling around on any of his instruments, Michael enjoys playing video games, particularly the open-world classic Minecraft, reading a good book, or sleeping in. But don’t let his relaxed demeanor fool you -- Michael is a recipient of the Eagle Scouts Award, the highest achievement for a Boy Scout, an award only four percent of scouts strive for. Additionally, he is gratified by robotics, as he finds the payoff of creating something unique and functional very rewarding. He has contributed to multiple state championships while on the Red Mountain APEX robotics team, so it is no surprise that this student is intelligent and dedicated. GTF is lucky to have someone as talented and passionate as Michael!
When he is not fiddling around on any of his instruments, Michael enjoys playing video games, particularly the open-world classic Minecraft, reading a good book, or sleeping in. But don’t let his relaxed demeanor fool you -- Michael is a recipient of the Eagle Scouts Award, the highest achievement for a Boy Scout, an award only four percent of scouts strive for. Additionally, he is gratified by robotics, as he finds the payoff of creating something unique and functional very rewarding. He has contributed to multiple state championships while on the Red Mountain APEX robotics team, so it is no surprise that this student is intelligent and dedicated. GTF is lucky to have someone as talented and passionate as Michael!
Written by: Eve Wodarcyk
VALERIA TUKA is an amazing cellist who will graduate from Gilbert High School this school year. Passionate about music, Valeria has played cello for 6 years and someday wishes to study music and bilingual education. She really wants to study this field because everyone should have the ability to learn, regardless of language barriers. She's a triple threat, as a current student of Melissa Silva-Williams, Valeria has been exploring fiddling on viola for one year longer than cello and also plays the fiddle. She is now in private lessons for her 7th year. At Gilbert High School, she’s also involved in Tri-M, a musical honor society.
But, music isn’t the only thing about which Valeria is passionate. Loving the art of cooking she participates in the Commercial Baking program, through East Valley Institute of Technology. Valeria is an avid reader of “Interview with a Vampire,” and loves listening to artists like Eminem and Olivia Rodrigo, while sitting with her two dream cats, Pesto and Freddie.
But, music isn’t the only thing about which Valeria is passionate. Loving the art of cooking she participates in the Commercial Baking program, through East Valley Institute of Technology. Valeria is an avid reader of “Interview with a Vampire,” and loves listening to artists like Eminem and Olivia Rodrigo, while sitting with her two dream cats, Pesto and Freddie.
Written by: Hannah Buresh