With his bow and violin in hand, senior Silas Denton prepares himself for a journey and opportunity different from what he’s seen in the past.

While he practices, he dives into the music in front of him, feeling relieved and in the moment while knowing that he can play without having to worry about anything else.

Though he does experience burnout at times, he gets motivated by the progress that has brought him to this moment and finds enjoyment in learning his piece.

“What I enjoy (about practice) is finding new things in the music,” Denton said. “You could learn a piece, but when you go back to it after a couple years you’ll learn some new stuff about it.” 

After 14 years with the violin, Denton has received the opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House on July 12, where he’ll perform a selection of pieces with an ensemble and as a soloist in the competition.

Denton’s musical adventure with the violin started at the age of 5 in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, where he was born. 

Growing up surrounded by musicians in his household was the driving factor behind picking up the instrument, as he was inspired to continue the legacy that his family left behind for him.

“I started a lot of things, but music was just the one thing that stood,” Denton said. “In a European family, you have to do something musical always.” 

In 2017, he moved to Indiana with his family. Before he moved to Southport towards the end of his freshman year, he was a student at North Central high school. When he arrived at SHS, however, he was put straight into the concertmaster position, which is the first chair violin spot, due to his musical capabilities alone.

He makes it a challenge to involve himself with Solo and Ensemble, an Indiana State School Music Association event, every year in order to compete for medals. But he has an atypical approach to his pieces every year.

“I start practicing the music (for next year) as soon as Solo and Ensemble is over,” Denton said. “I would always choose the music that I’m going to do for the next year, and then I would give myself a week break, and then I’d start practicing that music again about a year and a half in advance.” 

However, his experience extends beyond high school, as he’s performed with a collegiate ensemble in the past, well preparing him for the standards he’ll have to meet in Sydney.

“He often plays with UIndy’s orchestra, and he’s been playing at the collegiate level for two years,” senior David Sanchez said. “So I’m not too surprised that he’s going to go to Australia.”

Last year, with a little help from his family, Denton received a chance to perform in a music competition, in which he finished in first place.

“When I won the competition, I was glad that I won, but I didn’t know that the prize was that I would play in the Sydney Opera House until around a month later,” Denton said.

Despite having traveled to Italy twice and Austria once, his voyage to Sydney is the furthest he’ll have ever gone for an orchestral competition.

Over the years and miles, he’s been able to receive various awards for his work, some that’ll even help him transition into his adult life by aiding him with college.

“For ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association), I have 20 gold medals,” Denton said.  “For the Piccolo Magico Violin Competition I did when I was 13, I got first place, and that came with a 15,000 euro scholarship for college.”

This trip to Australia is another stepping stone for Denton in his long-term goal to end up becoming a professional solo performer. 

At this competition, Denton will gain another chance to showcase his ability to perform alone. His selected pieces for his solo include “Violin Concerto No. 5” by Mozart, “Spring Sonata” by Beethoven and “Slavonic Dance” by Chrysler to finish out the night.

No matter where his career leads, Denton will leave his former teachers proud of the work he’s accomplished and will always have a home within the walls of the SHS orchestra room.

“He really is one of the best violinists to come through Southport in the last five (to) six years,” Orchestra teacher Thomas Wright said. “He’s distinguished himself fantastically and done a very good job. I look forward to seeing where his career path takes him.”