Winterset Elementary School's Bronze Burton-Duru, just a fifth grader, has taken the Columbus music scene by a quiet storm. The young cellist, whose journey began a mere 18 months ago with in-class instruction and YouTube tutorials, has been making waves with his recent performance at St. Joseph Cathedral alongside Urban Strings, a testament to his formidable talent and his rapid ascent in the world of music, according to Winterset Elementary's website.
Instrumental instruction in Columbus City Schools kicks in as early as fourth grade, affording many young students, like Burton-Duru, the opportunity to engage with music from a tender age. Travis Damicone, an Instrument Teacher at Winterset Elementary, believes in the deep value of this early exposure. "We're really fortunate that Columbus City Schools offers [instrumental instruction] in fourth grade and fifth grade; having the kids exposed to music at a young age and having a chance to learn music is really important," Damicone told the Columbus City of School's website.
Driven by daily practice sessions with online resources and sound memory techniques, Burton-Duru's skills have sharpened alongside virtual sessions with star cellist Wendy Law. "I keep practicing every day. Some music was hard, but I pushed through and kept practicing, and eventually, I was able to play the music," Burton-Duru explained in an interview, according to the Columbus City Schools. His dedication was further honed at The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences School of Music Summer Strings program, which provided hands-on training and the opportunity to engage with challenging music in an orchestral setting.
Burton-Duru's growth received an additional boost after successfully auditioning for Urban Strings in the summer of 2024, leading to weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the year. Tackling challenging pieces in the company of more advanced and older peers, he's become a testament to the potential unlocked by persistence and hard work. "Urban Strings is a great community," Burton-Duru said in a statement obtained by the Columbus City Schools. "It started off really hard. I was asking myself, 'Do I need to be here?' I don't think I'm supposed to be here', but I just took that out of my mind, kept practicing, and eventually, I got all the songs right," he shared with Winterset Elementary's website.
