The most amazing thing happened to me yesterday

[pencilart3]

Hi guys, so in one of my first 20 posts here, I asked what piece I should play for a competition. Only visitor responded Well anyway I didn't pick either his or the one I "decided" on because you had to pick a piece you can play with the orchestra just *in case* you win. The winner plays with the symphony orchestra. They also get a chunk of cash! So anyway, the competition was yesterday. It was supposed to be for Juniors and Seniors in high school but my teacher said I could do it as a sophomore. You must understand that the competition is for any instrument - string, wind, piano, etc... and it is STRING DOMINATED. In fact, a pianist hasn't won in 21 years. So anyway I was competing in it yesterday. I was playing the Larghetto movement of chopin f minor concerto. There were a lot of pianists in it this year which made the competition pretty stiff. So I got up there with my teacher (nervous as heck) and she played the intro, I did the little run at the beginning, and boldly played the first base note. It was wrong. I panicked! The first note, resonating in the pedal, was WRONG! There was stiffness in the room, nobody wanted to be there. I continued on, blundering left and right. Then I had a very short break while my teacher played a short orchestral interlude. I thought "You know what, I'm playing one of my favorite pieces by my favorite composer on this beautiful piano in this beautiful room and people are here to watch me play it. Why should I be nervous about that?" And then I continued on with confidence. I suddenly wasn't very nervous and I was playing all the notes perfectly. In fact, it was more musical than I had ever played it! I played the last note and the audience thundered in applause.  It was pretty cool. Well anyway nobody else in the entire competition made a mistake. In it there was this senior who had a ton of awards and even had a wikipedia page for his piano accomplishments. And then they announced the winner,

ME!

I was so stunned I couldn't even get up. I just slowly slinked over to the congratulator and took my place on stage. It was amazing. Then the symphony conductor was like "I'll stay in contact with you, that one looks like a fun one to conduct." Then the first violinist was like "How hard is the first violin part, do you know?" Then my teacher was like "Congratulations. We have work to do"

Well anyway, that was probably the most amazing thing that's happened on my piano journey so far. I look forward to playing with the orchestra, if you have any tips for orchestra playing, please let me know!!

[outin]

That's great, congratulations!

[piulento]

Wow, that's amazing! Congrats!
This just proves the old cliche that if you just play honestly, without giving a damn about anything else but the piano, you're sure to sound your best.

[pencilart3]

Thanks both of you

It's just a reminder that when things don't start off the best, or when they start off horribly, just get back on the horse

[dcstudio]

WOW!!!!!!!!

YOU ROCK


you had "the moment"  and  from this point forward you probably will have very little, performance anxiety... nervous anticipation, yes... but I bet that now you can't wait to perform this with the orchestra right?

nothing like it is there?  you are hooked now, Noah.  LOL  it is sooooo addicting.   

your future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

[kawai_cs]

Wow, great! Congratulations, Noah! So now you get to play this f concerto with an orchestra soon? It has been my favorite for many years.
I made a similar experience once. I was invited to a status meeting. I was quite happy I would just sit back for 90 minutes watching project managers sweat presenting carefully the status of their projects and could maybe even take a discrete nap Suddenly in the middle of the meeting I was requested to give status of my project (which was not in the agenda). I panicked because I was not really prepared for that and there were so many people there. And so many superiors... I remember that moment before I started speaking - I just surrendered - I thought ok, that's it. Now you are going to make a fool of yourself. And like with a magic stick, I was suddenly so calm and could remember everything and I was able to concentrate perfectly as well. I started speaking with a cool voice and I was actually pretty good  Unfortunately, I was not able to replicate this perfect coolness and concentration in public speeches afterwards.

Just like dcstudio said, I think you will  have no fear in your future performances so you have no choice now than to become a (renowned) pianist
It would be great to hear you play this concerto with an orchestra!

[rubinsteinmad]

Congratulations, pencilart3!  That is  my favorite concerto slow movement ever. OH MY GOSH I wish I could hear you play it, but unfortunately, I live a million miles away from North/South Dakota.
Oh well 

[pencilart3]

@DC

@Kawai yes I had that complete moment of panic where you can't think of anything, ANYTHING! And I am SOO EXCITED TO PLAY WITH THE ORCHESTRA! There will be hundreds of people watching and a super nice piano

@Rubinsteinmad thanks Maybe you can watch me play it someday on the chopin competition live stream

[pencilart3]

My friend recorded the end of the performance on his phone, so it's terrible quality. But here's a little piece of it

[dcstudio]

the quality might be poor but your talent still comes through loud and clear.  I am kinda speechless Noah... I have heard you play before but I have never heard THAT kind of playing from you.  The connection you made with this music is there even this short clip..  magic!

WOW  

[kawai_cs]

Beautiful! It was such a disappointment when 3rd movement did not follow 
Will you play the whole concerto with the orchestra?
You probably feel even more motivated than usually to practice these days? Or are you enjoying your success taking a little time off?

[pencilart3]

Aww thanks dc

Isabella, I only played the 2nd movement. I would LOVE to play the first movement someday though. Also the third. But I will only be playing the 2nd movement with the orchestra. Thanks for the kind words! And I am practicing more than ever before

[chopinlover01]

Noah, that clip is the best I've heard you play on any occasion. It sounds like the magic really did come through for you.
Best of luck to you, my friend!

[pencilart3]

Thank you Harrison, you're a great friend

[chopinlover01]

I shall increase this friendship by attempting to record something this week!
Potentially tomorrow after my lesson. But we shall see!

[suethemoon]

Hey would it happen to be this competition that you're talking about?

https://www.bhsymphony.org/youngartist.html
https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/young-musicians-compete-for-symphony-solo/article_8b3308e0-ebb9-5b55-841d-a41729ebf8de.html

[pencilart3]

@Sue uh... yeah haha

[visitor]

  !!!

