Tonight I attended the Strings Concert at my alma mater, Pensacola Christian College. There are two of these concerts every year, and it has been of the most attended concerts since its inception. I participated in this concert every semester from my sophomore through the end of my graduate studies, and in hindsight, I think it was one of the greatest learning experiences I had in school. This was my first time as one of the audience members, and it filled me with great memories.
1. It was this concert that introduced me to the viola. Dr. Alberto Jaffè, my violin teacher at the time, decided to start an undergraduate string quartet and he informed me that I would be the violist. Having never played the viola before, I didn't know what to think, but I think Dr. Jaffè knew that this would be the instrument I would fall in love with.
2. My junior year I was invited to joint the PCC String Quartet in Residence who I would play with until the end of my graduate studies in 2012. The friendships I made in that group continue to be some of my closest.
3. It was here that I learned the real importance of give and take. There is no way to get four different musicians to agree on every bowing, phrase, piece selection, etc., but the success of the group depends on your ability to compromise and work together to bring your audience a beautiful performance.
4. In these concerts I got to work through my performance anxiety with stringed instruments. I had long before learned to cope with performing nerves in my piano performances, but not so for strings. My confidence level was so low, and I struggled to keep my body under control during performance. These concerts gave me plenty of opportunities to play very exposed parts and build up my confidence. Without these concerts, I don't think any of the master classes and auditions I've done since then would have successful.
5. I got to give my first concerto performance with the PCC String Ensemble. The PCC String Quartet's 1st violinist, Matheus Canada, and myself performed the last movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante during my last semester at PCC. The Pensacola Symphony is performing this piece in its entirety next weekend with our concert master, Leonid Yanovsky, and principal violist, Brian Brown as soloists. You should not miss this great piece paired with Mahler's Symphony no. 1. More info here: pensacolasymphony.com
I could go on and on about what I gained from these experiences, but let it be sufficient to say, I would not be where I am today if I didn't have the opportunity to perform in this event every semester. I am grateful that I still get to attend every once in a while and remember those great times.