In the courtyard of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, with the sounds of various instruments echoing through the space, Jacob Van der Sloot calmly holds his instrument to his chin and his bow at the ready for a photo.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a position the 17-year-old Langford resident is very familiar with, having studied strings since he was five B次元官网网址� he switched from violin to the slightly larger, deeper-toned viola several years back.

Van der Sloot, who will graduate from St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Regional High School this month and spends many an hour in the classroom and performance halls at the Conservatory, takes his talents to the Juilliard School of Music in New York City this fall, having accepted a four-year scholarship to the prestigious institution.

B次元官网网址淭his has kind of been my dream school since I decided to pursue strings seriously,B次元官网网址� says Van der Sloot, who was offered scholarships by three schools. B次元官网网址淛uilliard is in the heart of New York. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big city. But I feel ready B次元官网网址� I think IB次元官网网址檓 too excited to be nervous.B次元官网网址�

Van der Sloot, who began the application process in February of 2014, travelled to New York last fall to work with teachers. HeB次元官网网址檒l be working personally with Steven Tenenbom, a highly-decorated violist and chamber musician on the Juilliard staff since 2006.

The oldest of six children born to professional musician parents, Van der Sloot isnB次元官网网址檛 the only highly talented violist heading to the U.S. on a full scholarship to study the instrument in September.

Highlands native Rae Gallimore, a 2012 Belmont secondary grad who received her diploma in music from Camosun College and has also been studying at the Victoria Conservatory, is off to the renowned New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, one of four schools to offer her a full scholarship.

B次元官网网址淚 think the main two things are the teacher connections and the scholarship,B次元官网网址� she says, noting that attending school in the U.S. can get rather expensive. Like Van der Sloot, sheB次元官网网址檒l live in the dormatory on campus. B次元官网网址淭he incredible environment of Boston will be great, (as well as) the school itself.B次元官网网址�

Galloway admits to being a little nervous about the move, but looks forward to the change of pace. Making that easier, Gallimore says, is the fact she met her teacher, Martha Strongin Katz, at a summer music school last year in Virginia, as well as some students who will also be attending the New England Conservatory.

Achieving a full-ride scholarship to a highly reputable school is a sign that B次元官网网址渉ard work does pay off,B次元官网网址� she says.

Gallimore, 20, switched from violin to viola shortly after graduation from Belmont, and put in long hours working on her technique and tone. B次元官网网址淚t was kind of hard for me, the whole switch to viola. I had to bring up my playing to the level of my violin, but everything seems to all be working with it now; itB次元官网网址檚 rewarding.B次元官网网址�

Not only does the larger instrument feel more physically comfortable to her, she says, she has B次元官网网址渇ound more of my voice as performer playing viola.B次元官网网址�

Michael Van der Sloot, JacobB次元官网网址檚 father and the head of strings at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, said the past year of putting together application submissions for various schools has been rather stressful. The process included submitting recordings of their playing last year, passing a pre-screening earlier this year then performing in a live audition at the beginning of March.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to shoot for really high goals,B次元官网网址� said Michael, who oversaw the pair in the VCMB次元官网网址檚 Collegium Program for gifted young musicians. B次元官网网址淲hen they go to these schools, I estimate that theyB次元官网网址檒l be in the upper-middle to upper (level of achievement).B次元官网网址�

The Conservatory has churned out some extremely talented musicians in recent years, he points out.

B次元官网网址淭he acceptance rate at these schools is so low, like six per cent, and (the number) getting the (full) scholarships they received is even smaller,B次元官网网址� Van der Sloot says. B次元官网网址淏ut to me whatB次元官网网址檚 kind of astonishing is not that we have two kids doing this right now, but over the past five years weB次元官网网址檝e had seven or eight kids going to these schools, including six at Juilliard itself.B次元官网网址�

Both Jacob and Rae plan to cut back on their usual busy out-of-town summer music schedules this year to spend time with family before leaving for their respective schools.

For more information on the Victoria Conservatory of Music strings program, visit .

editor@goldstreamgazette.com