[toughbo]

Honorable mention? Anyways, I thought you sounded very nice

[pencilart3]

@visitor 

Honorable mention? Anyways, I thought you sounded very nice

That was last year, I was in the junior one and I got honorable mention. This year I was in the real thing and I somehow won it haha

[suethemoon]

Nice job, playing with orchestra is one of the occasions pianists love performing in  .

[pencilart3]

Nice job, playing with orchestra is one of the occasions pianists love performing in  .

Oh I always love performing but this will be extra speical

[rubinsteinmad]

OMG THAT CHOPIN IS PROFESSIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is a reward for being a Christian.   HA, YOU ATHEIST SUCKERS!  

On the other hand, I feel like curling up and crying... OMG I wanna wash that b!tch teacher's mouth with laundry detergent.

You know what, yesterday I had a masterclass (in front of a huge audience) with Sirius Li (aka Yundi Li's long lost brother-in-law.) You know what he said?

"Emily [rubinsteinmad], you are like a guillotine; you murder every piece you touch."  

[pencilart3]

Seriousli, did you need to say that

What do you think of this rep, btw? It's final. 

[kawai_cs]

"Emily [rubinsteinmad], you are like a guillotine; you murder every piece you touch."  

Wait, that might not be such a bad thing. There is definitely something positive in this critique. He says like guillotine, that means you do have the means, he says murder, that means you have the energy. Maybe there is just too much rubinsteinmad in every piece.
 

[rubinsteinmad]

That is great!
The Opus 90 is better than I thought.

[pencilart3]

Wait, that might not be such a bad thing. There is definitely something positive in this critique. He says like guillotine, that means you do have the means, he says murder, that means you have the energy. Maybe there is just too much rubinsteinmad in every piece.
 

Kawai, she was joking. Don't you get the serious li part?

[dcstudio]

Kawai, she was joking. Don't you get the serious li part?

lol... serious li  --Yundi Li's brother...  he has two sisters ... Ug-li and Home-li, too.

[rubinsteinmad]

lol... serious li  --Yundi Li's brother...  he has two sisters ... Ug-li and Home-li, too.

lol

[lostinidlewonder]

I think winning is not what is so exciting but the fact that people believe in you and appreciate your craft, it is a great compliment and massive confidence boost that what we are doing is good. Many go through life never having any confirmation.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Very nice playing in the sample. Best of all, it has character. Well done!

[mjames]

the kind of thread that makes PS special. I love the atmosphere! Oh and job well done Pencil .

just remember to call me when you get famous, so you can hook me up with yuja wang etc

[rubinsteinmad]

just remember to call me when you get famous, so you can hook me up with yuja wang etc

How about Hannah Montana?

[mjames]

How about Hannah Montana?

if i had the chance I would. no doubt.

miley cyrus is a babe


wait crap

I can go to prison for talking to you like this.

DONT REPLY TO ME

[rubinsteinmad]

wait crap

I can go to prison for talking to you like this.

How? *starts my rare mischievous side

[pencilart3]

Very nice playing in the sample. Best of all, it has character. Well done!

Thanks ronde

the kind of thread that makes PS special. I love the atmosphere! Oh and job well done Pencil .

Thanks mjames! I agree, this is one of the better PS threads. How about you and rubinsteinmad don't hijack it

[rubinsteinmad]

if i had the chance I would. no doubt.

Then, sir, your sexual appetite is as big as the moon.
But don't worry, Catherine the Great's appetite was even bigger, yet she managed to hide dozens of her sexual exploits. And don't even mention Clara Schumann now... 

Though even I sometimes fantasize that I'm a famous singer (like Jackie Evancho) with a cute accompanist....

[kawai_cs]

Kawai, she was joking. Don't you get the serious li part?

Ups, that was embarrassing  
I have to stop pretending to myself I can handle multitasking haha

[pencilart3]

Ups, that was embarrassing  
I have to stop pretending to myself I can handle multitasking haha

ha ha I'm bad at multi tasking also lol

[cuberdrift]

Congratulations!

Your psychological re-conditioning, as I choose to call it (for lack of a better term), is something I think people like me need to master.

[jimroof]

Congratulations! 

I do not tell this to very many people, but 30 years ago I sang with the Metropolitan Opera...




... but the lady who was sitting next to me was not very appreciative...

[pencilart3]

Congratulations!

Your psychological re-conditioning, as I choose to call it (for lack of a better term), is something I think people like me need to master.

Thank you! What do you mean by that? You mean recovery in the middle of the performance?

Congratulations! 

I do not tell this to very many people, but 30 years ago I sang with the Metropolitan Opera...




... but the lady who was sitting next to me was not very appreciative...

Hahaha XD

[dcstudio]

You mean recovery in the middle of the performance?

judges love that.

thanks for winning this Noah and proving something I say around here all the time.   playing clean does not guarantee a win any more than missing a few notes will guarantee a loss.  It is the most musical and confident "presence" that will win every time.  A member on another thread stated that he would rather hear a clean "less-musical" performance rather than hearing a more musical rendition with a few bum notes.  This is a student mentality to only listen for accuracy and it is not one that is shared by the judging community as you now know first hand.

they were choosing someone to play with the orchestra as a soloist---stage presence counted for a whole lot in that particular competition.  They also wanted someone who clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves--and although I was not there I bet that your face was lit up like a Christmas tree the whole time.   All of that in addition to your badass playing won you that spot!

I also must confess that I am very excited for you Noah... it was just like hearing that one of my own students had won... it totally made my day. 

[themeandvariation]

Bravo Noah!
Your recording is very passionate and beautiful! 
How wonderful it will be to play with orchestra!
I am very Happy for you!