Fulbright scholar will study music in Hungary

by Grand Junction Sentinel

Randall Scotting is not big on staying in one place for any length of time, but even he didn’t think he’d ever end up in Hungary.

It would be a mistake to say the Central High School graduate has been quietly making a name for himself since graduating high school in 1996. Opera singers, after all, are anything but quiet.

Far from his days at Central where he participated in theater, choir and orchestra and was even crowned prom king, Scotting has traveled the nation and world with his countertenor voice, appearing in opera productions in Italy, Ecuador and Chicago. He was a guest singer at the Juilliard School in New York City.

Scotting was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, and this month his singing takes him to Hungary to study historical and contemporary composers for nine months.

“This experience will definitely open doors,” Scotting said, “but I don’t know what it’s going to be like on the other side of those.”

Scotting said he initially thought of applying to go to Germany, but the idea of Hungary became more and more attractive to him because it is so isolated.

Hungary has a rich history of music to which the rest of the world, especially the United States, does not have much exposure, Scotting said.

“The music is very honest in a way that other music isn’t,” Scotting said. “I know at the end of the trip, I will learn something I know nothing about.”

In addition to bringing exposure to Hungarian music, Scotting said he plans to learn as much of the Hungarian language as he can. He was told it one of the most difficult languages.

“I like to be as local as I can wherever I travel,” he said.

Scotting’s career has taken him to the other side of the world, literally, but the impact his time at Central had on him still can be felt, as he credits music teacher Stan Scott with laying the foundation for his singing.

“I felt encouraged to pursue singing,” Scotting said. “I like to explore and expand what I know and bring that to the audience so hopefully they learn something. I think that’s what artists should do.”

Scotting is keeping a blog of his experiences in Hungary that can be read at www.oxygenjukebox.blogspot.com.