So tomorrow is the San Juan Music Educator's Association's regional Solo & Ensemble Competition for high school students. Success at this event for students will qualify them to participate & compete at the state level, held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. I always love when this event rolls around. I love having my students participate, just like I did in 2004.
I have 6 students performing students this year, and two of them are also playing a duet. That's the most I've ever had. I've got 3 hornists, 2 trombonists, and a trumpeter. Only half of these kids have done this before. I'm rooting hard for all of them, and really hoping at least one of them makes it to the state level. I'm not expecting any of them to, of course, because that would be unfair to them to put that level of pressure on them. No, not yet. Maybe when I've built this empire of amazing brass players here on Whidbey (like I mentioned in my last blog) will I set the expectation higher. But not yet.
But I remember well my experience when I was a senior. I had only don't Solo & Ensemble that one year. I was a new horn player, having only played for about a year. The regional competition wasn't really a competition, since, for some reason, there were only two other horn players that year that competed. I mean, I had to play well enough to be considered, and I did, so I was on to State! I knew my competition was fierce there--I even heard a couple of the other performers, playing much harder pieces than mine (mine was the Mozart 3rd concert, Mvt. 1). But, I did my thing, and I did it well, and I brought home the bronze medal. 3rd in the State in 2004. That made me feel good, and it still does. I have the medal attached to my horn case to this very day.
So we'll see how my students do this weekend, and soon you'll hear about it. Wish them luck!
Take care and value music.