Meet a DCYOP senior whose time in the program is taking him from the rehearsal room to Harvard and the New England Conservatory.
When Kalman Levitin picked up the oboe in elementary school, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. His father had played the instrument throughout college, and since he could help Kalman learn the basics and had the instrument at home, it just made sense. This journey with music that started at home led him to creating his own original compositions and leading a big band, unforgettable performances and concertos, three international tours, and acceptance into Harvard and the New England Conservatory this fall. But one thing that stands out among all of that is the community that helped support him, challenge him, and that he could grow with.
That community was central to his time at DCYOP.
So Much More Than Section Musician
Kalman joined the DC Youth Orchestra Program in eighth grade, nudged toward the audition by his oboe teacher, who was coaching woodwind sectionals at the time. After his audition, he was placed in DCYOP’s most advanced orchestra, the Youth Orchestra, where he would perform for the next 5 years.
“The orchestra gave me a place where I could meet people who were as excited about music as I was,” Kalman reflects. Outside of school, Kalman’s time was consumed by practicing, composing, and rehearsing for both DCYOP and another band he started on the side. Music wasn’t just an extracurricular activity for Kalman, it has been his primary world, and DCYOP and all of his friends there were at the center.
Creating His Own Music
Kalman’s curiosity does not live inside the classical genre alone. Drawing inspiration from 2000s and 2010s progressive metal, world folk music, and jazz, he has sharpened his ear for rhythm, texture, and storytelling through sound. That wide-ranging listening shows up in his own original work.
This summer, Kalman and fellow DCYOP member Raffie each composed original pieces that the orchestra will perform on their upcoming international tour to South Africa. Recently, the orchestra ran through Kalman’s piece for the very first time in a tour rehearsal.
“That was an emotional moment,” Kalman says. “Hearing dozens of musicians bring your own composition to life has a way of making years of work feel suddenly, tangibly real.” It’s one of the moments he is most proud of along his musical journey.
Beyond DCYOP, Kalman also manages a big band with fellow DCYOP senior Dan: writing the charts, scheduling rehearsals, and booking venues. It’s the musical hustle that turns a talented student into a working artist and he enjoys the full spectrum of experience from all of it.
Growing Through Mentorship
Programs like DCYOP depend on the vision of their conductors, and for Kalman, Maestro Solomon has been a defining presence. Time and again, the Maestro created space for Kalman to grow in ways that went beyond simply sitting in the section: English horn and saxophone solos, concerto performance opportunities, and now, the chance to have an original composition featured on a major international tour.
Those opportunities compound. Each one builds confidence, skills, and a portfolio that follows a young musician into their next chapter.
For Kalman, that next chapter begins this fall.
Harvard, the New England Conservatory, and What Comes Next
Kalman has been accepted to a rare five-year dual degree program: jazz composition at the New England Conservatory, paired with an undecided academic subject (possibly math, history, or linguistics) at Harvard. He’ll graduate in five years with a bachelor’s from Harvard and a master’s from NEC.
It’s an ambitious path, but one that reflects exactly the kind of multidimensional thinker Kalman is and the type of student that DCYOP has helped shape.
South Africa, and a Final Word of Advice for Younger Musicians
Before college orientation week in late August, Kalman has one more DCYOP adventure ahead. The upcoming tour will be his third international tour, following previous trips to Spain and Portugal and Germany, Austria, and Czechia. This time, the destination is South Africa, and the schedule includes moments that are only something of a dream you discover on tour, with an early-morning game drive followed by a concert that same evening.
For students who are enrolled now or new students considering being part of DCYOP, Kalman has straightforward advice: don’t just focus on your own playing.
“Get to know the people around you. The community is one of the most important parts of the program. It’s something that will support you throughout your journey.”
That’s a message for other students, certainly. But it’s also a testament to what donors make possible when they invest in DCYOP. You are not just making lessons and performances possible, but you are building a place where young musicians discover their people, their voice, and just how far music can take them.
Interested in joining DCYOP? Learn more about auditions on our website.
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