BY STEVE HASSEY

Senior Caleb Middlebrook sat in Amy Leatherwood’s psychology class before the bell could ring two Wednesdays before homecoming, playing his cello as he waited for one girl to enter the room.  As Katie Gaburo arrived, he finished his concerto and asked, “Will you go to homecoming with me?”

Gaburo said yes, and Caleb’s skills as a cellist succeeded in getting him a homecoming date.

This solo was hardly Middlebrook’s first.  Caleb has been featured as a soloist at every Mariemont orchestra concert since his freshman year. That said, his journey with music started in the fifth grade, when he picked up the cello for the first time.

“I definitely liked it at first, but I have (grown to like) it more with time,” said Middlebrook.  “This sounds cliche, but the cello allows us to say things we have trouble expressing with words.”

And the cellist has had no trouble expressing emotions through his music.  According to Mariemont orchestra teacher Marybeth Khamis, Caleb is the best cellist she has ever taught.

“I knew in the fifth grade that he had a knack for the cello, but I had no idea that he would become such an amazing musician over the next eight years,” she said.

While many say that Caleb has achieved his accomplishments as a cellist because of an innate talent, Khamis says that does not give him enough credit.

“People often say that Caleb is good because he is naturally ‘talented.’  That kind of sells him short.  The bottom line is that he has worked so hard to get to where he is.”

After starting as a fifth grader, Middlebrook has honed his abilities to become a member of the Cincinnati Youth Symphony.  He has also taken his abilities overseas to play in a program in Beijing, China.

Even after practicing hours on end to achieve a particular level of playing ability, Middlebrook would prefer to be a medical doctor.  At college, he plans on having a double major in cello performance and pre-medical studies.

“I want to be able to support my family and support my kids,” explained the current cellist of his occupation goal.

As Caleb prepares to face the rest of his life, Khamis makes the distinction that Caleb is more than just a cellist.

“I love his nutty side and I love to watch him interact with his friends and other orchestra members.  I love the fact that he always has a hug for me at the right time.”