Cool Kids: Music moves him, naturally

Michael Mortier comes from a long line of musical talent.

His grandmother, Teresa Blankenship, is a life-long violin teacher. His parents Steve and Pattie Mortier, are both opera singers who also teach music at Eastern Washington University and Whitworth University. His uncle and aunt are all music teachers and all his cousins play violin.

So it is only natural that Michael excels in music, particularly violin. He has been playing since he was a little boy. Last February, Mortier finished first in the regional violin and in April, he went on to the statewide solo and ensemble competition, representing the greater Spokane area. He placed on the top 10, not a small feat for the Mead High School sophomore in only his second public competition.

Although he was introduced to violin when he was 4 and has been taking lessons since age 9, the family and the teacher’s belief in music has always focused on personal enrichment and refinement rather than competition. Still, he is no stranger to the stage. The 15-year-old is the principal for the second violin section in Spokane Youth Symphony and serves as the concert master for Mead school orchestra.

Because he loves all genres of music, last school year he was involved in school jazz band, marching band and orchestra, and still managed to maintain a high grade point average. In order to keep it all together, the young man often got up at 4:30 a.m. to do his homework. “But he has learned how to prioritize now,” his mother Pattie said with a smile. “I doubt he will be doing all of them again this year!”