5Questions for ...

Jahanan Williams

What are you planning to do for your mom on Mother’s Day?

I’ll be playing cello as a member of the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra in a concert at the United Methodist Church in Saratoga Springs. It’s a special Mother’s Day concert, so that’s my gift to her this year. The concert starts at 4 p.m. It is free and the public is invited.

Will you continue with the cello after graduating from Saratoga Springs High School in June?

I will be going to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where I will play in a college orchestra. I can have private lessons at MCLA as part of my coursework. I started playing cello in fourth grade. I originally wanted to play the contrabass, but the people we rented the instrument from convinced me that the cello would be more challenging because of its range of tone and function, and it weighs a lot less than the bass.

What do you enjoy about being in the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra?

I like working with Maestro Gioacchino Longobardi — he’s very encouraging like a teacher and expects us to play professionally. I’ve been able to meet and play with students from other districts. One of our concerts was recorded and released on CD, and another recording was entered in a national contest. I’m a better cellist since I joined SSYO. Maestro would like to see SSYO go to Italy next summer to perform.

What do you like to do when you’re not practicing cello?

Play soccer. I always play on the city rec teams in the spring and fall. I read a lot and play computer games. I’m a major fan of the TV show “Psych.” And I listen to a lot of electronica. Right now, in that genre, I really like Arnej and Royksopp. I also like reggae music— my favorite singers are Michael Rose and Luciano— and progressive dub music from Twilight Circus and Dub Syndicate. I like these genres because the artists put a lot of thought into the arrangements of their music.

Have you seen professional orchestras?

Every summer we go to some of the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts at SPAC. We know one of the cellists. In January, my cello teacher got all her students to go to see Yo-Yo Ma play with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and we were invited backstage to meet him. Every conductor has his own style of conducting, and I watch the cellists. When you play an instrument, you know a lot more about how they’re playing the pieces.