CMS Graduate Accepted to Harvard Dual Degree Program

Every spring, the Community Music School graduates around 50 high school students, who are eager to enter university/conservatory programs and experience new adventures. Some will continue as music majors; others will pursue academics while finding ways to keep music in their lives.

Roshen Chatwal, a 2022 Ladue Horton Watkins High School graduate, has an opportunity to do both. He was accepted into the highly-selective Harvard-New England Conservatory Dual Degree Program.  Chatwal, a hornist, will be able to extend his pattern of pursuing a path that is a bit outside the box. 

Harvard’s dual degree program is a five-year endeavor: students earn a bachelor's from Harvard and a master's from New England Conservatory. 

Although Chatwal was also accepted at Juilliard, he said he could not resist Harvard’s rich liberal arts culture while keeping his musical journey alive. At Harvard, Chatwal wants to study economics and is particularly interested in the interplay between music and local economies. One of his goals is to find ways to bring arts-rich experiences to more populations. 

Never one to limit himself to the expected, Chatwal pushed himself to try new experiences and get out of his comfort zone. He played football and earned Eagle Scount status -- exemplifying his desire to strive for excellence and enjoy life and people along the way.

“I knew Roshen would be special at our first lesson," said Chatwal’s longtime teacher, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Associate Principal Hornist Thomas Jostlein. "His eyes went around my studio, and he asked questions galore about my horns (natural, specialty and normal). He subsequently enrolled in the Indiana University Natural Horn summer course, becoming the youngest ever to do so. His curiosity and passion for all things horn and all things great music led him to where he is today. Bravo, Roshen!”

Chatwal said he is grateful for many exceptional experiences, including four years in All-State and St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; three years in the CMS Preparatory Program; and a summer at Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2 program.

In May, he received the American Brass Quintet Brass Ensemble Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a member of his CMS Prep group, the Kruspe Quintet. Chatwal was also proud of his Eagle Scout project, which involved creating soundproofing and a sound shell for an inner-city public school choral program. 

Chatwal said he thankful for caring teachers and mentors, including Thomas Jostlein, Davin Rubicz and Vera Parkin at CMS and Aaron Lehde at Ladue high school. Having come up through the CMS Young People’s Concert Orchestra and Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra before continuing to SLYSO and CMS Prep, Chatwal said he has had excellent training and preparation for his schooling ahead.

“Prep was valuable in teaching me how to manage life," Chatwal said. "I’ve had great access to outstanding coaches and we produce great youth musicians in St. Louis.”

Chatwal also gave credit to his positive and supportive parents. "They knew that intrinsic motivation, not external pressure from them, would best develop me," he said

After graduating with 13 AP credits and a 4.0 GPA, Chatwal is doing something unusual this summer — chillin’. He said he is excited to see where life takes him and anticipates having different careers at different stages of life.