On Friday, Feb. 7, student musicians performed at this year’s Solo and Ensemble Festival, an event that allows performers to present solo or small-group pieces for professional adjudicators and receive detailed feedback on their musicianship.
Unlike performing in a full orchestra or band, Solo and Ensemble requires students to rely heavily on individual preparation, interpretation, and communication within smaller groups.
For many performers, such as junior Carmela Madrigal, the experience represents months—or even years—of work.
“For me, command performance reflects all my hard work I’ve dedicated to violin, such as all the years I had private lessons and the commitment and discipline I have to practice and preparation for the performance,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal also noted the benefit of the process in helping her grow as a musician.
“This year’s adjudicator gave way more in-depth feedback for me to take away,” she said.
Senior Kevin Jones, who performed in the only band ensemble to earn a Command Performance, emphasised the independence the festival offers students.
“The significance of Solo and Ensemble is the ability to choose our own group and piece, as well as gaining personalised feedback from adjudicators, allowing us to improve,” Jones said.
Preparation for the festival often requires both individual practice and frequent rehearsals.
“Preparation looked like frequent group rehearsals,” Jones said of his group’s efforts. “We would typically focus on maintaining similar intonation, good tone, and blending properly with each other. The day of the performance, as to not ruin our chops, we would play a chorale in the same key and tune before performing.”
Students also see the festival as an opportunity to perform music they have invested significant time in preparing.
“The significance for me is the opportunity to perform with friends or perform a piece you’ve been practicing for a long time,” Madrigal said. “It’s definitely a performance I look forward to.”
Orchestra director Amber Petersen highlighted the broader educational value of the event, noting that it encourages students to take ownership of their musicianship.
“Solo and Ensemble Festival supports our students to work on repertoire outside of the classroom literature that we learn as a class,” Petersen said. “When a student is the only person playing one of the musical lines, they must learn how to be an interdependent performer for success.”
Petersen also emphasised the importance of working with professional clinicians.
“The opportunity to have an outside expert offer critique and feedback is great for developing musically,” she said.
Petersen expressed pride in her students’ efforts.
“I was proud of all of my students,” said Petersen. “Everyone showed up, tried their best, and grew from the opportunity. I feel that BHS was well-represented by our music department.”
She also acknowledged the adjudicators who contributed their time and expertise.
“I am grateful to Gregory Robins and Amy McGuire, both sought-after adjudicators, for travelling to our festival to share their expertise,” Petersen said.
Audiences will have another opportunity to hear student musicians at the Spring Concert on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the PPAC.
