New Haven Family Hits All the Right Notes
by Joe Zibell
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While most of us struggle to carry a tune, and are left resorting to hammering away on our child’s xylophone, it’s easy to marvel at true musical talent. The concentration, the aptitude, inspiration and ability it takes to perform music at a high level deserves accolades and appreciation. It’s one thing to have a great musical talent right in our “back yard” here in Connecticut; it’s another thing entirely to have a family of musicians that not only have the talent, but have what it takes to perform concerts to rave reviews.

For nearly 10 years, The Taubl Family of New Haven has been playing together and performing. John and Carol Taubl have raised their seven children in an atmosphere of celebrating music, and in turn using music to reflect their passions. It just so happens that the family are wonderfully gifted musicians, which makes their story all the more noteworthy.

Gretchen, 22, is not only a gifted musician, but her rich alto voice is a key component of the group’s vocal ensemble. After beginning violin studies at the age of 5, she turned to the viola at age 12 and has never looked back. Gretchen was enrolled in the pre-college program at the Julliard School in New York from 1998-2002, and is now studying at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford.

Emily, 20, after spending time at Julliard, is currently enrolled at the Yale School of Music and is a student of Aldot Parisot. Her instrument is the cello, and she provides a natural soprano to the vocal side of things. Her solo appearances include the Granite State Symphony and the Julliard Pre-College Symphony.

Annabelle, 19, plays one of the most challenging instruments of all: the harp. According to the Taubls’, Annabelle was first drawn to the harp after seeing one being played in an orchestra on television when she was 4. She began lessons at 5, and by 10 made her solo debut performing Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with the Northeast Youth Symphony Orchestra. She was in the pre-college program at Julliard, and in December of 2000, made her debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York String Orchestra.

Jack, 15, is the family’s master storyteller as well as an accomplished musician. Jack has used his incredible memory to perform the narration to a musical masterpiece entitled, ‘Road to Hamelin’ by Paul Ramsier. Blessed with absolute pitch, his vocals are a key component of a Taubl Family concert, and in addition to playing viola has begun study of classical guitar.

Samuel, 12, is the group’s other cellist. Not only is he a good musician, but a great athlete as well. He was accepted into the pre-college program at Julliard in 2002, and as the youngest member of the Pre-College Chamber Orchestra is discovering the joy of playing Mozart Symphonies.

A set of twins, age 10, rounds out this musical family. James is developing on the viola (but also is a heck of a baseball hitter, according to Mom!), and Jeremiah, besides enjoying playing baseball with his brother, is a natural violin player with a beautiful voice.

In a recent interview, Carol Taubl admitted that the accomplishments of her children, and the musical success of her family as a whole, is a constant source of pride and joy.

“Things just seemed to grow exponentially,” said Carol recalling the formation of the family as a musical group. “It was something very special, and we saw how it affected people. It just filled people with hope and faith. You know, with all the bad things we hear going on in the world, it was just such a positive thing to see these children playing together. For many people who have seen us, it has been a reaffirmation, that ‘yes, children are still doing good and wonderful things.’”

Carol herself grew up in a very musical family in the South, where the sounds of Gospel and other traditional music served as a backdrop to daily life. She says now that her first exposure to the world of classical music is what opened a whole new world to her. In fact, her passion for music overtook her ambitions to be a chemical engineer, which she began studying for at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

“John and I offered violin lessons to Gretchen as an option,” says Carol looking back on the genesis of the musical connection between the children. “And she just had a knack for it, and it grew from there.”

Not wanting an environment of tedium and sibling rivalry, John and Carol would make suggestions to each individual child to try a new instrument, as it became apparent they all shared an interest, not to mention a talent, for music.

“Some instruments lend themselves better to different personality types,” says Carol, mindful of how her own children took to different options. “Violinists tend to more of a Type-A personality type. They are aggressive and very well-organized. The instrument is so challenging, and the competition can be ferocious.

“The viola on the other hand, tends to fit individuals who are a bit more laid back and dreamy. The cello is a bit of a hybrid between these two.”

Carol is very mindful of the fact that the family has musicians of varying abilities and at different stages of their development. “As we arrange the music for the concerts, we have to be flexible, and very mindful of the various ability levels of the kids. On one hand you have a viola player studying at the Hartt School of Music, and on the other you have a couple of 10-year-olds that are just coming into their own. It makes for a wonderful, diverse mix of talent, and people really respond to that.”

Although firmly rooted in the classical tradition, which Carol sees as the foundation of her children’s musical training, the Taubls may be best known for the spiritual aspect of their music. They have recorded nine CDs together, not only offering classical performances, but Christmas favorites as well. And many of the performances take place at churches throughout the Northeast. But less about being evangelical, the religious aspect of the Taubls music comes through as celebratory and joyous.

“There is the Christian aspect that comes through our music, which is tied into our own beliefs,” said Carol. “One of the things we are trying to show through our music is that there is more to life than just the day-to-day grind that people go through. We’re trying to offer a positive experience to listeners in a very hopeful way, and we believe that’s a good thing.”

Originally from New Hampshire, the Taubls moved to Connecticut as the children were getting older and accepted into programs farther and farther away from home. Carol looks at the area as one that is rich with enrichment programs and musical options.

“Musical instruction can be such a positive discipline for children, and there is so much available in Connecticut,” said Carol. “One school in particular that I would highly recommend is Neighborhood Music School (based in New Haven). We’ve had a wonderful experience with their program, and they have been very supportive.”

For Moms and Dads who have trouble getting their youngster to practice even 20 minutes a day, the story of the Taubls can seem very far removed from their own experience. However, the story offers more than a glimpse of the power music can have in our lives. And to share that with family and friends surely is divine.

This article was originally printed in the May 2006 issue of Connecticut Parent Magazine