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Nevada Silver & Blue • Summer 2010 Reed High School, and earned his bachelor’s when he was 10 years old, graduated from the rising tide of his musical career. Reno musical roots while being carried along on the surfboard,” he says. youth orchestras in the world. internationally recognized as one of finest Youth Orchestra, the Wattis Foundation music director of the Symphony and to his current position as the assistant conductor of the San Francisco Donato Cabrera, ’96 (applied music) to become rise of University of Nevada, Reno alumnus turn of phrase to use when describing the increase in volume and intensity. It is a fitting Donato Cabrera: Reno’s musical masterpiece Cabrera moved to Reno from Las Cabrera draws again and again from his “I’m riding the wave and just trying to stay To a musician, a crescendo is a steady P rofile By Kathie Taylor, Class of 2011 V egas grandmother play the piano, who learned these people around.” success,” he says. “I was very lucky to have studied with as a student in Reno. as well as the excellent music teachers he Orchestra, Nevada Ballet and Nevada Opera, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Reno Chamber begins at home, with organizations like the School of Music. University, Bloomington, and the Manhattan graduate studies in at Indiana the University of Illinois, and pursuing further earning his master’s degree in conducting at & World Report’s Top College rankings”: reads like the “Who’s Who in U.S. News degree at Nevada. His post-graduate profile While spending summers listening to his “Reno has everything to do with my But, Cabrera says, like charity, success Hickman Sr. retired as professor emeritus Known in Reno as the “Grandfather of Music,” receiving his bachelor’s degree from Nevada. conducting the University band in 1940, after father, Felton Hickman Sr. ’38 (music) began and 19 years of high school music. His late Reno for nine years at the middle school level, instrumental music.” in the brass choir. He took two classes a year in honor band, all-state, perform solos and play Hickman says of Cabrera. “He’d try out for Felton Hickman Jr. ’60 (music). High School band, under the guidance of and before long, he was playing in the Reed play the French horn in middle school band, taking piano lessons at age 8. He signed up to from her father, Cabrera was inspired to begin Hickman, now retired, taught music in “He always did a lot of extra things,”

Photo by John Lee •

Nevada Silver & Blue Summer 2010 61 N n ice ice V merita and Professor of Biology Biology of Professor and merita E Lenz is now the principal horn player of of player horn principal the now is Lenz education music of village proverbial the In “The University really expanded Donato’s really Donato’s expanded University “The like would he future, the in says Cabrera John and Felton from learned I “What is students music instrumental to advice His in roots its has Music Classical “Western merita Carol Ort and her husband, Fred Fred husband, her and Ort Carol merita urope,” he says. “Get there for a semester.” semester.” a for there “Get says. he urope,”

before theArts Fine Church before building was finished1960.” in Chamber Reno the Philharmonic, Reno the Telluride the of cellist the is and Orchestra, joined is He Colorado. in Players Chamber (Griggs) Paula wife, his by endeavors these in ’97 Lenz Ruth daughter, and (music), ’73 Lenz (music). ’99M.M. music), (applied at support received also Cabrera Reno, is that college throughout held he job part-time the University by owned store CD local a at Provost Provost E Anderson. the to back that brought he and knowledge, and this knowledge had “He Ortsays. store,” who knew and conductors different of love skills and capabilities the conduct had to talk could to the music, and typesof different it.” about customers and opera both conducting continue to associate the as served He works. symphonic from Opera Francisco San the of conductor debut conducting his made and 2008 to 2005 Orquesta the with 2008 in America South in many the in experience His Concepción. de patience him gives says, he ensembles, musicians. young with understanding and Francisco San the with working is he When a takes Cabrera Orchestra, Youth Symphony book. history own his from page make to how in foundations thorough were well-rounded not you’re “If says. he music,” to them teach can’t you fundamentals, the in else.” someone limitations pitfalls, instrument, every learn to says, he majors, performance Music all. and as such language, foreign a learn also should abroad. study and Italian, or German E Photo by Kristen Loken Kristen by Photo with the the with Don ngland Conservatory in Boston. Boston. in Conservatory ngland E “Donato was a very talented musician,” says says musician,” talented very a was “Donato as got he opportunities the says Cabrera Nevada, of University the at faculty “The received 1951, since resident Reno a Lenz, than years longer the much 37 was here “I

Lenz ’70 (music), Cabrera again picked up up picked again Cabrera (music), ’70 Lenz University the lead to baton, conductor’s the orchestra. was “Music emeritus. professor now Lenz, expressed He him. to importance utmost of he and bat, the off right conducting in interest it.” at good was far Nevada of size the college a at student a larger a at had have might he what surpassed usually are students master’s only where school, overture. an or piece small a conduct to allowed received “I says. Cabrera good,” very are Reno most the of one is Lenz John education. great a that Having met. ever I’ve musicians inspiring early an from you teaching musician of caliber crucial.” is age master’s his and University the at bachelor’s his New the at in faculty Nevada of University the joined He theory. music and horn cello, teaching 1972 Lenz though,” taught was says.I here, a “I instudent the department inback junior highplaying in the orchestraUniversity Photo by John Lee John by Photo Hickman says as a teacher, he was was he teacher, a as says Hickman things the do to opportunities him gave “I of one is Hickman thinks he says Cabrera to ability the have to has conductor A have you level, any at conductor a be “To at enrolled Cabrera school, high After . RIGHT: Conducting the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Youth Symphony Francisco San the Conducting RIGHT: Opera. Francisco San from the University in 1966. in University the from students that belief father’s his by influenced to. dictated not and nurtured be should in interest an expressed Cabrera when So, let Hickman band, school high the conducting it. do him the wanted “I says. Hickman do,” to wanted he me, for things—not of part active an be to kids themselves.” for but uses he and knows, he conductors best the San the with techniques Hickman’s of many Orchestra. Youth Francisco tempo, indicating by musicians other lead gestures using style and dynamics phrasing, expressions. facial and leading you’re whether educator, an be to says. Cabrera beginners,” or professionals were educator school high a as gifts “Felton’s someone so be to needed they where exactly him.” find could me like the of tutelage the under There, Nevada. John professor cello previous University’s OPPOSITE: In the War Memorial Opera House. ABOVE: Conducting Conducting ABOVE: House. Opera Memorial War the In OPPOSITE: