His mom was a stripper and his dad a blackjack dealer. This left him ample time to practice his cello passing the lonely nights home alone in the boiler room of Caesar’s Palace. Or at least that is the story junior Matthew Heenan tells people when they find out he is from Las Vegas. The one true part of the story for this spiky blonde haired blue-eyed college kid however is that he does play the cello.
Like many kids his age Heenan began sixth grade at his local public elementary school because his best friend had also picked it up. He began playing cello with the motivation of being better than his friend. While many students dump the hobby in middle school because it is no longer cool he just never stopped.
In a society full of people who would rather pull out a splinter than sit through a three-hour opera or symphony how is it this 21 year old has stuck with it?
“Classical music is extremely important said Heenan of his passion. It has a direct impact on today’s music. There wasn’t pop music back in Bach’s day but look we still have his music while a lot of other crappy types of music haven’t stuck around.”
Today he is the Pepperdine University cellist not the only cellist at the university but “the cellist” all the same. He is also a self-described orchestra dork or “orchadork” and frequently can be heard blasting out his car stereo not with Lil’ Wayne but Dvorak. He even watches the performing arts channel on cable.
For his generation he may be an anomaly but that does not mean he does not have fun. Heenan explained that “orchadorks” can get down too.
“In high school a lot of boys feel like they can’t be part of music because they might be called gay or lame or whatever Heenan said. But I promise you we take partying just as seriously as any athlete may and the stereotypes about classical music like those about Vegas are simply not to be trusted.”
But what is there to be said about the sorry state of classical music today? Is it too late? Has music’s utter lack of “coolness” finally put it on the chopping block?
The California state legislature recently cut funding for public schools by $500 million. Art education is bound to suffer.
“I don’t know where these kids are going to go said Heenan in reference to the more artistic types in high schools. We communicate in a special way. We are all so open and free to be who we are.”
Now that he is in college it is his chamber music professor Lisa Dondlinger who continues to fan his flame for music.
“Here’s this teacher who is out there in Hollywood playing classical music yes but also doing film scores and playing back-up for the Foo Fighters and even playing for the Grammy’s Heenan said. She’s proving that this art can evolve too ¬- that we can be more than just uptight and proper.”
Since his professors have given so much to helping him win multiple cello competitions to play first chair and to be admitted to the prestigious Cleveland School of Music Heenan said he wants to give back too.
“Teaching will always be in my mind. I want to inspire kids the way I was greatly inspired to continue on Heenan said.
Musicians through the ages have always suffered for their art. Heenan plans on going to a conservatory after getting his B.A., but the life of a musician, unless one is a rock star, will never be easy.
Musicians are always destined to be poor he said laughing. I just got my haircut at Unicuts Plus for $17. As long as you tell Margarita when to stop chopping you come out with a great cut every time.”
The cello may seem like it is on the path to extinction but there is hope. As long as there are still youth orchestras and state competitions there will always be those to teach youths to love and cherish classical music. Heenan is one of those people.