Clarinetist Megan Solleder stood under the bright lights of the Southwick recital hall, ready to compete in UVM’s annual Concerto Competition.
The moment she had been preparing and practicing relentlessly for brought a mix of nerves and a feeling of uncertainty about the result of her audition and what it could mean for the future of her music career.
“I definitely was nervous, but I knew that if I didn’t get it, I could audition again the next year,” Solleder said.
After performing her audition piece for the panel of judges, she would not have to wait long to learn the outcome. To her surprise, she received the results of the audition through email later that evening. She had won.
Winning the competition marked an important moment in Solleder’s musical journey. Solleder has been playing clarinet for twelve years, starting in fourth grade, and now practices at least an hour each day.
Additionally, she takes clarinet lessons with Steve Klimowski, an affiliate artist and adjunct clarinet professor in the UVM music department.
Solleder said she first picked up the clarinet with encouragement from her family, as music is a central part of their everyday life. Her father plays clarinet, while her mother and sister play the flute.
The Concerto Competition is organized within the College of Arts and Sciences by Dr. Yutaka Kono, the head of the music department.
A concerto competition is a tradition many college music programs follow that allows students to compete for a chance to perform an aria or concerto of their choice in front of an audience.
A concerto is a three-movement work that features an instrumental soloist accompanied by an orchestra. Students also have the opportunity to perform an aria instead, in which a vocal solo is accompanied by an orchestra.
Competing in the UVM Concerto Competition is an extensive process beginning in the fall semester, culminating in auditions that were held Nov. 25, where applicants were expected to prepare a concerto of their choice.
To qualify for an audition, UVM students are required to be taking private lessons from music faculty or participate in one of the department’s large ensembles, such as orchestra or concert band, according to the College of Arts and Sciences website.
Auditions were held in the Southwick recital hall, where students performed their selected works in front of a panel of judges, including Kono and Mark Alpízar, the music director of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association.
Solleder auditioned with “Konzert Nr. 1 f-Moll for Clarinet and Orchestra” by Carl Maria von Weber, a complicated piece she had been practicing since her freshman year of college.
“I like how dramatic it is. Weber’s in the Romantic era of music too, so there’s a lot of expression in it,” Solleder said.
As the upcoming concerto performance approaches, Solleder says she is experiencing a wide array of emotions, feeling both excited and nervous to take the stage.
“Playing a solo with an orchestra is very different than playing it with an accompanist. And I think it’s a really good opportunity for me to get experience performing because I’m a performance major,” Solleder said.
Performing on stage with a full orchestra brought on some nerves for Solleder.
“It’s kind of out of my comfort zone because there is going to be a lot of people in the audience, but I think it’s exciting to play with a full orchestra instead of just piano,” Solleder said.
Winning the competition also opens new opportunities for Solleder as a performer. In the future, Solleder plans on auditioning for summer music festivals, such as the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, to gain more experience.
After going through the process herself, Solleder encourages other musicians interested in participating in the Concerto Competition to give it a chance.
“If you’re interested, just go for it,” Solleder said.
UVM’s music department will host the concerto concerts, featuring Megan Solleder, on Saturday, April 11, in the UVM Recital Hall at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m respectively. The concerto concerts are free for students who wish to attend.
