Courtesy of Maxwell Levy
College sophomore Max Levy has become one of youngest voices in Boston’s arts scene. A cast member of The Mask and Wig Club, he spent his second summer this year with the prestigious Tanglewood Festival Chorus, which performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Levy’s musical journey with TFC started in his senior year of high school, when the New York native flew to Boston for the audition and was admitted on the spot. Levy is one of the youngest talents ever admitted into the TFC.
“But my experience this year is quite different from last year," he said. This summer marked TFC's 75-year anniversary, allowing Levy to become part of a benefit concert performing "The Symphony of a Thousand," which he said was one of the hardest pieces of music to perform. As John Oliver, founder of the TFC, bid the troupe farewell this summer, Levy said he felt fortunate to end the season on the Beethoven Ninth led by a venerated music director. “It is amazing to be a 19 year old and be a part of that,” he said.
A philosophy, politics and economics major with a potential Spanish minor, Levy said he plans to take advantage of Penn’s rigorous liberal arts training as a foundation for his future.
“Both my parents and I have decided to have a degree from Penn as a foundation first and then pursue music,” Levy said. “My goal would be to get a master’s in conservatory.”
As for next summer's plans, Levy has started auditioning but said he will probably stick with TFC. “I spend 10 months of the year doing academics and would give myself a musical break in summer," he said. Levy has a YouTube channel that showcases his singing, and he is working on more productions in his spare time while taking music courses in Center City.
Levy said that Mask and Wig is an important aspect of his college career. “I love being around the people, and the group keeps me involved musically and theatrically,” he said.
College senior Zach Shen, chairman of Mask and Wig, said, “Max is a stellar member of our cast team and is a combination of talent and charisma to get these amazing opportunities.”
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