If you are a student of an instrument in a high-school in the United States, you will recognize the title of this post at once to mean only one thing: the annual event designed to strike terror and awe in the hearts of students and parents alike!
Technically, the solo/ensemble contests are intended to provide student musicians an opportunity to perform a solo or an ensemble in front of an adjudicator and a limited audience, and to receive constructive comments, both spoken and written, from the adjudicator. The primary benefits to the students are the experience of performing alone or in a small group, and a critique from someone other than their regular music teacher(s). These contests also serve as regional qualifying events for the State Solo/Ensemble Contest every spring. A solo is considered to be a piece performed either entirely alone or with a piano accompaniment. An ensemble is a group of from 2 to 16 musicians performing together, with or without a piano accompaniment. The adjudicator (often called a judge) is a professional musician not teaching school in the students’ district. The solo/ensemble contests should not be confused with the orchestra, band, or choir festivals, in which the entire large group performs for a panel of adjudicators.
Well, yesterday was the much-anticipated annual Solo & Ensemble event. And I was the proud parent to witness an ensemble event by my firstborn on Alto Saxophone. The piece is called Allemande by Purcell. This is a traditional German dance. An audio recording is attached for your listening pleasure. The higher notes that form the backbone of the tune are the ones that I strain to listen to– for obvious reasons!
Also attached are two token pictures of the performer herself, for your viewing pleasure.
Needless to say, the dozen white roses that were offered to the performer for her impeccable recital pale in comparison to the beauty of the performer herself!
