SUN CITY – Kyle Zerna thought it would be a fun idea to submit his audition tape to the New York Philharmonic. The 23-year-old percussionist knew they did not seriously consider applicants with no experience in professional orchestras.
“When they accepted his tape after they heard it, we were shocked at that,” Zerna’s mother, Barbara, said. “And then we thought, ‘Well that’s great, that’ll look great on a resume some day.’”
But when the applicants were narrowed from 30 to 17, including Zerna, things became a bit more serious.
And then there were twelve. Still in. When Zerna entered the final four, the excitement was atmospheric.
“It was getting more and more tense,” Zerna’s grandmother, Stella Svoboda, N. 4, said.
Two months after he submitted the tape, Zerna and one other student were left. Svoboda remembered June 28 as a “long, grueling morning,” at least until they received the call.
Zerna had been chosen as the New York Philharmonic’s Assistant Principal Timpanist. His position begins in September, but he has already performed in the Philharmonic as a substitute.
Barbara drove to New York with her sister to see that performance. Zerna said watching her son blend in with New York’s best percussionists, and hearing those musicians praise his performance after the concert, was unbelievable.
“That was amazing, and I don’t think we’ll ever have that again,” she said. “My sister and I both said it was worth driving for 15 hours to see that.”
Zerna’s grandparents take great pride in his accomplishments. Kyle’s grandfather, Joseph Svoboda, N. 4, fondly remembers bringing friends from Sun City to watch Kyle perform at a drum show while he was attending Naperville Central High School.
“We’re anxiously awaiting his debut in the New York Philharmonic, and I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be going out there to listen to him,” he said.
Before joining the New York Philharmonic, Zerna attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he received a bachelor’s degree and completed one year of his master’s degree in music performance.
“His lifelong dream was to either be in the New York Phil or the Chicago Symphony,” Zerna said “And so he was planning on working towards that his whole life, and this just happened on his first audition.”
It is fitting that Zerna’s family gives such support; music resonates in their family. The Svobodas said each of their children played instruments: their daughter Carol is a middle school band director, and daughter Joan plays violin. Zerna’s younger brother Ryan is a skilled flutist in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Zerna said her father Joseph has been a strong role model for her children.
“My dad is a real inspiration to my son; he’s always just had this work ethic, and all the grandchildren have seen my dad work really hard,” Zerna said. “He’s like a perfectionist, and my son always says that his grandpa had a big influence on him.”
Joseph gave credit to Kyle’s father, Elmer, as a strong musical influence. Elmer was the drummer of a band in the Philippines when he met Barbara, then a member of the Peace Corps.
With such strong family support backing up his incredible talent, Zerna is sure to continue to achieve great things.
