Young Violist Selected for Carnegie Hall Honors Performance Series

William Bauer with Catalina Troy

Catalina Troy, a dedicated young violist who has been studying at the Community Music School of Webster University, has been selected to participate in the prestigious High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, joining an elite group of student performers from around the world.

The Power of Individual Instruction

For the past year, Catalina has been working with William Bauer, a faculty member at the Community Music School of Webster University. The focused one-on-one instruction that the Community Music School provides has been instrumental in developing Catalina's technical skills and musical understanding to a level that caught the attention of the Carnegie Hall selection committee.

"Catalina possesses a combination of technical precision and musical intuition that marks a truly gifted performer," Bauer said, reflecting on his student's progress. "Her dedication to understanding not just the notes on the page, but the deeper musical conversation between composer and performer, has been remarkable to witness. She approaches each lesson with curiosity and leaves with new insights that she immediately applies to her practice."

Individual lessons at the Community Music School allow instructors to tailor their teaching to each student's specific needs and goals. This personalized approach enables students like Catalina to address technical challenges, explore musical interpretation and develop their unique artistic voice.

The Carnegie Hall Honor

The High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall represents one of the most prestigious opportunities available to young musicians. The Honors Performance Series is dedicated to bringing together talented student performers from all over the world, and selection is limited to the best high school performers chosen through a rigorous application process.

Catalina will join fellow finalists for an intensive program scheduled for Feb. 5-9, 2026, that includes working with renowned conductors, rehearsing with musicians from across the globe and ultimately, performing on one of the world's most celebrated stages. The program challenges elite students to perform at their best while providing exposure to master conductors and the vibrant performing arts scene of New York City.

A Testament to Quality Music Education

As Catalina prepares for her Carnegie Hall debut, her achievement stands as an example of how dedicated teaching and focused practice can elevate a young musician's abilities to the highest levels. Her journey from individual lessons at the Community Music School to the world's most prestigious concert stage represents the transformative power of quality music education and the pursuit of artistic excellence.