Latin School of Chicago

When his parents first introduced the idea of learning to play a musical instrument, Ben Manis already had his eye on the cello. As a fan of the movie Peter Pan, he much admired the pirate in Captain Hook's band who played the cello. It was what he wanted to play. But his parents believed it was too bulky for a 5-year-old, and Manis grudgingly started on the violin. After a miserable first year in which he had to be bribed with Pokeman cards to practice, determination won out and he started on the cello. Since then, although there were years during middle school when he was not so enthralled and considered quitting, Manis' commitment, hard work and musical talent have helped him to become one of the top young cellists in the country. He is now in his first year at the highly selective Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, a four-year, fullscholarship program that focuses on rigorous performance training to prepare gifted classical musicians for professions in music. Beyond the 150 recitals and performances they have each year, the 120 students enrolled at Colburn devote their time at school almost solely to practicing their instrument. For Manis, a gifted student with varied intellectual interests, coming to the decision to apply to conservatories rather than college was initially difficult. However, the choice also came with a certain sense of relief. "It frees you from the technical restraints of the instrument. I think one of my strengths as a player is musical insight, and that can be expressed best through conducting." 30 L AT I N M AGAZINE "I was tired of having two distinct parts of my life – going to school during the day and playing the cello at night. It didn't allow me to pursue either to the full extent that I would have liked," he said. In high school, once he was done with the school day, homework and activities, Manis spent at least three or four hours practicing the cello each night or working with his teacher, Richard Hirschl. He also was co-principal cellist of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and played with the Encore Chamber Orchestra and the Principal Players String Quartet of the CYSO. During the winter of senior year, as he prepared for his auditions to music school, Manis increased his daily practice time to about eight hours while still balancing a reduced class schedule. "Now I am ready to focus on my music for a while and see where it takes me," he said before leaving for Colburn. Whether he goes on to pursue a graduate degree or not, Manis hopes to find a seat in an orchestra or string quartet after school and perhaps eventually move into conducting. "It frees you from the technical restraints of the instrument. I think one of my strengths as a player is musical insight, and that can be expressed best through conducting," he said. Manis was grateful when Performing Arts Director Michael Teolis invited him to conduct for the first time during the Latin band trip to Berlin in 2012. It is an opportunity that is rare for a high schoolaged musician and one that has helped him to imagine his future. "My dream job? Probably conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic," Manis said, only half joking. "But playing for a world-class string quartet wouldn't be too bad either." n

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