Piano prodigy Aaron Wonson is headed to Germany in June to play piano at the homes where Liszt and Schumann composed their masterpieces

Piano prodigy Aaron Wonson is headed to Germany in June to play piano at the homes where Liszt and Schumann composed their masterpieces. Grandson of John and Dianne Wonson of Rockport and son of Rockport High graduate Brian Wonson, the 16 year old junior at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School discovered his love and inherent talent for the keyboard after he first played in his 8th-grade music class.

Neither Aaron nor his two younger siblings had ever expressed an interest in music before. Just like his father Brian who played hockey and baseball for Rockport, Aaron always liked sports. He now studies at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston where he was selected by the faculty to travel to Germany this summer along with 12 other students.

The tour will begin with a sendoff concert in Boston at the Conservatory’s Jordan Hall followed by two concerts in Germany, in Weimar at the Liszt-Haus and in Leipzig at the Schumann-Haus.

In 2012, he started piano lessons with a local piano teacher who discovered he was immediately able to read very complicated classical music and was almost immediately playing at a college level.

“Aaron completely immersed himself in piano and classical music,” his mother Paula has said.

That’s when his teacher recommended Aaron audition to study at the New England Conservatory where the instructors could not believe he had been studying for just eight months.  “He literally brought tears to their eyes and ours. The incredible passion he has while playing is so intense,” his mother said.

Aaron’s favorite composer to play is Debussy. “There’s not a note he wrote down that didn’t matter. He gives the pianist a lot to work with,” he said.

His favorite composer to listen to is Chopin, calling him quiet and reserved and whose music is understated, elegant and deeply moving.

“A lot of people say he wrote the human experience,” Aaron said adding, “A good composer can exploit the harmonies in a way that’s heart wrenching.”

Aaron and his parents were both surprised and honored that Aaron was invited to tour.  Sending Aaron to the Conservatory was not part of the long-term financial plan for this family of five and the trip to Germany will cost $5,000. But it’s an opportunity his parents wouldn’t want him to miss out on.

“He loves to share his passion with everyone and his friends have always been very supportive,” says Mom.

Aaron will be sharing his passion with friends and family on Cape Ann this Sunday in a fundraising concert from at 1PM at The Lutheran Church, 1123 Washington Street, Gloucester where he will be playing a variety of classical pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and others. To support his tour in Germany, donations can be made on his go fund me page gofundme.com/3kmcakm4.

Refreshments will be available and the free will offering will help to fund Aaron’s tour as well as the youth of the St Paul Lutheran’s church trip to the 2018 ELCA gathering in Houston, Tx.