Senior Jessica Straub to Study at Royal Academy of Music
What started off as a whim has landed Huntington High School senior Jessica Straub a spot in the freshman class at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The teenager will soon be headed to Europe to study at the legendary university.
“I initially applied and auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music on a whim,” Ms. Straub said. “Since I was not expecting to be accepted into the program, I told myself that I was doing the audition purely to prepare myself for my other college auditions. However, after being accepted into the program and seriously weighing my options, I knew this would be the right place for me.”
Ms. Straub is very well-known around the high school building, serving as one of the general chairs of this year’s Relay For Life, performing with the pit orchestra during the school musical, traveling with Habitat to Humanity to New Orleans, singing with the a capella choir and earning five varsity letters with the Blue Devil swimming team.
“There were many reasons for choosing the Royal Academy of Music in London, including the incredible faculty, prestige and, of course, the location,” Ms. Straub said. “The two double bass professors hold positions in two of the most amazing orchestras in the world. What better way to learn how to succeed as an orchestral musician than from the best?”
Traveling far from home was an issue that Ms. Straub needed to consider during her decision-making process. “The thought of going to school in another country scared me initially, but the second my mom and I stepped on campus in April for a visit, all worries went away and I immediately felt at home,” the senior said. “The professors and students were all extremely welcoming and I cannot wait to spend my next four years there.”
Highlights of her four years at Huntington High School included serving as a general event chair for the Relay For Life in each of the past two years and Ms. Straub’s deep involvement in the music program.
“Being an event chair taught me so much and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work so closely with our advisor Mr. [Joseph] Cohen, American Cancer Society staff partner Alyssa Patrone and the rest of the planning committee,” Ms. Straub said. “Though planning this huge event took countless hours of meetings and fundraisers, I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything. I am lucky to have spent all of those hours planning with some of my closest friends, my favorite teacher and our amazingly supportive community.”
During her time in Huntington, the teenager has performed with the honors orchestra, chamber choir, chamber orchestra, a cappella, wind ensemble and pit orchestra. “The hours that I spent in the music hallway during and after school were some of my favorite memories,” Ms. Straub said. “For the last two years, I have been a double bass student at The Juilliard School in the pre-college division.”
The Juilliard program involved making a “huge commitment,” but Ms. Straub was up for the challenge. She thrived in an atmosphere filled with some of the most talented young music students in the country, if not the world.
“I took the train into and out of the city every Saturday for two school years,” Ms. Straub said. “I had classes every week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., including studio class, music theory, ear training, a private lesson, chorus and orchestra. Being around the best musicians and professors in the country at a top conservatory pushed me to always work hard and be at my best. The competitive nature of the school worked greatly to my benefit as I learned that in order to be the best you have to work the hardest. I am so excited to take everything I learned at Juilliard to the Royal Academy of Music in the fall.”
The teenager is happy she crammed as much as possible into her four years at Huntington High School. “My advice to incoming freshmen is to push yourself, as you can always accomplish more than you think you can,” Ms. Straub said. “Take that extra AP class, try out for that competitive sports team, audition for the prestigious music program and apply for that award. At the end of the day, you’ll be happy you did it.”