Reflecting on Performing BYU Wind Symphony Solo in South Korea
This past July, I had the privilege of performing with BYU Wind Symphony in South Korea at WASBE 2024, an international band conference. Our faculty mentors took some of the pressure off the big performance by adding enriching cultural immersion experiences throughout the week we were there. We performed two concerts of the finest works written for wind ensemble in Gwangju-Gyeonggi.
One of the pieces we performed at the conference was George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a staple of American classical music written for solo piano and ensemble accompaniment. The piece opens with a well-known and exposed clarinet solo, which I had the opportunity to perform. What makes the opening clarinet solo challenging is that it has minimal accompaniment and also requires the clarinetist to perform a “smear” where you slowly peel your fingers off the tone holes of the instrument to create an even upward wailing sound effect. The technique is not used often in classical clarinet repertoire, and I was quite nervous to execute the skill during a public performance.
Prior to the concert, I calmed my nerves by practicing the opening solo in front of everyone who could possibly make me nervous — even performing the solo in the BYU Cougareat.
I spent around an hour mentally preparing myself before the WASBE performance by envisioning myself performing the solo exactly how I hoped it would go. I imagined the audience and how everything would feel in the moment. As an ensemble, BYU Wind Symphony had spent several weeks preparing our individual parts along with several very thorough rehearsals together. Because of our preparation, we were well prepared for the WASBE performance. The solo went wonderfully.
There is no better feeling than to be able to share your gifts with those around you. I am forever grateful to BYU and the Wind Symphony for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
