Josh Coyne

You may have seen him helping little kids learn lines for Macbeth in our summer camp. Or perhaps you caught him playing violin for The Theatre Lab's production of Les Misérables. Or just maybe you were one of the thirteen thousand lucky people who heard him opening for Barack Obama at the "Stand for Change" rally in Baltimore, and bringing down the house in the process. 

Joshua Coyne, a 14-year-old musical prodigy who happens to be the son of Theatre Lab Associate Director Jane Coyne, is making quite a name for himself, both on the campaign trail and in the performing arena. After being introduced as "an exceptional young man who exemplifies the spirit, the hope, and the promise of the bright future Barack Obama represents," Josh took the stage with his violin to perform a concert of classical and jazz standards that clearly delighted the enormous crowd that filled 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore on February 11. (To see pictures of Josh performing at the Obama rally, check out his website at http://www.musicmanjosh.com.)  

Josh was thrilled to play for his presidential pick ("I'm so behind Barack," he says) and, overall, thinks "people liked what I did." A grand understatement according to the Baltimore Sun, which proclaimed, "A 14-year-old black violinist, Josh Coyne, dazzled the crowd with his virtuosity."

Josh began studying music at age four and has been performing in public since age eight. And the Obama campaign (which, incidentally, has asked Josh to join them on other campaign stops across the country, something his Mom says might have to wait until school is out) isn't the only one to notice Josh's unique talents. Josh is currently composing a piece for violin and orchestra under the mentorship of one of his musical heroes, Marvin Hamlisch, and considers it a real honor to be able to spend time with a musician and composer of Marvin's caliber. 

But Josh is in the music business for much more than fame. "I'd like to get as many people into music as there are into sports," he says. "I'd also like to use my music to solve problems like violence and poverty. You don't see too many musicians and artists being the first ones out to fight someone or do something wrong. When someone's into the arts, they can express themselves without violence."

Of his experiences at The Theatre Lab, Josh says, "It's affected my music in lots of ways.  While I was interning (in the kids acting camps last summer) I learned a lot of things about Shakespeare and expression and also a lot of things about life. Working with kids from all over, who have different needs and different dispositions, taught me about patience. Also, my work on 'the Scottish play' inspired me to compose a musical version of it. But the biggest thing I learned was about being on stage, calming yourself down and projecting what you're doing so your audience can understand it—those are all things musicians need to work on also and it will help me when I perform."

And, while he is already performing, composing and conducting, as well as playing in the pit for musicals at his high school, Josh said he loved playing Les Miz. "The kids were so good and Buzz is very smart and assertive in the way he conducts the group."

So how does standing next to Buzz compare with standing next to Barack Obama? "Buzz is shorter," Josh laughs, and then quickly adds (a deft politician himself) "but they're both great people."

Josh will be attending a number of music conservatories and orchestra camps this summer but, time permitting, he will play for The Theatre Lab's productions of Parade and Sweeney Todd and may return to work with the kids for part of the summer. He also has big plans for future work with The Theatre Lab. "I have tons and tons of musical ideas," he says, and notes that a writing collaboration with some of The Theatre Lab's faculty might be in the cards. And, he adds, "I would like Theatre Lab to be the first place that my musical theatre stuff gets performed. The level of performance here has always been really satisfying to me." For the record, The Theatre Lab would be honored to workshop and premiere Josh's work—so stay tuned!

With all that talent (Josh is also an honor roll student and in demand as a stellar arts advocate in Maryland) how does it not go to your head?  "Sometimes there are more important things than what immediately seems important," he says, which speaks to his belief that many people have great talent, even if their contribution to society may not land them in the limelight as his does. That's why he's more concerned with making a difference with his music than being a star. "My mom has always taught me that it's important to look after other people and that their success is inevitably yours."   

Maybe that's why Josh showed up the day after his Obama triumph (it was election day and school was out) ready and willing to stuff envelopes for The Theatre Lab.  Asked when he might be too famous to help out around the office, Josh replied with a self-effacing laugh, "I'll never be too famous for that."