Spotlight: Hayden Green
SPYO Concertmaster Has Goals of Going Pro
by Helen Tipton
Youth Orchestra Co-Manager
Concertmaster of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Hayden Green, is looking toward his future in violin performance. As a senior at Spartanburg High School, he has a growing list of achievements that not only make his parents and teachers proud but the community of Spartanburg as a whole. His humble and easy-going attitude makes him easy to teach, easy to work with, and easy to love.
Music is a large part of the Green family, with both Hayden’s father and grandfather playing the guitar and banjo, respectively, something he and several of his five siblings have carried on. Beyond his family’s natural appreciation for music, Hayden was also introduced to the violin very young.
While born in Boone, NC, the Green family moved to Spartanburg when Hayden was three. At the time, Spartanburg was home to a vibrant Suzuki violin studio lead by Mrs. Lyn Acosta. It was here Hayden first began his musical journey. As part of Acosta’s program, he enjoyed group classes and private instruction, which was the foundation of many things to come.
Early in high school, Hayden’s journey landed him at the doorstep of Spartanburg Philharmonic’s beloved violinist and teacher, Mary C. Irwin, who has nurtured and guided Hayden for the past several years. Hayden himself credits Mary for much of his success as a student musician saying, “Mary wants the best for you and will go out of her way to push you and make you the player you want to be.”
With Mary’s continued guidance, Hayden has had some wonderful opportunities. Besides being a vibrant part of the District 7 Orchestra, All-State and Regional orchestras, he also played violin from 2017 to 2019 with the Carolina Youth Symphony. Hayden fondly remembers playing with that group on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City. Hayden has also played with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra, the summer intensive Masterworks Festival. “Hayden has a natural musicianship and stage presence, Mary says. “He has all the potential to become a very successful violinist.”
As a senior in high school in the middle of a pandemic, it has been a challenge to find opportunities to perform, but even so, Hayden has been quite busy! Early last spring Hayden performed Wieniawski’s Scherzo-Tarantelle with his classmates in the Spartanburg High School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mr. Jeff Kuntz. Mr. Kuntz speaks of Hayden with pride. “To have a high school violinist in your orchestra that is as serious as Hayden is about music, and his own personal growth as a musician is a real joy as a music educator. However, when you combine this with Hayden’s incredible sense of humor and laid-back personality, it is really fun to be around him as well.” As his high school years come to a close, Hayden looks forward to playing the Orange Blossom Special one last time with the SHS symphony before he graduates this spring.
Hayden continues to push himself as a musician, learning to play the mandolin as well as being a talented vocalist. He continues to increase his own repertoire of music and is currently challenging himself to learn Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saëns. And like most classical musicians, Hayden has an appreciation for the genre as well, his current favorite being Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy saying, “After hearing Stephen Tavani play it with the Masterworks Orchestra in 2019, I absolutely fell in love.”
Currently, Hayden is in his second year as the concertmaster for the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. To Music Director Dr. Susana Lalama, having Hayden as a leading member has been a tremendous asset to the young organization. “Hayden consistently expects the best from himself musically, which transfers to the entire orchestra,” says Lalama. “He leads by example and we are all better because of his outstanding work ethic.“
The ever-busy young Mr. Green has had a variety of experiences growing up in Spartanburg. He is an Eagle Scout, has been on stage several times with the Spartanburg Youth Theater, and enjoys weightlifting. His music education is still paramount to the young musician, however. And currently, Hayden looks forward to furthering his musical studies at the university level next year and should soon be able to announce his decision.
While still considered a student musician, Hayden already echos the sentiments of many professional musicians in regards to how performing makes them feel. “When I perform and play violin I get overwhelmed with so many emotions I can’t put it into words.” Hayden shares. “I enjoy the feeling of being on stage and having control over the audience’s emotions as well as mine.”
When asked what inspires him, it becomes even more evident that Hayden has both talent and the innate understanding of what it takes to be a professional musician. According to him, “People who I meet that are great players who share my passion and drive for violin are the people who drive me. Not just the famous soloists that I look up to but my peers drive me just as much as anyone else.”