Even from before I was born, music was an enormous part of my life. Both of my parents graduated from Baldwin-Wallace’s Conservatory in the 1980s: my mom with degrees in both music education and horn performance, and my dad with a degree in music education. My mom is now a music teacher in a small, rural school district in New York, and my dad is the senior high band director and music department chair in another district. Additionally, my grandfather started the local music store that has now been in our family for three generations, Royalton Music Center. Growing up, I was surrounded by music everywhere I went. I always enjoyed general music in elementary school, from singing songs to learning the names and rhythms of the notes.
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I participated in the festival each year after that. My junior high band director and private lesson teacher, Kim Sanderson, continued my musical training from here and encouraged my growth as not just a musician, but as a person. As a result of my solo score in sixth grade, I was able to play in my first honor band, which gathered junior high students from around the county. I went on to receive scores that opened up even more opportunities and honor bands, including NYSSMA Zone 3 Area All-State and NYSBDA (New York State Band Director’s Association) Honor Bands. In high school, I continually participated in Area All-State, and my score in tenth grade earned me a spot in the first horn section in NYSSMA’s Conference All State Symphonic Band under Dr. David Holsinger. I was also involved with the full orchestra, jazz band, pep band, and marching band throughout high …show more content…
We played several concerts throughout the year, the repertoire was much more advanced, and the majority of the musicians in the group were far more mature than my fellow high school students. The band worked closely with the professors at Ithaca College, who had experience teaching and conducting nationwide. This also gave me the opportunity to play alongside my mom, which was an experience that made us closer and made us both better musicians. I still greatly enjoy playing in this ensemble when I return home for the summer. Several more unique opportunities were presented to me during my high school career due to my ensemble’s musical abilities. In both ninth and eleventh grade, my high school band took a trip to New York City in order to learn more about the music industry. In ninth grade, we learned about what it was like to be a professional musician working in the fast-paced city, and in eleventh grade we performed at Lincoln
I participated in the festival each year after that. My junior high band director and private lesson teacher, Kim Sanderson, continued my musical training from here and encouraged my growth as not just a musician, but as a person. As a result of my solo score in sixth grade, I was able to play in my first honor band, which gathered junior high students from around the county. I went on to receive scores that opened up even more opportunities and honor bands, including NYSSMA Zone 3 Area All-State and NYSBDA (New York State Band Director’s Association) Honor Bands. In high school, I continually participated in Area All-State, and my score in tenth grade earned me a spot in the first horn section in NYSSMA’s Conference All State Symphonic Band under Dr. David Holsinger. I was also involved with the full orchestra, jazz band, pep band, and marching band throughout high …show more content…
We played several concerts throughout the year, the repertoire was much more advanced, and the majority of the musicians in the group were far more mature than my fellow high school students. The band worked closely with the professors at Ithaca College, who had experience teaching and conducting nationwide. This also gave me the opportunity to play alongside my mom, which was an experience that made us closer and made us both better musicians. I still greatly enjoy playing in this ensemble when I return home for the summer. Several more unique opportunities were presented to me during my high school career due to my ensemble’s musical abilities. In both ninth and eleventh grade, my high school band took a trip to New York City in order to learn more about the music industry. In ninth grade, we learned about what it was like to be a professional musician working in the fast-paced city, and in eleventh grade we performed at Lincoln