Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra Personal Statement

I sat in shock and great disappointment as I realized that someone else's name was first on the list. The Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra was an important experience for my career as a musician. It is a renowned group of young musicians that work closely with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I have been a part of the horn section in this prestigious group since my freshman year. After all of my original section mates graduated, I was the one who everyone thought would be able to take the principal chair without a problem. The pressure was on, and I was preparing my hardest to beat all the competition at the audition. Despite the great lengths I took to perform my best, I was not getting first chair that season. Initially I was devastated by the disappointment I must have brought to my section mates who had graduated. After being the youngest player in the section for two years, those upperclassmen taught me phenomenal orchestral horn playing skills as well as a high level of musicianship and …show more content…
Over time, I noticed that nothing had changed, and my musicianship was practically at a standstill. After nights of deep thought and some self-reflection, I ultimately realized that I am practicing my hardest every day to become a musician. Through my reflection I found that being a musician is not about being perfect or always getting the top chair and beating everyone else. Fortunately, there is much more to being a musician. Musicians of the highest level practice hard so that they can send a clear message, entertain, and lend the mastery of their instrument to the music. If all I want is to beat other people at auditions, then I am wasting my talent as a musician, and I will never get to fully enjoy the gift of music. When I genuinely put my heart and soul into my music, I was able to perform and enjoy the music to the fullest, regardless of my