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Arizona Home Education Journal
April, 2001
HOME SCHOOLER WINS ORCHESTRA DEBUT!
SCOTT DOUGLAS MACINTYRE
Every serious pianist dreams of being able to solo with an orchestra.
This dream was no different for Scott Douglas Maclntyre, born blind, who began playing by
ear at 3 years old. It's been a long road to the Symphony for Scott, and he didn't get
here by people showing him sympathy due to his visual impairment. Through hard work and
diligence, he had to earn it.
The now 15-year-old pianist says, "You have to be totally
prepared, practice hours a day, and hope the judges won't subjectively rule you out".
He's entered many competitions, and in January his dream came true when he was announced
the 2001 Grand Prize winner, and placed First in the Senior Piano Concerto competition
sponsored by the Phoenix Symphony Guild held at Arizona State University.
It all started when Scott was a toddler; at bedtime his parents would
play music in an attempt to lull him to sleep. A while later, he would sneak out of bed,
and head toward the family's old upright and try to figure out the tunes he had just
heard. He began classical training and composing at the age of 5. He was internationally
profiled on CNN
and Headline News at 6, when he was hired to provide music for a wedding. Since then,
Global Television Network, and local news have also profiled his remarkable playing and
composing. Born in Southern California, he has had the privilege of studying in both the
US (currently at Arizona State University) and in Toronto, Canada (The Royal
Conservatory of Music). He is a home-schooled, student who was accepted into the Arizona
State University Bachelor of Music Piano Performance degree and Barrett Honors College at
14 years old.
Over the years he has been honored to receive numerous top awards and
scholarships for piano, composition and vocal performance. In October 2000 (at age 15), he
won the Concerto Division, 19 and under, of the Young Artist Piano Competition for the
state of Arizona. He also received additional scholarships including the Festival
Outstanding Performance Award and the N. T. Briscoe 'Memorial Scholarship Award. In July
99, he won 2nd place in the national finals of the Canadian Music Competitions held in
Edmonton, Alberta. As a result of his recent win with the Symphony Guild, he was offered a
scholarship for a music camp of his choice. He has picked Boston University Tanglewood
Institute, (which costs $4,290 for 6 wks or $2,625 for 3 weeks). The Guild generously
offered him either one. So Scott is looking forward to heading to Boston for part of the
summer!
Some of Scott's compositions have aired on national television
programs, and when he receives a royalty check, he promptly reinvests it in his digital
home recording studio. He has independently recorded and released 3 of his own CD's that
include his own compositions, classical and modern genres.
Most recently released is "Grand Classics" (Dec. 2000), which
follows his previous CD's entitled "Brothers for all Seasons" and "Seeing
through Sound".
He has been flown to various cities in North America for charitable
performances including a performance and interview for the "Hour of Power", an
inspirational Broadcast which aired in 152 countries and 13 different languages. It was
taped in front of a live audience of 4,000 in California's Crystal Cathedral in May '99.
He also performs piano and vocals around the valley (Phoenix, Arizona) in such places as
Mayo Clinic/Hospital, and Barnes and Noble. He thoroughly enjoys bringing his music to all
audiences.
To his academics, like music, Scott seems to apply the same amount of
hard work and discipline. In December of 1999, he took his SAT's (math and verbal) at age
14 and received 1270 combined score (he says he'll probably take the test again when he's
18). In January of 2000, after studying French as part of his home-school curriculum, he
took a French placement exam and was allowed to enter mid-year a French 3 class at a local
high school, for which he received an "A" and completed in May, 2000 (this class
was comprised of Jrs. and Seniors, Scott was 14). This four month class was his “one
and only” public high-school experience. After his admission to ASU, Scott was
invited to perform for the ASU School of Music opening convocation his first semester
attending. He also likes math, and after finishing a course at home, took the College
Level Entrance Placement (CLEP) Exam in College Algebra and scored 86, so was able to
receive 3 credits and waive a University Algebra class. Having not ever been formally
tested during all his home-schooling years, Scott was concerned, yet pleased that these
exams went well. He has now completed 17 units at ASU and maintains a 4.0 Cumulative GPA.
He credits his home schooling, which has allowed him the flexibility over the years to
pursue his “two favorite subjects: music and computer programming".
In his not so spare time, Scott enjoys computer programming, skiing
with a sighted guide, foreign languages and books on tape. He participated in the YMCA
"Youth in Government" program, this fall 2000, and was honored to receive the
"Outstanding First Year Senator" award at the Phoenix Capitol. He also spends
several weekends a year
competing in state and national music competitions.
Scott describes his family as "very close ... my parents have been
very supportive and dedicated in home schooling my brother, sister and me, and in helping
me to achieve my goals as a professional musician" Scott is close to his younger
brother Todd, 12, who is also musically talented. They often perform for churches and
charities together. Todd is in his second semester at a Maricopa County Community College
taking German 102 and English 102. Katelyn, Scott's younger sister, is also visually
impaired, so "we share many common challenges; it adds to the dynamic of our
family", says Scott.
Being the concerto soloist with an orchestra - to perform with the
Symphony - was an "awesome dream come true".To
learn more about Scott MacIntyre, log on to his website www.scottmacintyre.com.
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