Alex Lavine, Buzzworthy Cellist performing at Carnegie Hall

Name: Scott Alex Lavine (I go by Alex)

Job title or claim to fame: Freshman cellist at East Carolina University, will be making his debut at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, April 22

Age: 19

Hometown: Greenvile

School: J.H. Rose High School, East Carolina University

Family: My mother Samantha and my brother Andrew. We are quite the trio!

Awards and accolades: EC Scholar; second place in the American Protege International Strings and Piano Competition; first place in the North Carolina Music Teachers Administration Senior Division; principal cello of Summit Music Festival Orchestra and Eastern Youth Orchestra

Are you involved with something new?: I’ve started a private studio and have many years of experience in teaching. I currently have openings in my studio for next year. I love teaching and have taught 5-year-olds all the way to mid-60s!

I also play weddings and many other events.

Favorite local place for a bite to eat and what I always order there: You can see me at Starbucks at least once a day. Anyone who works there will know I always get a grande iced redeye black!

It’s hard to narrow down to one favorite place to eat, but I’m always a fan of the chicken makhni at Cinnamon!

Hobbies: I love to read 20th-century novels and watch classic films. I also love to travel. I have been to France twice going on three times and am going to the UK in May!

2 things that inspire me:

1. My mom is easily one of my biggest inspirations/influences. She is one of the most intelligent, hard-working, altogether best people I know.

2. Great music always inspires me; when I hear a sound I love or a group that plays very well, it pushes me even harder so that one day I might be able to have an impact like them.

5 things on my bucket list:

* Visit all seven continents

* Learn at least four languages to the utmost proficiency

* Play in a major orchestra

* Go to Skylight Inn (I’ve lived here for almost 16 years and somehow have never been…)

* Study in Europe

2 reasons I liked living in the 252:

1. Everyone is so courteous! In big cities, you walk down the sidewalk and don’t even get acknowledged as having a right to your own space. Here, everyone nods their head at you like they’re an old friend.

2. ECU is sooo underrated. It is such a great school, and having grown up in Greenville I took it for granted. The teachers here care and help you succeed, and the students here truly work hard.