Hard Work Pays Off

Do you guys ever get that rush of relief and happiness, but at that same an ominous black pit develops in the bottom of your stomach as your eyes fill with tears? Do you ever feel like the happiest person in the world, and at the same time the most terrified you've ever been in your life? No, I'm not talking about roller coasters or haunted houses. I'm talking about that emotion you feel when you know your life could drastically change, and everything you've done to prevent that from happening will slip out from under your feet with the slightest hesitation.

Now, that may be a slight dramatization. One night, Caleb Chapman hosted yet another Awards Ceremony. However, this ceremony was the first one I've attended. The Awards Ceremony usually just congratulates musicians on their hard work during the year. Graduating seniors get awards, outstanding soloists get awards (Ahem, Bryan), and one lucky teacher is picked for an award for their dedicated approach to teaching music. My school music teacher, Mr. Taylor, was picked for that award a few years back.  All of the bands under Caleb Chapman's program played that night. Little Big Band got lucky and played two pieces. The Jazz Police was up first, and then we played Cry Me A River to support Jocie for her Downbeat vocal soloist award.

Little Big Band performing at the Ceremony

After everyone performed, we gathered on the stage for a large group photo. As soon as the camera flashed, I suddenly released how fast time goes. Some of the people I've played with this year- Amaya, Max, Tyler, they will all be going off to college. I won't be able to play with them for a while, maybe not until I'm off to college. What happens when we leave? I don't think much changes over the course of the year, but I don't have long until I graduate. Amaya and Max might have felt the same way until they walked across a stage in a cap and gown. But hey, with this time that we have left in high school, I'd much rather enjoy it.

The night after, we had our school's final concert of the year. I, stuck in Symphonic Band for one more performance, was sad to be performing because most of my friends did not make it into Wind Ensemble. However, the performance must go on, right? We played three tunes, and I bet you can guess what they were. Out last concert was our pop concert, where we play tunes from movies and art. Symphonic Band played Ashokan Farewell, The Incredibles, and Disney at the Movies. Trombones got to crank on The Incredibles, which of course was the best part of the song. Disney at the Movies, well, you can hear the magic happen yourself.

During that concert, a few students also received their band letter. I was one of the few freshmen to receive a first year letter, and it was awesome. Somehow, I have earned enough letter points to receive one. The letters were a great end to what is the beginning of my journey as a student muwsician. My year of hard practice and work finally paid off.

An Open House

My music program, Caleb Chapman Music, has an annual open house to promote auditioning and the casual gist of the program. Since I am a part of that program (and so proud to be), I had to play at the studio for an audience. We we able to ask non-members to jump up on the stage and play with us. Shockingly, the only person was a female trombone player in the eighth grade, which was really cool.

I managed to play with most of the bands, Including Voodoo Orchestra, Crescent Super Band, and Time Check. The horn swings in the Crescent Super Band was da bomb, and the trombone soli in La Quema Del Diablo was amazing. Voodoo Orchestra is the band I want to audition for next year with Bryan, Cameron, Molly, and Jake. If we were to all get in, it would be a party. (Caroleine, you need to audition for it!)

The Voodoo Orchestra at its finest

Image courtesy of Master Calender

The Voodoo Orchestra has recently played at the Apollo theater in New York on their tour in April this year. I think it was the other coolest tour for the Caleb Chapman musicians to go to on, other than the Crescent Super Band's trip to Cuba.  Next year, the Voodoo Orchestra gets an international tour of their own- to Ireland, England, and Scotland. Image the differences in the music we make and the music they make. There would certainly be a lot to learn about that culture on the other side of the world. 

After the open house, Little Big Band won an award at Best of State. The only other band that also had won an award was the Crescent Super Band. Bet you didn't see that coming. We played a lot more songs than usual, which was so much much fun! Unfortunately, we were not on TV like the Crescent Super Band. I've never experienced a big award like that before, and it was quite a shocker to see how nonchalant my band members were about the whole thing. I just loved performing so many songs and I really hope I get the chance to perform that much again.