OSAI's Symphony of Success: Boeing-Bound Alumni Share Their Journey
Oklahoma Summer Arts Insitute Applications Due February 12th, 2024
The Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain orchestrates a two-week intensive residential school, harmonizing the talents of artistically advanced high school students.
This immersive experience extends its embrace to visual, literary, and performing arts, serving as a transformative journey for budding creatives.
In a curious twist of fate, two OSAI alumni found their professional paths at Boeing, adding a touch of serendipity to their shared journey from Quartz Mountain to the high-flying realms of aerospace engineering and artistry.
Anthony Conroy: From Notes to Bolts
Anthony Conroy, an alumnus of OSAI currently serves as a Stress Design Engineer at Boeing and a fervent composer. In college, Conroy’s love for music composition and mathematics merged seamlessly.
He views music composition as a mathematical endeavor, with both disciplines involving problem-solving, storytelling, and creating narrative-driven patterns.
Some of Conroy’s compositions, include the "Microconcerto for Alto Saxophone" and "Five Studies on Dynamic Entropy,".
These showcase his ability to meld artistic expression with scientific precision. The former explores the concept of non-constant time inspired by Modern Physics, while the latter delves into the thermodynamic property of entropy, depicting a journey from disorder to equilibrium.
Despite facing a significant hearing injury during his college years, Conroy persevered, continuing to compose and actively seeking new commissions.
As a cellist, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Claeys Quartet at OU and participated in masterclasses with distinguished ensembles like the Serafin Quartet, Danish Quartet, Tesla Quartet, and Adaskin Trio.
His awards, ranging from the National Winner of the Young Artist Division of the 2017 Music Teacher’s National Association Composition Competition to being an Alternate Cellist for the 2015 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, attest to his exceptional talent and dedication.
Currently serving as a Stress Analyst Engineer on the E-48 aircraft at Boeing, Conroy’s work involves servicing various executive aircraft, including the iconic VC25A and B, commonly known as Air Force One when the President is on board.
Bailey Perkins Wright: Using Your Voice
Bailey Perkins Wright, another luminary alumnus of OSAI, shares her transformative experience. Wright serves as a Community Investor for Boeing Global Engagement and is a talented vocalist.
In her role, Wright plays a pivotal part in identifying nonprofits that make a significant impact in three key areas.
One notable initiative is "Our Future," focusing on the STEM workforce pipeline through education, from early childhood to 12th grade.
Wright highlights partnerships with organizations like Sunbeam Family Services and Freedom City, emphasizing the importance of early STEM exposure and academic support.
Photo Credit: Boeing
The second pillar of Wright’s work is centered around supporting veterans. With around 22% of Boeing's Oklahoma City workforce comprising veterans, Bailey emphasizes the company's commitment to veterans' rehabilitation, recovery, workforce transitions, and support for their families.
The third area Wright highlights is Boeing's investment in breaking cycles of incarceration. By partnering with organizations like the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City, Boeing aims to contribute to programs that help expunge records and break the cycles impacting families and the workforce.
Wright shared her perspective on OSAI, emphasizing its role as a confidence builder.
"I encourage parents who may be reading this to have their students participate in the Oklahoma Arts Institute Summer program. They're going to gain not only so many enriching skills and relationships, but they're going to build those tools that will be with them for the rest of their lives,” said Wright.
Wright highlights the importance of music in bringing people together and mentions her continued involvement in singing professionally and contributing to various events and important moments in the community.
She recalls leading a solo titled “A City Called Heaven” and reflects on the passion that continues to fuel her philanthropic career.
“I'm grateful for that experience because it has helped me feel comfortable speaking in front of an audience and being engaged in different spaces and to be in a community with all kinds of people who think in many different ways,” said Wright
The unique convergence of artistic passion, confidence-building, and impactful community engagement in Anthony and Bailey's journeys from OSAI to Boeing showcases the enduring influence of arts education and its profound ripple effects across diverse professional landscapes.
OSAI's Summer Program weaves a tapestry where artistic dreams take flight. Students undergo a blind audition process. Online auditions, span until February 12, 2024, and every selected student is awarded a full scholarship, affirming OSAI's commitment to nurturing creativity, irrespective of financial constraints.
Click here to apply to the Oklahoma Arts Institute’s Summer Program.