Legacy Twins From Alaska Bring Harmonious Talent to USU Symphony Orchestra

LOGAN, Utah — Professor Daniel Wachs, director of the USU Symphony Orchestra, was surprised when he thought the same person auditioned for the orchestra twice. He soon discovered that it was actually two individuals — identical twins — both pursuing degrees in music performance.

“I was impressed with the playing,” Wachs said. “I was like, ‘this guy’s really good.’ Then there was some joke about, ‘See you tomorrow.’ And then his brother played, and they both were playing on a really high level.”

Joshua and Jonathan Swank were born in Utah but moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, when they were 3 years old.

“Our parents went here,” Jonathan said. “Then I came here, and I didn’t know if I was going to do violin. But after the first year, I got convinced. I just fell in love with it again.”

Their parents, alumni in environmental engineering and math education, didn’t play instruments, but all three of their oldest children took up music.

“Our older sister saw a violinist play at church, so our mom put her on violin because she liked it,” Jonathan said. “Me and Joshua were like, ‘Our older sister’s playing violin — we have to do it too,’ because we wanted to be exactly like her.”

They started playing the violin at 4 years old, and Jonathan stuck to it.

“I switched to cello because when I saw a cellist play, I was like, ‘I want to do that,’” Joshua said. “When I was 7, I switched.”

In Fairbanks, there were many available lessons for violinists, but Joshua had a harder time finding an instructor.

“The person I started with retired, then there was someone at the university who moved away,” Joshua said. “So I took Skype — and later Zoom — lessons until I came here.”

Despite their parents having attended USU, Joshua and Jonathan weren’t sure if they were going to become Aggies.

The two got into multiple universities, but they individually decided USU would be the best fit for them.

“It sort of was a happy accident,” Joshua said. “I wouldn’t be going to school alone.”

Outside of music, the twins participate in a lot of sports together. They grew up playing baseball and played in a softball team over the summer.

“We play football on Legacy Fields,” Jonathan said. “We have a couple of flag football intramurals coming up.”

Joshua and Jonathan were excited they both got into the orchestra. They noted how close they are and that they spend much of their time together.

“I’m really glad I went to school with Jonathan,” Joshua said. “We’re even in the same chamber group this semester, which is even more .”

To watch the twins perform, visit the next performance of the USU Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center’s Daines Concert Hall.