“from the new world”
Welp, I’m a day late and a dollar short, but better late than never!
Happy Tuesday everyone!
If you haven’t guessed already, this past week has been so busy! I thought I was going to have three days off, but somehow, I kept scheduling things! There is so much to experience here it is hard to say no!
Let’s begin!
This week was full of career-building experiences. If you thought you knew me before I left, get ready, because I am a completely new musician and individual! I have had so much time to build on what skills and weaknesses I have. Our topics for the week will include audition prep class, Stella Chen, New Music Ensemble, a chat with Leonard Slatkin, 4th of July festivities, mock auditions, and as always: lessons, quintet, faculty chamber concerts, and orchestra!
Audition Prep:
Every so often there is something called a “faculty presents” lecture for the students to learn from professionals and gain some insight into the professional orchestra world. This week’s lecture was given by Leonardo Soto, timpanist of the Houston Symphony. He was lecturing on what orchestra auditions are like, how they function, what we should know and should not know, how to prepare, and so much more. Given that this next year I will be actively auditioning for orchestras, this lecture could not have been more perfect for me to attend.
The big takeaway: don’t play the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto! LOL!
No, but for real, preparing for a professional audition takes extreme time and dedication. We’re talking 3-4 months of preparation, limited social time, and every waking moment spent practicing. So if I reach out in the future for support in this process, please accept! Luckily it doesn’t last forever!
While I am looking forward to my first orchestra job, I am still quite nervous about where I will end up, how many auditions I will have to take, and if I am prepared enough now to begin this process.
Stella chen:
Our visiting soloist this week was the incredible Stella Chen. She was the 2019 winner of the Queen Elizabeth competition and is the newest member of Juilliard’s violin faculty! It was a dream to work with her! On Wednesday, she held a violin masterclass. I did not perform, but it was enough to just be in the audience. I learned so much about the importance of movement, gravity, and playing beyond the bow. She focused on being a part of the music, telling the story not just through the notes but through musicality and emotion.
Her approach was definitely different, but fascinating to watch. I am hoping that I can incorporate some of her movement ideas and extreme reliance on gravity into my own playing.
Also, talking with Stella made me realize that musicians or other famous figures we look up to are real people, too. I went up to congratulate her after her first rehearsal with the orchestra this week, and we had an absolutely hilarious conversation about the humidity and how it makes shifting so sticky! I also realized that I am still really young in the business and that in 10 years, I could be where Stella is, too. So, here’s to some hard work in making this future possible!
New music ensemble:
As much as I used to grumble about playing contemporary music, my exposure to it at the U this last year has been enlightening in that my perspective is modulating. In working directly with composers, I realized how much performers are an important part of the music making process. This summer, my assigned work study was to play for the resident composition students. I was assigned to play in a Pierrot ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and marimba) for two composers. It was incredible to make new sounds and put together these compositions with my colleagues. Hopefully I’ll get some videos by the end of the summer!
Leonard Slatkin:
Six-time Grammy Award-winning conductor Leonard Slatkin graced us with his presence this week at the festival. As an individual who has been in the music industry for over 50 years, he was an absolute fountain of knowledge. I’ll talk about my experience working with him in orchestra later. Very last minute, another “faculty presents” lecture was added to the week where Maestro Slatkin talked about his experience as a music director, what the audition process is, how it has changed, and answered our questions about how to survive in the business. I was really impressed with his depth of knowledge and desire for us to keep going on our path.
His biggest invitation to us students was: do not let go of the dream.
Maestro made it clear that we might not get to achieve the dream on our first job, but if we keep working hard and never stop believing in ourselves, we will eventually achieve our dream. I was stunned and motivated. I need to be more specific to myself about what my dream is, but once I have that in sight, I know where I will be heading and I cannot wait!
4th of July:
As many of you know, the 4th of July is probably my favorite holiday. I love celebrating freedom, liberty, patriotism, and the love I have for my country. My morning started off by having a yummy breakfast only to have it upset my stomach not soon after… I’ll leave it at that. But my practice was great and I posted a new reel on my Insta and Facebook! So go check it out! The symphonic wind ensemble here on campus was performing a “Patriotic Pops” concert with guests from the opera company and the Air Force Singing Sergeants. It was such a great way to celebrate! The best part was the long line of cannons accompanying Dvorak’s 1812 Overture.
After the concert the campus opened to student activities! My friends and I decided to cool off in the lake for a while and it was packed! We certainly reached capacity for our one lifeguard and had to turn others away. After this fish took a swim, I went to the field to watch the various field games and enjoy some yummy ice cream!
To end the night, my quintet had a rehearsal. We are working on the Coleridge-Taylor Piano Quintet. Of course, the fireworks in town were bombarding our rehearsal, but I’ll allow it given the holiday.
So despite not going to a parade, having a barbeque, or watching the fireworks, I still felt pride for my country and my people.
Mock auditions:
On Sunday, Maestro Ken Lam and other faculty members offered an opportunity to the college students to do a “mock audition.” This meant we would perform orchestral excerpts for a committee that was behind a curtain to simulate what it would be like to play in a professional job audition. I walked into the opening feeling confident and like I was going to nail every note, my rehearsal had gone so well! The audition on the other hand, flopped… It probably wasn’t as bad as I make it seem, but I know I could have done better. But it also made me realize I might not know the excerpts as well as I thought I did. This was a really big deal considering I will be auditioning soon for a job. Now I know the nerves that will come over me, the intense practice I need to do, and have confidence in my preparation. I am looking forward to doing more of these “mock auditions” so when the time comes, LMK if you’re available to sit as my “committee”!
Orchestra:
Orchestra this week was absolutely amazing! I was a part of the Brevard Music Center Orchestra (BMCO) which is a group where the students sit side-by-side with members of the faculty. My stand partner, Caroline, was very kind and helped me find my footing in this orchestra. Even though I was comfortable with the music, I was still nervous playing with professionals and often psyched myself out and made silly mistakes. At the end of the week, she told me I have nothing to worry about. That boosted my confidence tenfold.
Maestro Leonard Slatkin was amazing. He ran rehearsals with an iron fist but it was so easy! Every day we touched a part of every piece. It is not often that in FOUR days, you can put together such a difficult concert. I really enjoyed having him as a director. He knew the music inside and out and we even played a piece by his wife and one by his father! Music runs deep.
Our program was:
CINDY MCTEE Double Play
SAMUEL BARBER Violin Concerto
ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"
FELIX SLATKIN Carmen’s Hoedown
One of the interesting things about the Dvorak Symphony is the title. Many people think this piece was written about America. But it is not. It is essentially a postcard that Dvorak wrote about his visit to America back to his homeland, nothing more. That is why you don’t hear any “American folk-melodies.” That is why it is titled From the New World. So how did it become attached to America? It was the theme song for Quaker Oats forever ago and sort of just stuck.
Though the heat sucks and the humidity sucks more, I am enjoying every moment in orchestra and cannot wait for more!
Other activities for the week:
The harpsichord at the faculty Baroque chamber concert had a really cool design and inscription on the inside of the lid. It loosely translates to:
Do not touch me with unlearned hands. Art has no enemy but the unknown.
One of the pieces on the faculty chamber concert had classical guitar accompaniment, and at one point, the cellist put down his instrument and pulled out some castanets!
French Quarter (the college hangout) held a tie-dye night! It was fun! I am excited to see what my shirt looks like!
The flowers here are so pretty! So many colors!
The frizz in my hair is really showing up, so let’s give it some love!
This next week is focused entirely on MAHLER!!! Also his birthday is today! So what a fitting time to be learning and performing his 7th symphony!
Until next week!
Ciao!
