Sophomore Ryan Kavalsky’s mother took him to a concert in his freshman
year of high school that changed his life. He saw Elton
John perform that night, and he also discovered a passion. Until
3 a.m. afterward, Kavalsky sat at his piano playing songs he never
thought he could play.
When Kavalsky was six months old, his family bought a piano to go
with their new house. For as long as he can remember, he was figuring
songs out on the instrument. He specifically remembers attempting
to play pieces by Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart. In the third grade, Kavalsky’s mother took him
to piano lessons, but he quit after one year. He continued playing
completely on his own, but he would not return to lessons until after
that night of the concert. He went back to taking lessons and did
not stop until it was time to leave for college.
High school was the time his music improved most, Kavalsky said.
Lessons, however, were a different story. Kavalsky could not and cannot
read music, and he struggled through symphonies his instructor would
teach. It took him about a year to learn just one piece. He turned
to writing his own songs instead.
Writing
provided an outlet unlike playing other composers’ material. Kavalsky
was able to put his own stories behind every song. The songs he wrote
during his first two years of high school were mostly depressing,
consisting of breakups and death. Then Kavalsky took part in one of
the greatest experiences of his life, changing the way he writes music.
During his junior year, one of Kavalsky’s friends convinced him to
join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He went to a weeklong camp,
which had such an impact on his life that he remembers everything
about it. He arrived at Easton
College on July 10, 2000.
“I came back glowing,” Kavalsky said of his return home after discovering
Christianity. The religion
became his new affiliation. “As soon as I got back, I had a reason
for writing.” Kavalsky said he had found a light inside of himself.
He wrote seven songs during his first week back from camp. He even
took part in a contemporary worship band before leaving for Muhlenberg.
Kavalsky thinks of himself as a messenger. “I know it’s His music
and not mine,” he said. He often finds himself zoned out, sitting
on a bench as “He writes everything for me.” Kavalsky credits his
voice to God as well, saying that it was horrendous and hard to listen
to until recently.
Ben Folds, Elton John, and
Billy Joel account for Kavalsky’s
most influential artists, but Nate Pickowicz, class of ‘02, may have
provided more inspiration for Kavalsky’s playing than anyone else.
He stayed with Pickowicz when he visited the campus as a prospective
student and saw him perform. Since then, his dream of one day performing
like Elton John has seemed more realistic. He gives additional credit
to one of his high school teachers for recognizing his potential and
pushing him, and he also credits his uncle in Texas who would play
Charlie Brown
and let Kavalsky put his hands on top of his when he was younger.
Since attending Muhlenberg, Kavalsky has put on 28 performances.
He relies on music to keep his life straight, whether he’s playing
the piano or the guitar. In his fondest musical memory, he always
goes back to the FCA camp on the first night when they sang praise
songs. He met people who would become the best of friends, and he
discovered faith and music.
