Written by: Gina Caruso
Just a few days ago, I had the privilege of meeting one of our most inspiring young fundraisers, 11-year-old Myles Guillaume, and his mother, Stephanie Guillaume. As soon as I walked into the lobby of the Performing Arts School (PAS), Myles stood up and confidently extended his hand—a gesture far beyond his years. Tall and lanky, with a quiet warmth, Myles instantly made an impression. I smiled and said, “I wasn’t expecting you to be so tall—you must get that from your parents.” His mother beamed, “We’re a tall family!” Without wasting a moment, Myles led me by the hand to my office, eager to get started. He almost took a seat in front of my desk, but I suggested, “Let’s all sit at the table together.” He nodded, ready for anything.
Myles, a sixth-grader at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, is not just musically talented; he’s a deeply dedicated musician. He’s a member of both the orchestra and chorus at school and studies cello privately. When I asked what music excites him the most, he immediately said, “Steampunk,” not missing a beat. “I love the theme, the cool bowing techniques, and the speed,” he explained. I realized he was talking about a specific piece by Richard Myer, not a genre — and when he’s talking about music, he’s clearly in his element.
As we chatted, Myles spoke fondly of his NJYS conductor, Ms. Miki Hatcher. “She’s really nice,” he said with a grin. His mother proudly chimed in, telling me how he practiced all summer for Concertino Strings —completely unprompted. “I don’t have to remind him to practice, whether it’s for private lessons, NJYS, or even his school orchestra. He just does it.” That self-discipline extends to his schoolwork, too. Stephanie, who works as an anesthesiologist, shared that Myles doesn’t need to be nagged to study or get ready for school; he’s always on top of things. “The focus he’s developed from music really carries over to everything else,” she added.
But it’s not just Myles’ musical talent or academic dedication that stands out—it’s his heart. Myles decided he wanted to raise money for NJYS scholarships to help kids who might not otherwise be able to attend and raised more than his peers (approximately 600 students). “How did you manage to raise so much?” I asked, curious to learn his secret. “I just asked everyone I know—my aunts, uncles, family friends, and my parents’ colleagues,” he said, his face lighting up. “It took me about a week, but I did it.” His trade secret? Simple: email and personal conversations. “You must have reached out to a lot of people!” I said, impressed.
When I asked him about conducting NJYS for the first time – his reward for raising the most money in NJYS- his excitement was palpable. “I watched the video over the summer, and I was so excited I started dancing. It was amazing!” His favorite part of the Playathon, besides conducting with Artistic Director Helen Cha-Pyo’s baton? “Playing alongside the older kids and my cello partner, who was a senior high school student,” he said. Stephanie smiled, “His cello partner was so sweet and supportive and made the experience even more special.”
