I had seating auditions on August 27 and I played an excerpt and the g major 3-octave scale and arpeggio and the a minor 3 octave scale and arpeggio. I was ready to play 7 arpeggios but he only wanted one.  For the honors chamber audition I played the Bach prelude and corrente and nailed it but I didn’t get chosen for the honors group. I am going to have my mom record me playing the Bach piece so you can hear it.  I have attached my essay I had sent for the Honors position, I put a lot of work into it, plus I had my private teacher and my math teacher send a reference, oh well it was a good experience. As far as the seating audition, I know I am a second again (which sort of bummed me out) but  still don’t know where I sitso I am hoping I at least have a better seat.  We shall see.  Tomorrow is my first practice with the orchestra and I am so excited to see my seat and my friends.  Hopefully my hard work paid off, if not I will keep practicing.  Enjoy my essay! I will try to post my Bach piece later.
How music impacts my life

Music impacts my life in many ways. Music helps me get through stressful situations, make friendships that are going to last a lifetime, and gain a lot of self- confidence.
One way music impacts my life is that it helps me get through stressful situations. In fifth grade I was bullied. Kids in my class took my pencils, hid my belongings, called me names, and didn’t want to play with me. They definitely didn’t make me feel 100% but my violin did. I dealt with bullying by picking up my violin and playing different pieces, easy and hard, soft and loud, and pretty and bold. When I picked up my violin it was like I was disappearing into another world, a world where I could be myself. I could journey to anywhere at any time I wanted to through music. I could live in my favorite Disney fairytales and movies by playing pieces from the movies. I could also journey back in time and play the Jurassic Park theme song or be a witch in training like Hermione Granger from Harry Potter while playing Hedwig’s Theme. I also played classical pieces like Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and many others. Music also helped me with stress from school. When I got home from a long tiring day at school I could just play my violin and it felt like I just woke up from hibernation. Music also is a coping method for me I can just play my violin and express how I am feeling through music. My violin will always be there when I need it most.
Another way music has impacted my life is that I made friendships that are going to last a lifetime. At school I learned that friends don’t always stay. Even someone who you think is you best friend can turn on you. The first year I attended Worcester Chamber Music Society’s summer festival I made two wonderful friends; Elizabeth and Anna. I’m in Worcester Youth Orchestra and Worcester’s Symphonic Project with Elizabeth. I still keep in touch with Anna but, I saw her this summer at WCMS’s summer festival concert where she gave me a humungous hug and remembered me 2 years later. That’s a good friend. One of my best friends Liam and I met at camp last summer and now are in Clark University’s’ Sinfonia and Worcester’s Symphonic Project together. This summer people at camp asked me and him if we were brother and sister or go to the same school because we are so close. We both said no, that we met here at camp last year. I also keep in touch with people who live in Pennsylvania throughout the year where I attended Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra summer camp. Music friends are also way more welcoming than school friends. Last year was my first year participating in Worcester Youth Orchestra and I was welcomed by Ilana and Shreya. They are so nice and we have been able to stay in contact during the summer. At school if you are the new kid you don’t always feel welcomed but when you have something in common with someone, like music, or if they are friendly you feel like you have always been their friends. I know I can always depend on my music friends; I know they will always be there to support me and we will always make wonderful music filled memories together.
The final way music impacts my life is that it gives me self confidence. Before I played the violin I was very shy and probably didn’t think I could’ve gotten as far as I have. When I got my violin on my fifth birthday I considered it as a toy not something that I would end up wanting to do for the rest of my life. I took half hour private lessons for a year until I was six. Two years later I was participating in my school’s orchestra and a local orchestra and by sixth grade my dream was to go to Julliard majoring in violin. The summer of sixth grade I started taking music more seriously and got involved in different music summer camps, I got a new private lesson teacher, Peter Sulski. I have performed at many different locations, I have been on stage with large groups, small groups and alone and every time I just grow more confident in myself and my abilities. I still may get a little nervous, but I love being on stage. I love sharing beautiful music with people. Peter is helping me become a better musician but I know I have to continue to put my hard work and lots of effort in to achieve my goal to become the musician I strive to be. Music has given me so much self confidence that my freshman electives for high school are 3 terms of orchestra and I am trying to earn the award for most dedicated music student when I graduate high school in 2019.
Music impacts my life in so many ways. I can express myself through music to get through stressful situations, make friendships that will last a lifetime, and gain lots of self confidence to become an amazing musician. I know I will always continue to work hard to become a better musician, I know my music will be with me through everything and I know that participating in the honors chamber group will ensure that my violin will continue to impact my life in ways I never thought possible.

Until later…Angelina