Every January, young musicians from Island, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties gather at Bellingham High School to showcase their talents and hard work in the SJMEA Senior Solo and Ensemble Contest. High schoolers that thrive in band, orchestra or choir are given the opportunity to perform self-selected pieces and receive feedback from an adjudicator. The winners of each category get the honor of proceeding to the state competition in April.
Although it is certainly encouraged by parents and music teachers, the beauty of this competition is that it is ultimately driven by the sheer self-motivation of the students. Kate Rose, senior violinist at Sehome High School, says that the kind of students who are drawn to the competition come together to form a unique kind of community. “Everybody there has something in common: the capacity to fully appreciate music,” Rose says. “It becomes clear that so many people do it for the pure joy of playing music. That’s a cool thing to be a part of.”
The contest goes beyond the joy of playing. It gives students an experience vastly different from what they are familiar with in the classroom. According to Rose, this exposure is greatly valuable. “It’s a chance to work with someone new and get fresh feedback,” she says. “You learn to get feedback from different types of people. A judge could tell you to play something in a way you’d never considered before.”
In addition to working with judges, students performing with ensembles must also learn how to work with fellow musicians. “It’s a chance to work with a group you chose and to work with different people,” Rose says. Once students form a group, it’s up to them to decide on a piece, and to schedule and carry out group rehearsals. The ensemble experience cultivates the maturity required to listen to all members of a group, give and receive constructive criticism, and make compromises.
On top of the seven categories devoted to ensembles, the contest boasts 29 solo categories, including seven woodwind categories, five brass, four percussion, four strings, six vocal, piano, guitar and harp. Rose sees the value in solos as well. “You do have to sacrifice a piece of your individuality when playing in a group. That’s why it can be amazing to hear people play solos. People put all of their passion and energy into it. It’s a full expression of their personality.” Rose says that because of this, watching classmates perform is one of the best parts of the contest.
Spectating isn’t only limited to participating students, however. This event is open to the public. High school students perform all day on Saturday, January 28. The junior level competition will occur on Saturday, February 4. Friends, family and lovers of music are all encouraged to attend in support of some of Bellingham’s finest, most passionate students of music.
