Overlea Resident Plays at White House

Overlea Resident Plays at White House
- by Ben Boehl -

David Kalwa played his
guitar at the White House.

- photo courtesy of Bridget M. Forney -

Overlea resident David Kalwa got to go to the White House. He was one of 120 middle and high school students across the nation to be invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to the world's most famous house on Nov. 4.
"I didn't know what to expect, but it was real humbling to see all those pictures on the wall. That was a lot of history," Kalwa said.
The event was called the White House Music Series. This is the fourth year of the event and the White House invited the best violinist, cellist, guitarist and pianist students in the country to perform with violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, guitarist Sharon Isbin and pianist Awadagin Pratt. Kalwa is a senior at Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) who was selected because of his ability to play the guitar.
He got a break because The VH1 Save The Music Foundation coordinated the event and has a working relationship with BSA. A representative at VH1 contacted BSA Music Department Chair Dr. Chris Ford, asking him if there were any of his students that played the four instruments. Ford was able to send Nana Adjeiwaa-Manu, a sophomore who plays the violin and cello, and Kalwa.
"I thought it was fantastic that they (White House) were showing an interest in musical arts," Ford said. "It was a graceful way to highlight young people and art education."
Kalwa has been playing the guitar since seventh grade and has played classical guitar for the past three years. Ford sees a lot of talent in his pupil and believes Kalwa might be one of the best guitarists in the country.
"He is very accomplished. David is a really serious student that has found his passion," Ford added.
After he graduates from BSA, Kalwa plans to attend either The Peabody Institute or The Juilliard School and was honored to meet Sharon Isbin, the founder of Juilliard's guitar department, at the White House ceremony. Kalwa did not get a chance to meet or perform for the First Lady or the President.
"It was hard to approach Mrs. Obama because she wasn't walking around and we were sent to different rooms, but it was an honor to be around Sharon Isbin."