All students in the orchestra program go to another school and play for judges for UIL in the second semester. But for some students, Saturday’s UIL Solo/Ensemble held at Centennial High School, will allow them to go through the process once more.
“The Solo/Ensemble contest is a way for students to perform as individuals or in small ensembles (like a duet, trio, or quartet) for a judge for individual comments and feedback,” orchestra director Julie Blackstock said. “Soloists usually must perform with a piano accompaniment. I think it gives individuals a way to showcase their talent in a smaller setting. Ensembles get to work together, without a director/conductor, to create music on their own as a team.”
After selecting a piece from the prescribed music list (PML), it’s up to students to practice outside of school, either independently or with a private lesson teacher.
“Practice is the best way to prepare for music,” junior Charlie Xu said. “It was kind of difficult at first, since the piece is fairly intimidating to dive into. Once I got into the piece, though, I started to really focus in on a few sections that were tricky. These can take days, if not weeks, of practice to get just the way like them. I also try to record myself playing the piece—it puts me in a different state of mind and gives me a taste for how I might feel at the actual performance.”
With a wide range of pieces to choose from, for some students, deciding on a piece to play is a very personal decision.
“I am playing Greensleeves, a popular Christmas folk tune,” junior Rohan Pagar said. “I decided to pick this particular piece because I enjoyed the unique style and tonality of it, as the piece opens with a graceful tone and then progresses into a somber and well-recognized melody.”
For Xu, playing different music in a different environment is an opportunity for personal growth and depth, as he explores new styles.
“I really enjoy playing my instrument, the viola,” Xu said. “It’s a way for me to learn more about the repertoire, my performance style, as well as where I can make improvements. Solo and Ensemble tends to bring out a different side of me compared to when I play in the orchestra, so there’s always something new to discover.”
