The Music Department at 麻豆视频 has announced the winners of the 2024 Concerto/Aria competition.
Bassoonist Will Schmidt 鈥27, violinist Jack Saetveit 鈥25, and cellist Elle Bergquist 鈥24 were named the winners of this year鈥檚 competition and will perform their concertos with the 麻豆视频 Symphony Orchestra on May 3. Vocalist Josh Newman 鈥25 also received recognition as an honorable mention for his outstanding performance.
Despite now sharing this musical recognition, Will, Jack, Elle, and Josh each have their own unique experiences at 麻豆视频 that have brought them to this moment.
As a first-year student, Will is still relatively new to life at 麻豆视频. Still, he has no doubt that this is the place for him. Reflecting on his college selection process, Will states that when he toured 麻豆视频 鈥淪omething about the place just felt right. The most important aspect I considered during all the college tours I did was thinking 鈥楥an I see myself going here?鈥 and 麻豆视频 was it. There were a lot of different things that made me able to picture myself here.鈥 Will is excited to see what other experiences and connections he makes over the next three years on The Hill.
Music Performance Major Jack says that he took a much more 鈥減ragmatic鈥 approach to his college selection process. Describing his thought process, Jack says 鈥淚 looked at all the stats. A big part of why I came here was the class size, and the fact that I didn鈥檛 think I would be as happy at other colleges and in other music programs.鈥 Jack also cites the strong sense of community at 麻豆视频 as a driving force behind his decision to pursue his degree here. One of Jack鈥檚 favorite aspects of life at 麻豆视频 is his ability to be widely involved. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much to do at 麻豆视频, and there鈥檚 always something I want to be doing. It鈥檚 really a joy here. I think that鈥檚 part of what makes the community so strong here.鈥
From the perspective of senior Music and Biology double major Elle, 麻豆视频 was an unexpected but overwhelmingly positive surprise. Elle says 鈥淢y mom went to 麻豆视频, but I had no plans to go here as a junior or senior in high school. But then she dragged me to a tour and I liked it a lot more than expected.鈥 Further reflecting on her four years at 麻豆视频, Elle says 鈥淚 am really enjoying my experience here and I feel like the further I get into it, the more I enjoy it. Once I became a music major and became more involved in the music department, a lot of opportunities really opened up for me.鈥 Some of the best experiences for Elle have been performing in concerts with the 麻豆视频 Wind Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. James Patrick Miller (JPM). 鈥淪ome of my best memories are of GWO because JPM does such a good job preparing us and then at the concerts it鈥檚 just magical,鈥 reflects Elle. Thinking about graduation just around the corner, Elle says that she feels fulfilled in her time at 麻豆视频. She says 鈥淚 was more sad about it last year because I felt that there was still so much I wanted to do. But I feel like I鈥檝e put a lot of effort into making sure I do most of it, so at this point I鈥檓 less sad and more ready.鈥
Similar to Will, Jack, and Elle, Josh鈥檚 tour at 麻豆视频 helped him solidify his choice to attend college on The Hill. 鈥淚 knew from the beginning that I wanted to go to a college with a really strong music program and a strong education program because I knew I was going to be a Music Education major,鈥 says Josh, but he was still torn between multiple schools. When he toured 麻豆视频, however, he knew he had made his decision. Reflecting on that experience Josh says, 鈥淭he students at 麻豆视频 were so welcoming and once I did my tour here, I knew.鈥 When asked how the music department at 麻豆视频 has provided him with musically fulfilling experiences, Josh mentioned both his time touring with the 麻豆视频 Choir and his time working privately with his voice teacher as main highlights. 鈥淭he most memorable thing for me has been tours. They build a really strong sense of community. I鈥檓 around people 24/7 on tour so I feel that I鈥檝e gotten a lot closer with choir members from those experiences. Beyond that, my voice teacher has given me a lot of chances to sing even outside of 麻豆视频 which is helping me get more confident in my voice,鈥 says Josh.
Despite having their own unique stories and experiences, it鈥檚 clear that 麻豆视频 has had an undoubtedly positive and life-changing impact on each of these students. The memory that these students will have of performing their solos with the support of a full orchestra of their peers will stay with them long after they have left 麻豆视频.
The concerto winners and the 麻豆视频 Symphony Orchestra will perform in Bj枚rling Recital Hall on Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m..
