Four NYU Steinhardt Percussion Studies students had an unexpected opportunity to perform with The New York Pops during the orchestra’s season-opening rehearsal of The Music of James Bond at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music.
Led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, the orchestra was preparing to rehearse when severe traffic delays left several musicians, including two percussionists, unable to arrive on time.
NYU Steinhardt students Grace Sprecher, Katie Leonard, Brynna Gritter Kenneke, and Anastasia Theodoropoulos were attending the rehearsal as observers alongside Percussion Studies Program Director Jonathan Haas and faculty members James Saporito and Sean Statser, who were performing with the orchestra.
With the rehearsal about to begin, Statser distributed percussion parts to the students, who stepped in with virtually no preparation. Demonstrating exceptional musicianship and adaptability, they successfully sight-read the first five pieces, allowing the rehearsal to continue without interruption.
When the delayed musicians arrived, the students received enthusiastic applause from the orchestra and Maestro Reineke, who later personally thanked them and posed for a commemorative photograph.
