11 Algonquin musicians will perform in the Central Districts Music Ensemble on Jan. 17 after a vigorous audition and rehearsal process.
These students prepared a piece and performed it in front of a judge, along with performing scales and sight-reading exercises. After two long and rigorous rehearsals, the musicians will perform on Saturday at Mechanics Hall in Worcester in the orchestra, band and choir. Nine of the musicians will also go on to audition for the All-State Concert Ensemble to perform at Symphony Hall in Boston.
The audition process requires a lot of hard work. Junior Sedra Alani, who got selected for the flute and has participated in Central Districts since seventh grade, spent a lot of time preparing.
“I made sure I was comfortable with the piece over the summer so that when school started, I could just focus on some trouble spots and work on it,” Alani said.
By the time the audition neared, Alani was practicing for an hour or two a day, but for a high reward, as she received an All-State recommendation. Sophomore Sydney Pitcavage is another student who received an All-State recommendation for the choir.
“[Districts] benefits me because it teaches me a lot about sight reading and working with a lot of people singing at the same time,” Pitcavage said.
Compared to the Algonquin music program, the Central District’s one looks different, as the rehearsals are much more fast-paced.
“The big difference [between the rehearsals at Districts and at Algonquin] is that at Algonquin, we practice every single day, and we work on it for a really long time before the concert,” Pitcavage said. “It’s a harder situation because of the limited rehearsal time.”
With the constraints of only two rehearsals, every musician has to be assiduous and persevering in their performance.
“Since everyone is super passionate about music, we’re able to be as efficient as we are at Algonquin,” Alani said.
Choir teacher Olivia Goliger is one of the advisers for students and helps them prepare for their audition.
“My job is to make sure that the students have the music, and to know what’s expected of them,” Goliger said. “I help them prepare by helping them out with the music, giving them sight reading examples or just walking them through what the process is like,”
Even with a lot of guidance, auditioning for Central Districts can also be extremely difficult and stressful for students.
“[The most difficult part] is the nerves of knowing they have to go and audition,” Goliger said. “It’s really scary, especially as a vocalist, because you are the instrument, and so there’s a level of vulnerability that isn’t there with an instrument in front of you.”
Though Goliger thinks the process is difficult, she also thinks that it is highly rewarding, and can even be a life-changing experience.
“Even just from auditioning, they get the chance to practice resilience, whether the answer is yes or no,” Goliger said. “Putting themselves through that is obviously a skill, and it can be a beneficial thing to do. If you actually get into districts, the opportunity to make high level music with like minded people is one of the best experiences.”
As someone who has continuously done Central Districts, Alani has gained a lot from the experience.
“[Districts] gives me a chance to set goals for myself…and practice a lot more advanced music, whether it’s the audition music or the stuff that we play in the orchestra,” Alani said.
For people auditioning in the coming years, Alani suggests that students should play like they deserve to be there, because the only competition they have is themselves. Goliger also gives notable advice to future auditionees.
“Just go for it,” Goliger said. “The worst they can say is not yet, and you don’t know that unless you try.”
