In his very first season with Sarasota Youth Orchestra, Jack Gallahan impressed judges with his winning performances during the 2018 Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artists Concerto Competition. A 16-year-old junior at Pine View School, Gallahan began studying piano at age five, then switched to cello upon joining his school orchestra five years ago. As his innate musical gifts emerged on a new instrument, fellow Pine View students encouraged Gallahan to get involved with the Youth Orchestra.

"I'm so glad I auditioned this past year, because it's been a really awesome, awesome program. I look forward to every Monday when we come to rehearse," Gallahan says, adding how he appreciates the deep exploration of orchestral repertoire and technique afforded by participation in the Youth Orchestra.

In this season's Young Artists Competition, Gallahan clinched the final round with the first movement from Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1, one of his favorite classical works of all time. 

"It's so joyful, and it's very clean and simple. I just love Haydn," Gallahan says. In winning the Young Artists Competition, Gallahan earned the opportunity to perform the music he treasures with Sarasota Orchestra backing him in the Thrill of a Lifetime concert on February 9.

When he's not making music, Gallahan immerses his brilliant young mind in the sciences, physics in particular. Last year, Jack gave a lecture to the Sarasota Physics Club on his own prize-winning research in how quantum systems interact with light! He also founded the Music for Medicine Program at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital, an Arts in HealthCare program that brings the therapeutic powers of music to patients, families, and hospital staff.

Gallahan says he definitely plans to study cello in college, and is interested in expanding his music career further into conducting and composition. Musical, academic, and beyond, in all his pursuits Gallahan shows an especially valuable trait: the desire to connect with and enrich his community.