Williamson Central School District alumna Catalina Wooldridge (Class of 2023) performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in the High School Auditorium last night for a special community concert.

The RPO, led by Conductor Jherrard Hardeman, performed a variety of pieces for this special "Around the Town concert." Catalina, who plays the cello, joined the orchestra for David Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody, Op.68.

Catalina won the RPO’s 2023 Young Artist Audition in March, and the grand prize was an opportunity to perform with the RPO. She performed three nights in a row at three different venues with the orchestra, capping off with her appearance on Williamson's Auditorium stage on Thursday the 5th. 

"I'm so excited to be doing this here. I really can't believe I get to come back and experience such a wonderful thing with wonderful people that I love," Catalina said. "(Hungarian Rhapsody) is just such a fun piece. ... I've been listening to this piece since I was very young and I played it a bit when I was younger but I hadn't really come back to it yet. I'm so ecstatic to be performing it!"

Catalina, who graduated early from Williamson and just turned 17 in September, is now studying cello at Eastman School of Music. She has been playing cello since she was 9 years old.

Brava, Catalina!