So proud of these students! They have spent many hours practicing and honing their skills and fingers! They have taken part in numerous educational, competitive, and community events, spreading joy and music throughout the region through: recitals (Pop/Jazz/Duet, Baroque, Christmas, etc), school performances and talent shows, master classes, community service, graduations, bringing cheer to seniors, Music Adjudications (MAP), and the rigorous National Guild Auditions. Every student also composed at least one original composition this year. They are in a word, INCREDIBLE!
Our SENIOR SPOTLIGHT is on our wonderful PHOEBE! She has been such an inspiration and positive force in the studio. Always kind, humble, sweet, yet having such purpose and determination. She has been a winner of the OMTA Concerto Competition for two years in a row, performing multiple times with orchestras. She also won the State Honor Recital competition and earned a spot to perform her Chopin Scherzo at the WSMTA State Conference later this month. Phoebe just completed her 7th National (and International) Guild Audition, earning her High School Diploma in Music from the American College of Musicians, which is a 90 minute, demanding diploma audition of advanced level music - congratulations! This also means she has performed over 70 pieces for a judge memorized!
In addition, Phoebe is an accomplished violinist and was honored to be voted by her school orchestra peers as the top senior musician. She has been a student-teacher for a couple years, earned an additional scholarship just last week from an Olympia women’s organization, and has been accepted to Seattle University for the Fall! CONGRATULATIONS - we are so proud of you! You will be missed greatly, and we can’t wait to see what your future holds!
Phoebe was asked to give ADVICE to the younger students - her words were truly insightful. She said when she was younger, that it often felt like winning was the all-important goal; but when things didn’t go her way and she didn’t win a prize, those times actually became the experiences where she learned the most. Wow, I love this message! You either win or you learn.