My son's audition

[HelenM]

I'm so pleased about this...my son (6th grade, plays violin) auditioned for an annual district orchestra festival for 6th-8th grade last Saturday. On Monday he heard that he got 1st chair - i.e. he is going to be concertmaster and any violin solos in the pieces will be played by him!!! :D

Another pupil of the same teacher got 2nd chair - I'm happy for her too and glad that he'll know his stand partner.

Helen

[Beth]

That's fantastic Helen! I am so happy for you and your son both. It is very fortunate that he has such a skilled teacher as well as a mother who plays beautifully! :)

[livius drusus]

Wow. First chair in 6th grade... Is that as exceptional as it sounds? It seems to me one of the older kids would customarily be chosen. Congratulations to you both and to his obviously very good teacher. :winner:

[LadyShea]

Wow, way to go!

[freemonkey]

How wonderful, Helen. Is he excited? Nervous? When is the concert?

[pescifish]

Is he excited? Nervous? When is the concert? I'm interested in the answers to all freemonkey's questions and I'll raise her a "How long does the orchestra festival last?"

I know you are involved in your church's musical groups, so I'm sure there's a fair bit of good talent in your genes. Lucky you and congrats to your son!

[Dingfod]

Bravo!!!

[HelenM]

Thanks, everyone :)

Wow, a lot of questions...it worked out well for him that they were willing to choose a sixth grader to be concertmaster. I thought they might choose an older child but I guess they didn't mind him being younger. His teacher had him wear a tie so he'd look older but I doubt that really made any difference!

It's a one day festival on Nov 6. They practice during the first part of the day and give a concert for parents and friends at 3 p.m. which of course we'll attend.

I know he gets a little nervous before a difficult solo but I don't think he'll be very nervous for this. He seems pleased about this although he won't comment on it that much.

His teacher would like him to try out for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra next Spring. That's an ongoing group, unlike this one day festival. His teacher has a string orchestra made up of many of his students, plus some cellists, that plays neat music, but it's not the same as being in a full orchestra.

Helen

[freemonkey]

His teacher would like him to try out for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra next Spring. That's an ongoing group, unlike this one day festival.
Way cool! :five:

[Gawen]

Quote:
Originally Posted by HelenM
His teacher would like him to try out for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra next Spring. That's an ongoing group, unlike this one day festival.

Way cool! Now that IS way kewl. And to think a 6th grader beat out 8th graders. That's some talent your boy has.


And it beats the hell out of marching band music...which I simply cannot stand to listen to. Nothing like a full orchestra.

[Bella]

Congratulations to your son!

[viscousmemories]

I'm sorry I missed this thread when you posted it, Helen. Congratulations. :)

[Petra]

I've only just seen this thread, too.

Helen, that's great! Your son must be feeling so proud of himself, and his teacher must be feeling rather proud of her students, too.

Your son must be about the same age as my daughter, huh?


hmmmm...We should get together, Helen; we need to discuss future marriage. I'll pay you a handsome dowry for your son, you have my word on that.


/me thinks ahead...


Anyway, congratulations to mother and son. That truly is brilliant news. :bow:

[Bella]

We should get together, Helen; we need to discuss future marriage. I'll pay you a handsome dowry for your son, you have my word on that.
In US dollars, or NZ funds?

[Petra]

We should get together, Helen; we need to discuss future marriage. I'll pay you a handsome dowry for your son, you have my word on that.
In US dollars, or NZ funds?

Nope, neither. I'm a conservative kinda gal and it's customary for dowries to be paid in goats and camels. :D

[HelenM]

We should get together, Helen; we need to discuss future marriage. I'll pay you a handsome dowry for your son, you have my word on that.
In US dollars, or NZ funds?

Nope, neither. I'm a conservative kinda gal and it's customary for dowries to be paid in goats and camels. :D

I have enough goats and camels, thank you, but perhap we can negotiate. ;)

Helen

[HelenM]

By the way, the district festival for which my son auditioned was on Saturday. He took the school bus there in the morning, for a day of rehearsing, and we drove there in the afternoon for the concert. There were a lot of people involved: 500 junior high children in total, in the string orchestra, band and choir, which performed one after the other. It was in a high school gym which had all three groups in there the whole time; and of course the audience was huge, since it was 500 kids' worth of parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.

The performance went well and it was really neat seeing Ben at the front. We got there earlyish and it was worth it because we were able to sit close to him where we could see him really well.

He had one short solo which sounded great (of course!). The orchestra had 100 children in - 50 violins, 50 lower strings. So it was pretty big. At times it sounded quite musical :D

Helen

[Dingfod]

Cool, Helen. My older daughter played violin in 6th grade, then switched to cello in Jr. High. I enjoyed attending their concerts too, sometimes it actually resembled music.

And I think a bit of my own musical parent boasting is in order, Saturday my daughter Roxy, high school Junior, made the first cut for All-State band playing her flute, final tryouts are in four weeks. This totally took her by surprise, she thinks everyone else played a lot better than she played. Her band director says different, so did the judges.

[freemonkey]

At times it sounded quite musical :D
:headbang: :D

Glad it went well.