Mini-Mozart among Woodbury contingent at State Fair

Woodbury resident Ignacio “Iggy” Rosado is only 5 years old and already he has composed two classical music pieces.

Iggy has been playing violin for two years.

“My favorite part about music is when I play and write my own songs,” he said.

Iggy will be taking his musical talent to the stage on Aug. 31 when he competes in the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Competition semifinals.

“I wasn’t nervous at my audition because I got to the next round,” he said.

Iggy isn’t the only Woodbury resident with a connection to this year’s Minnesota State Fair – Woodbury residents John Ilg, Andrew Moxom and Ilya Kravchik all have artwork featured in the Fine Arts Exhibition.

The artwork will be on display now through the last day of the Minnesota State Fair, Sept. 3.

Making art out of an artist

Kravchik said it’s been about 10 years since the last time he submitted a piece to the Minnesota State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition.

“I figured it was about time I do it again,” he said.

Kravchik’s piece in the Minnesota State Fair is a portrait, in oil paint, of Alberto Giacometti, a Swiss sculptor, painter and printmaker.

“Giacometti's face is like a landscape,” Kravchik said, “I find myself drawn to faces that carry the imprint of time.”

Kravchik’s painting did not win a ribbon in this year’s exhibition.

He said he first started doing art when, as a 2-year-old, he drew a portrait of his mother.

“I never ‘got’ interested in (art,)” he said, “I have always done it. Being an artist is not only about drawing or painting, it's about how you perceive the world.”

Kravchik said he is most drawn to realism, such as portraits and figurative works.

“Art is honesty,” he said. “When you're creating art, be it painting or playing music, you don't hold back.

“What you do is the most sincere expression of who you are – it is how you understand important, beautiful things.”

Even though Iggy has been playing violin for the past two years, his passion for music dates back much further.

Shannon Rosado, Iggy’s mother, said she can remember him retaining classical songs as early as 1 year old.

“We’ve had him tested and he’s profoundly gifted in music,” she said.

Iggy’s love of music doesn’t just stop at playing the violin, however. In addition to composing music, he also picks statues of classical composers as his toy of choice.

“He’s been playing with them since he could walk,” Shannon said. “We’ve tried to give him everything and the only thing he’ll play with is composer statues.”

Iggy said his favorite composer is Ludwig van Beethoven.

Additionally, Iggy likes to read orchestral scores.

“His bedtime stories are orchestral scores,” Shannon said.

Iggy plays his music about six hours a day.

“I like to play,” he said. “It makes me feel happy. I like music because some music is really fast and some kinds of notes are sharp and I like those kinds of notes.”

Shannon said she thinks it’s pretty neat to see how much her son is drawn to music.

“He started going to the orchestra when he was three and he would just sit on my lap and conduct,” she said. “Now he’s reading music and composing at a pretty advanced level for his age.”

Iggy said he is excited about the Amateur Talent Competition.

He will be competing in the pre-teen division and will be performing two pieces, “Witches Dance” by N. Paganini and “Minuet” by Boccherini during the talent competition.

Additionally Iggy will be dressed up as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“I think I will win because I’m going to be the cutest,” Iggy said.

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