Superintendent’s Artist of the Week: Isabelle Redling

Whether she’s playing violin in the orchestra or singing with the chorus, Warwick Valley Middle School sixth grader Isabelle Redling finds that music allows her to shine.

‘I think music lets me express myself in a way that I can just be me,” Isabelle said. “It’s much easier than talking because sometimes I find talking about my feelings a bit hard. So music is a much easier way for me to just be myself and let my heart shine.”

Isabelle recently made the Elementary All-County Orchestra. In the sixth-grade Winter Concert, she was first chair in the violin and sang a solo with the chorus. Isabelle is also a member of the Ukulele Club and is currently rehearsing “SpongeBob SquarePants” with Drama Club

“Isabelle is an incredibly talented, and giving individual,” said WVMS music teacher Tamara Moser. “There is nothing Isabelle enjoys more than creating through music and performing to share her joy with others. There is no end to the sunshine that she projects, whether learning and participating in music class or in her academic classes

“She has such a happy heart, and I know that as she grows, develops and moves forward in life, she will find a truly unique way to put joy into the hearts of others. That is what the love of music is all about – sharing it with others.”

Isabelle picked the violin because that was the instrument her father and brother played. She said her brother Andrew, a freshman at WVHS, really inspired her.

“When Andrew got his violin, he was around my age now,” Isabelle said. “I would hear him practice and I would think that sounds so cool, maybe I can do that someday.”

Isabelle started teaching herself piano by watching YouTube videos a few years ago. Now she takes private lessons in piano and voice and is hoping to get into more plays and musicals outside of school.

Isabelle also excels athletically and academically. She plays goalie for the Force, a competitive travel soccer team, and plans to try out for the modified girls soccer team next fall. In addition, Isabelle made the high honor roll for the first marking period.

“I’ve always loved school,” said Isabelle, whose favorite subject is English. “I just like that I get to socialize with my friends, but there’s also an aspect where I get to learn and grow as a person and learn so many new things.”