First-year
Conservatory student Gabrielle Athayde was featured in a PBS documentary
film in October. Soundmix: Five Young Musicians chronicled
the lives of five teenage musicians responsible for reinvigorating
American musical traditions.
The one-hour documentary brought together a jazz horn player from
New Orleans; a Native American flute player from Fort Hall, Idaho;
a Latin percussionist from New York City; an old time fiddler from
rural West Virginia; and Athayde, a 19-year-old classical cellist
and rock bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Through hometown
profiles and scenes from a three-day music workshop where the players
met for the first time, Soundmix explored the music, cultures, and
mentors that fuel these young musicians. The documentary was filmed
more than two years ago, when Athayde was a high school student in
Orinda, California. At Oberlin she studies under Assistant Professor
Darrett Adkins '91. Other featured musicians in the PBS documentary
included trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, master Latin percussionist Louis
Bauzo, and the late Melvin Wine, an old time fiddle legend.
An article about Athayde and her musically prolific family appeared
in the Contra Costa Times this June. Her brother Kyle plays bass,
sisters Juliana and Eliana play violin and string bass, respectively,
father Bob is director of the Groove Merchants, an award-winning
jazz combo, and her mother Julie is a violinist and music teacher.
"My parents' philosophy is to have one instrument that is your
base for theory," Athayde told a reporter at the Contra Costa
Times. "Take piano for core stuff and be expressive elsewhere.
Kids can explore things for themselves, but give them at least a
shot with one instrument. Cover the bases before branching out."
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