Working Towards My Music Career
During my student teaching, I had the privilege of performing as the second oboe in the Nittany Valley Symphony for their February concert. I also had the wonderful experience of playing the oboe and English horn parts in the pit orchestra for the Altoona Community Theatre's presentation of "The Sound of Music." At the end of April 2009, I attended the Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association All-State In-Service Conference in Valley Forge, PA. I attended sessions relating to both general music and band, as well as listening to wonderful student ensembles.
Since graduating, I have been fortunate to keep performing on the oboe and English horn. In November 2009 and April 2010 I had the opportunity to perform with the Bucknell University Symphonic Band. Playing in pit orchestras for musicals always has been a favorite of mine, and I played for both Mifflinburg Area High School's production of "West Side Story" and Line Mountain High School's performance of "The Wizard of Oz." I will be performing in the chamber orchestra at the end of May for the Selinsgrove High School Honors Choir's performance of John Rutter's "The Magnificat."
Myself as a Musician
While at Penn State, I performed in a variety of ensembles on oboe and English horn, as well as sang Alto 2 in the University Choir for three semesters. My ensemble experience includes the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Double Reed Ensemble, Oboe and English horn trio, Woodwind Quintet, and pit orchestras for "Defining Broadway: A Musical Revue," "Parade," and "Assassins." The picture shown is from my senior recital, which I shared with a clarinetist. My repertoire for the performance included Romance from Two Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano, Op. 2 by Carl Nielsen, Sonatina for Oboe and Harpsichord by Gordon Jacob, Piece en forme de Habanera by Maurice Ravel, arr. Fernand Gillet, and Duo for Clarinet and Oboe Op. 43 Nr. 14 by Ludwig van Beethoven. My oboe professor was Professor Timothy F. Hurtz, and I thank him for encouraging me to perform a recital and being such a positive influence. Performing in so many different groups at Penn State was very valuable to my education, and I will encourage my students to take as many opportunities as they can to perform in public.
