Solo and Ensemble Festival elicits student talent

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Burroughs High School music students showcased their talents at the SCSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival, hosted at Burroughs.
The event challenges musicians to perform in small groups or as soloists for professional adjudication. Unlike performing in a full band or orchestra, these ensembles require heightened individual responsibility, communication, and musical expression.
Several Burroughs students received the highest honor, a Superior Command Performance, demonstrating the dedication and skill they put into their performances. After the adjudication, musicians who received this score performed their pieces in a concert, held in the PPAC.
For many students, performing in a smaller group was a unique challenge that required intense preparation and focus.
“Playing in a duet took a lot more focus and practice than playing with an orchestra,” said junior Angelina Placencia, a violinist who performed “Suite in A Major” by Antonin Dvorak. “In a smaller ensemble, your part means more, so it requires communication, dedication, and focus to stay together and give the music expression.”
Earning a Superior Command Performance required rigorous prep.
“I would focus on the harder parts of the music and play it repeatedly until I got it down,” said Placencia. “My piece had difficult rhythms which made it challenging to learn.”
Trombonist Leon Almanzar, a junior, performed in a seven-person band ensemble and emphasized the difficulty of balancing sound in a small group.
“Our instrumentation made it crucial that we played clearly and precisely, as any single instrument has the potential to muddy up the sound of the other six,” Almanzar explained. “Being in a smaller group made us have to focus more on the fundamentals of being in a band.”
Junior Patrick Boggs, an alto sax player, echoed this sentiment.
“This experience taught me to work harder to blend into a group,” said Boggs. “It also gave me an opportunity to develop my skills on a more personal level, being one of a few rather than part of a large ensemble.”
For students who received a Superior Command Performance rating, the recognition was both surprising and deeply rewarding.
“My reaction was initially shock, which then faded into pride for our group,” said trumpet player John Baronowski, a senior. “We put in so much work, so to see it pay off was very rewarding. It’s amazing to see how we have gotten better each year as musicians, and I could think of no better way to cap off my high school band experience than with this honor.”
Junior Gabriel Garcia was part of the same group.
“The anticipation and exhilaration were extreme,” said Garcia, a trumpet player. “Yet the instant we began playing, everything fell into place. It was an unforgettable experience—one that not only deepened our connection as musicians to music but also reaffirmed our friendship with each other.”
The Solo and Ensemble Festival is more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity for musicians to develop independence and refine their skills.
Orchestra Director Amber Petersen emphasized the importance of students preparing their pieces largely on their own.
“I played a backseat role, allowing students to select, rehearse, and perform their selections for their peers,” Petersen said. “The Solo and Ensemble Festival is significant because it creates more ‘real-world’ experiences for our musicians. I hope that following graduation, our students continue to engage in music, whether through solo performances or small ensembles.”
She also highlighted the value of receiving feedback from professional musicians.
“When a musician has the opportunity to receive feedback on their performance, they should always jump at the opportunity,” she said. “Having critique from an expert is an important way to continue to develop and refine musical skills.”
Local audiences can hear these musicians at the Burroughs Orchestra Spring Concert on May 13 and the Band Spring Concert on May 15 at 6:30 pm in the PPAC.