Youth Orchestra
Maxwell Willoughby
Maxwell Willoughby, a sophomore at Kirkwood High School, is excited for his first season with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Willoughby began studying the viola in fourth grade through Kirkwood’s elementary strings program. Despite the challenges of online school music instruction for over a year due to the
covid pandemic, Willoughby persevered. In sixth grade, Willoughby started his journey through the Community Music School of Webster University’s sequential orchestra program, culminating in his April 2025 appearance as assistant principal violist of the Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
In middle school, Willoughby served as principal violist at Summer Music Clinic at the University of Wisconsin and at Illinois Summer Youth Music at the University of Illinois, and received multiple gold ratings at district solo and ensemble competitions. As a freshman, Willoughby earned an honorable mention for the 2025 Missouri All-State Orchestra and a gold rating at the 2025 MSHSAA State Solo and Ensemble Festival. He was also inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
In addition to music, Willoughby enjoys studying science and math, playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Willoughby would like to thank Kirkwood orchestra directors Sarah (Klevorn) Dane and Fariga Drayton-Conway for their strong foundational teaching and ongoing generosity of spirit; CMS conductors Nancy Daby, Sarah (Klevorn) Dane, and Patrick Jackson for their dedication, knowledge, and exacting standards; and private instructors Matt Pickart and Chris Tantillo for sharing their wisdom, commitment, and enduring love of the viola.
