The One-Man Symphony Orchestra by Roger

The One-Man Symphony Orchestra by Roger - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my education in the Easton Area School District in Easton, PA, I have been a part of many different groups. From instrumental, to musical, to religious and healthcare, I believe I have put hard work into each one of these different groups. However, one does stand out in particular, and that would be earning a spot in my high school’s Senior Recital and performing my one-man Symphony Orchestra (consisting of eighteen instruments!) with solo piano of the La La Land Epilogue. I had been preparing for this audition and recital for seven months prior to the actual performance which took 467 video takes and 117 days of practicing and recording. During the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to search for warm-ups and techniques on YouTube for my multiple instruments, and I remember practicing for 4 hours almost every day. I had a lot of fun and enjoyment improving on so many instruments, but there were a plethora of downsides, too. I remember countless days and nights where I would cry and doubt myself in my practice room because no matter how hard I tried, or how much time I spent, I could just never get this certain passage correct. I felt so unmotivated from music that I would sometimes feel like “Why am I doing this? Why do I even like this?” To exacerbate these negative thoughts, I also suffer from carpal and radial tunnel syndromes that cause pain whenever I play with improper posture and/or technique.

That entirely changed on May 16th, 2023 when I successfully performed my project in front of a live audience. Getting to play along with videos of myself playing so many different instruments over the past seven months was truly an experience I will never forget. The emotions I felt playing that first C# to ending on the C fermata after having played for 9.5 minutes were truly indescribable. All my hard work in solitude at home practicing finally paid off, and I am so glad I was able to express my love and enjoyment of music with numerous of my closest friends and family.

Even though I may not be studying music at University, I have learned numerous lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today. This achievement of performing my One-Man Symphony Orchestra will support my career in being the highest accomplishment (other than making nationals on the French Horn) where I truly saw in real life reaping the rewards of what you sow. This can apply to anything in life, as I will be studying Nutrition and Dietetics. I will have countless nights doing homework where I ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Why do I feel like this?” just as I did in my practice room. However, having experienced this, I will keep true and devoted to my craft of nutrition with the goal of one day experiencing the same indescribable feelings I felt when performing my project.

Music has taught me more about myself than any other aspect of my life, and I am forever grateful for it.