Jory won his first fiddling competition at age 4. He joined the Colorado Springs Conservatory just after he turned 2. His music teacher wrote in an evaluation of his abilities that he’s a “rare and remarkable child.”

It’s probably safe to call this local 8-year-old a musical virtuoso, if not a prodigy. (See video of him playing here.)

His parents, Deedi and Kerry Lane, live near the Colorado Springs Conservatory, a prep school for youths in the performing artists, and when Jory was 1, they started going there for Jazz Night. A band, composed mostly of middle school and high school students, played there every other Friday night.

“(Jory) was very interested, so he started going up with the band, and he was pretending he was playing guitar,” Deedi said.

Kerry, too, noticed Jory’s intrigue. “Every time we walked by musicians playing, he would stop and listen. When we started going to Jazz Nights, he would stand up and play air guitar with the band, just all night long,” he said.

The youngest students normally accepted at the conservatory are 5.

“We asked if they would permit him – he was already potty trained and everything – and we asked if he could be accepted and they said, Yeah!'” Deedi said.

Jory attended the conservatory on scholarship.

“Then my husband asked him if he’d be interested in playing an instrument, and we introduced the violin because it was small, and we knew he could hold it,” Deedi said.

He started taking private lessons at the conservatory. But Deedi said that the youngest kids at the conservatory learn only to pluck. So the Lanes sought out new opportunities and found the Black Rose Acoustic Society, which holds concerts, open jams and other musical events at the Benet Hill Center and the Black Forest Community Center.

Jory enjoyed the acoustic society’s Kids Jam on Saturdays.

“He just loved it, and they played Celtic tunes,” Deedi said, “and so he started playing music by listening.”

Jory held his own while performing alongside high school students.The Lanes wanted to pursue more musical education for him. They had heard great things about Hope Grietzer, a music teacher who lived in the Springs at the time and who founded Kids Jam. But they hit a roadblock after approaching her: Grietzer wouldn’t accept any students younger than 9.

One night while Jory was performing at the Black Forest Community Center, a woman named Dorothy Favinger was in the audience. Jory impressed her so much, she approached Grietzer and paid her $50 to give Jory a chance.

Greitzer agreed to do a 15-minute lesson with Jory. Three weeks later, Deedi said, Jory was practicing with Grietzer for a full hour and learning two to three songs every week.

“That’s when we learned he had a gift for music,” Deedi said.

It was Grietzer who later wrote, “I don’t have a degree in child development, but from my years of experience in teaching this rather complicated instrument to many children and adults, it was easy to recognize that Jory Lane is a rare and remarkable child.”

Her evaluation goes on to explain how Jory excels in fine motor skills, self-discipline, pattern recognition and rhythms and more.

Grietzer moved away two years ago, but the Lanes are still thankful that she took a chance on Jory, and the family has even visited her in New York.

Jory got a new fiddle teacher after Grietzer moved, named Luke Tripp.

Celtic fiddling eventually became Jory’s main interest, his mom said. But he also enjoys classical violin. What’s the difference?

“Nothing really,” Jory said. “It’s just the way you play it.”

Kerry, who picked up the banjo after seeing his son’s talent and wanting to accompany his performances, added: “The way I’ve heard it explained is that the fiddle song carries the rhythm, whereas a classical violin song relies on other instruments for the beat.”

Jory, who is home-schooled, now plays in the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. He has performed at events such as Springs Spree and the GospelGrass Festival in 2008; the seventh-inning stretch of a Sky Sox game last year; the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising event for Kids Cancer Fund this year and last; and Ronald McDonald House charity events.

“He’s quite an amazing person,” Deedi said.

He also plays with his dad and brother for sick people at Memorial Hospital, where Kerry volunteers, and at hospices.

Oh yeah, his brother. Kooper, 5, plays violin, too.

“Interestingly enough, he learns completely different (from Jory),” Kerry said. “He actually learned to read music earlier than Jory, but he can’t quite play by ear as well as Jory.”

Kooper and Jory are part of the youth ministry at their church, where they play for other kids on Sundays. They also played for their grandmother, who was at hospice before she died.

In addition to violin, Jory plays mandolin, and is starting to learn guitar and piano.

“Kind of I like the mandolin the best, actually,” he said. “I like the sound of it. You can play chords on it, too.”

Jory somehow finds time to pack ice skating and writing into his busy days.Q&A WITH JORY

How often do you practice fiddle?”Maybe like half-an-hour or hour each day.”Do you ever get into moods when you don’t feel like playing?”Sometimes.” But he said he still makes himself practice.How do you feel before performing in front of a big crowd?”Kind of nervous and kind of thrilled.”What was the most fun event you’ve performed at?”Maybe the Springs Spree. There wasn’t that big of an audience, and I felt a little better because of that.”Do you have a favorite song to play?”It’s called ‘Fishers.’ It’s really high speed.”What do you want to be when you grow up?”A singer.”What’s your favorite style of music to play?”Well, I like fiddle mostly, but I like classical, too.”When did you learn to read sheet music?”Maybe like 2 years ago.”Favorite school subjectLanguage artsHobbiesReading, writing short stories with illustrations, singing, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, swimming, horseback riding, go-karting, bike-ridingDo you have a favorite book?”No, I like every single one.”

SEE JORY PLAY LIVEApril 23: Colorado Springs Youth Symphony’s Vivace, Amadeus, Wolfgang and Mozart Strings Concert, 7 p.m., Benet Hill auditorium, 2577 N. Chelton Road.

JORY’S ACHIEVEMENTS RESUME, courtesy of Deedi Lane

Royal Rangers:Involved in the program dedicated to developing “Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders,” according to the organization’s Web site.

As a Ranger Kid:· Ranger of the Year, 2007 and 2008

· Earned every merit (48) and advancement (12) patch in Ranger Kids· 3 additional Commanders Choice Awards· “God and Me” AwardAs a Discovery Ranger:· Ranger of the Month, February 2009Ice Skating (6 years):· Ice skater for “Wonderland” at New Life Church, 2008· Performed in “Grease – Expressions on Ice,” summer 2008· Will compete in first competition this MayViolin (6 years):· Plays for Children’s Music Ministry at Calvary Worship Center· Currently participates in The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony· Interviewed musician Natalie MacMaster, September 2007· Colorado Springs Conservatory, Tiny Toons class, 2002-2003· First recipient of The Little Lamb Scholarship from Colorado Springs Conservatory· Black Rose Acoustic Society Kids Jam, 2003-PresentMusical performances:· GospelGrass Festival, 2008· Springs Spree, 2008· Sky Sox, seventh-inning stretch, 2008· Opening ceremony for CHEC conference, Denver, 2008· Hospice, nursing homes and schools· Memorial Hospital, Ronald McDonald House· Black Rose Kids open stage performances/Band Scramble/St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 2009· St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising event for Kids Cancer Fund, 2008 and 2009· McDonald’s Day: fundraiser for Remington Elementary, March 2009· Fiddle Champion in several contests in Colorado and Indiana, 2005-2006Miscellaneous:· Submitted Short Story to PBS’ “Reading Rainbow,” 2007· Took Super Saturday courses at UCCS for gifted and talented kids, 2007 and 2008

Jory with his violin. Click the arrow below for more pictures of Jory and his family playing, and Jory practicing with teacher Hope Grietzer. Photo by COURTESY OF KERRY AND DEEDI LANE

Jory practicing with his former teacher, Hope Grietzer, at Grietzer’s home in upstate New York. Photo by COURTESY OF KERRY AND DEEDI LANE

Brothers with bows: Jory, 8, and Kooper, 5 Photo by COURTESY OF KERRY AND DEEDI LANE