Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday Shantell!

We Love You!

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!

The title of this entry is actually a quote by Winston Churchill that I love to use with my children. When life gets them down it is so important that they persevere and NEVER give up.

She performed:

Chopin's Concerto in E Minor

Opus 11

Shantell had her Concerto competition over the weekend. She was well prepared and during her scheduled warm-up time she played flawlessly. As she began the concerto she played with great skill and beauty. The first phrases were critical and she executed them with precision and ease. As she continued I was in awe at the maturity level of her playing. She played with great expression and sensitivity for a youth of her age, but it was not to be this time. Three-quarters of the way through her piece her mind went blank. She dropped out for a few bars but was able to jump back in and finish triumphantly, however the mistake cost her the competition. Shantell was devastated at first but has since realized that this was a great learning experience for her. I am pleased to say that she has already started preparing for her next upcoming competition.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing,
but in rising up every time we fail.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

On To The Finals

This weekend Shantell participated in the

Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Young Artist Competition

and was invited back to compete

in the finals in two weeks.

This is a very prestigious honor.

She performed:

Chopin's Concerto in E minor Op.11

Congratulations Shantell on a job well done!

Piano Merit Scholarship

Shantell won the TMTA Merit Scholarship Audition over the weekend with the following selections:

• Sonata in F Minor Op. 57 by Beethoven
• Danza del gaucho matrero from Danzas Argentinas by Ginastera

Both are exciting pieces that take a lot of energy to perform. I love Beethoven and am learning to appreciate Ginastera more. His music can be very dissonant, yet exciting. This particular Ginastera piece is what I like to call a "WOW" piece. A "WOW" piece is one that sets you on the edge of your seat and draws you in. It fills you with excitement and captivates your full attention. It is almost guaranteed that at the end of the performance your jaw will drop open and the only word you can utter is, "WOW!"

There was a small group gathered outside of the audition room listening as Shantell played. When she came out of the room a woman came up to her and said, "WOW, WOW!" and then she walked away. Shantell and I looked at each other and chuckled.

Bravo!

Shantell had her piano debut Saturday evening

with the Tucson Civic Orchestra playing

Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor.

Rather than describe the whole evening,

we invite you to watch her.

She gave a remarkable performance!

Thank you to all who came to support her.

Bravo Shantell!

Arizona All-State Choir

The results are in from the Arizona All-State auditions

held Saturday, March 14th.

SHANTELL made the ALL-STATE choir as a Freshman!

We are so excited for her, however there is a conflict. She recently won the "Young Artist's Competition" playing Robert Shumann's Piano Concerto in A minor and has been asked to be the featured soloist with the Tucson Civic Orchestra on the same day as the All-State performance. We will just have to see what happens.

CONGRATULATIONS SHANTELL
We Love You!

Shantell Performs

This past weekend Shantell performed at the Southeast Region Music Festival. In order to participate in this elite choir hundreds of youth throughout the region gathered at the University of Arizona to audition in January. Each student chose and prepared a solo and then sightread before a judge. Only 25 vocalists were chosen for each voice part and so it was a great honor to be selected. Winning not only allows them to participate in the regional choir, but to also audition for the All-State Choir .

This is Shantell's first experience auditioning with her voice and she did amazingly well. As a Freshman she placed 6th in the region. Kudos Shantell!!!

The concert was amazing! What a wonderful opportunity it was for these young men and women to work under the direction of Dr. David Lunt, former director of Choral Activities at Eastern Arizona College. Not only was he full of energy, enthusiasm and love for music but he had wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement for the kids as well. The program began with the choir singing Consecrate The Place and Day. This was performed in surround sound with the choir encircling the audience. The effect was incredible. The end of the performace was just as spectacular with the choir singing the magnificent piece, Battle Hymn of the Republic. Our whole family enjoyed being together and we couldn't help but laugh as Brigitta sat and conducted the choir right along with Dr. Lunt.

Pictures were not allowed during the performance, however I was able to take a few outside of the auditorium under great protest from everyone.

Shantell and her niece, Tatianna

Shantell and Brigitta with their niece, Arianna

Shantell Won!

On January 17th Shantell competed in the Young Artist's Competition and won 1st place. She performed the first movement of Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor Opus 54. She has been invited to perform with the Tucson Civic Orchestra as the featured soloist in April. She is an amazing young woman and we are so excited for her.