Acceptance to Juilliard surprises trumpet player

Anthony Barrington, who never thought he would be playing for the school of his dreams, will pack up his trumpet in August and head to Juilliard.

Barrington, 18, and a former student of the online Oklahoma Connections Academy, spent months preparing himself for tryouts at some of the nation’s most competitive music schools.

“There is no way I could see myself doing anything else,” he said. “I had no expectation of getting into any of these art schools, especially the Juilliard.”

Barrington, who lives in Oklahoma City, said he plans to cherish this last summer before constant rehearsals and traveling become part of his life.

He received a $36,000 scholarship to help pay for the $42,000 annual cost of attending the school.

“We all had a shock when we learned. … I will be honest with you, that shock has not subsided,” said his father, Andrew Barrington, 43.

Anthony Barrington practices as many as 28 hours a week. He began learning the trumpet during The Salvation Army’s Heart of Hills summer camp, and his interest continued throughout middle school and high school.

During his junior year, he focused heavily on his music studies, and when he was a senior he enrolled in the online school so he could devote even more time to practice.

“I did not have the drive to become a professional trumpet player and to really focus on the trumpet until last year,” he said.

His favorite work is Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, though he has not To watch a video about Anthony Barrington’s acceptance into Juilliard, go to oklahoman.com. yet played it.

For his auditions, he chose a piece by Igor Stravinsky titled “Petrushka,” which features what he said is an “unbelievably difficult” trumpet solo.

“To be under the pressure of auditioning and play something that is pretty challenging kind of weighs on you. I am glad I went for it,” he said, calling the piece his wild card.

Barrington has studied since his junior year with Michael Anderson, trumpet professor at Oklahoma City University.

“It is extremely impressive to see what Anthony is doing,” Anderson said. “I was not surprised he got in though, I knew he would.”

Barrington plans to receive a master’s degree in music and has a dream job of playing with the New York City Philharmonic, which he considers the best in the world.

“He can do anything that he sets his mind to and go anywhere he wants,” Anderson said. “Though I am not completely ready for him to leave just yet.”