The bassoonist moves to New York City in August, which he said was his dream since his freshman year at Carlisle High School.
The Juilliard School in Lincoln Center Plaza gained prestige with its low acceptance rate, practicing faculty and proximity to the arts industry. Offering undergraduate, preprofessional and graduate programs in dance, drama and music, the school sits next to New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet and Opera and Lincoln Center Inc.
But it was a roundabout journey there for Blankenship.
The musician graduated from Carlisle in 2005. While there, he was principal bassoon for the All State Orchestra senior year, participated in district ensembles and solo competitions, was in Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and has been in The Muse Machine since his junior year, he said.
In particular, Blankenship said teacher Paula Aronoff had the largest impact on him pursing bassoon professionally.
“I was the typical band nerd and all that, but when I was in high school, people started looking at me differently when they realized I was serious about music,” said Blankenship, who also plays piano, bass guitar, clarinet, saxophone, flute and oboe.
Blankenship, who received a scholarship to attend, graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree.
“It’s been very, very challenging, but I think that’s been good for me. If I’m not doing something challenging, I don’t take the time to excel in it,” Blankenship said. “Things come easily for me. The bassoon is challenging for me and I think I cling to that. I still feel like it’s the instrument I’m least comfortable with.”
Juilliard accepted only 8 percent of applicants for a total 842 undergraduate and graduate students for the 2008-09 academic year, said Janet Kessin, Juilliard spokeswoman. Of that number, only 11 undergraduate and three graduate students were from Ohio, she said.
“The quality of the faculty is just extraordinary in every discipline ... our ability to attract guest performances across the board; I mean, it’s just extraordinary exposure for the students that are here,” Kessin said.
Until August, Blankenship is working to earn the $2,000 needed to get situated in New York. With his education, he hopes to accomplish many dreams, including Broadway orchestra, teaching bassoon and playing principal bassoon in a major orchestra, he said.
“It humbles me, it brings me back down to where I’m from,” Blankenship said. “No matter where you’re from, you can always accomplish your dreams.”
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