Who are the people that made me stay in the orchestra and keep playing?
There are numerous people who have made me stay playing in both orchestras and on my instruments.
One of those people would have to be Vanessa Cleophat. We’ve been best friends since seventh grade. We actually met through the sinfonia orchestra when we were both in middle school. She played the violin, and I played the viola. I never would have thought that music, the passion that we both have, would bring our friendship together. She would be amazed and always come to Norman to support me in my music journey. As of now, she’s still doing music but is a part of her choir at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. She was one of the few people to play in the OU Civic Orchestra. She is majoring in psychology with a minor in music. She graduated from Lawton Academy of Arts and Science.
Another person that made me play in the Civic Orchestra is Ciara Mariano. She attended MacArthur Senior High School. We actually did an all-region orchestra in high school, and she plays the harp. When I see her play gracefully and majestically, I fall in love with the harp even more. She has asked me to come to her recital that she was having at Catlett Music Center. I said sure, I would love to, and she played the harp for five years. Actually how we met is by an all-region concert that me and her are part of. She played a solo she played called “Esperance” by Catherine McDaniel. It was her senior year and my junior year. She is from my hometown, Lawton, Oklahoma. Her solo was so beautiful. Now that I see her at OU, for the first time in two years, was amazing!! I didn’t recognize her for a second until she came up to me and recognized me. My heart was full of joy when I saw her! Even when seeing her, I am excited for the performance that me and her are going to play next year. The piece that we are playing is “Sicilienne” by Gabriel Faure, arranged by Dewey Owens. (It will be on violin, instead of flute).
In conclusion, these two people are ones that I’ll never forget. The amount of love for music that they both have is my respect. Thank you to you both.