Rhyuhn Green, a 17-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Philadelphia, has committed to The Juilliard School to study composition this fall. He told reporter Eva Andersen the support from Play on Philly helped him make it this far.
this evening we’re bringing you the
second part of our series on a music
program that’s shaping students lives
right here in Philadelphia yesterday we
shared how play on Philly is setting
students on the path to success now we
want to share how one of play on
Philly’s programs helps boost the
musical careers of students with a high
skill level Eva Anderson introduces you
to a Marian artist excuse me am Maran
Anderson young artist
[Music]
on this black and white instrument Ryan
green sees a canvas of colorful
possibilities in each of those 88 keys
there is something that you can express
differently the 17-year-old has
expressed himself through piano since
Age 2 when his aunt rava believed his
hands were begging for a keyboard we
first noticed his fingers like moving it
just take took a back so I said let’s
try out the piano so we taught him his
ABCs on the piano from there everything
was music he began taking lessons at age
4 and by 9 started instruction with
renowned pianist Michelle K she’s a
professor at the Curtis Institute she’s
wonderful Ryan began composing and with
K’s encouragement he applied to the
Maran Anderson young artist program
through the organization play on Philly
which is helping students throughout the
city finds Success Through affordable
music lessons the program paired him
with composer Bill dockerty to receive
private instruction for free we work
together each week and we sort of go
through a compositional analysis of
everything that I’m
writing last month he wowed the audience
at the Kimmel Center at the All City
concert playing his original composition
[Music]
symbiosis Aunt rava couldn’t be more
proud to see him flourish it’s just a
joy that you wouldn’t believe it’s a
miracle you’re witnessing a miracle uh
develop so it’s hardly a miracle that
this soon to be grad from the
Philadelphia high school for Creative
and Performing Arts was just accepted
into Julie art to study composition
something he credits in part to the
support he’s received through play on
Philly I think that I’ve gained a better
compositional voice I’ve learned to
express myself
better the program’s importance isn’t
lost on his family it gives the black
youth uh a chance to expand on what they
know Let the world see in our community
see that it’s more than just hip-hop and
though he’s not even yet
18 Ryan hopes to set an example for even
younger musicians I hope that they look
at me and see is that I want to be the
best musician as I possibly
can 88 keys creating infinite
possibilities for what’s to come
Eva Anderson CBS News Philadelphia