Concert Band Contest & Sightreading
This Monday, March 30th, I had the opportunity to perform with my school concert band at a music contest. It wasn’t just another performance day — it felt like one of those moments where everything we had been practicing for weeks suddenly came together under pressure, time limits, and the presence of judges listening to every detail.
We performed two prepared pieces: “Stay” and “Monetary.” From the very first note, there was this collective focus in the ensemble — like everyone was locked into the same rhythm of breathing, counting, and listening. It wasn’t just about playing the notes correctly, but about shaping the music together: balancing dynamics, matching articulation, and staying emotionally connected throughout the piece.
When the results came back for the prepared repertoire, we received 1s on both songs. Hearing that result felt incredibly rewarding because it reflected not just individual practice, but the hours of group rehearsals, corrections, and trying again after mistakes. It was a clear sign that our interpretation and execution met a very high standard.
After that came the sight-reading portion, which always feels like stepping into the unknown. We were given music we had never seen before and only a short amount of time to prepare it. In that moment, everything depended on quick thinking, musical instincts, and how well we could listen to each other instead of panicking individually.
We ended up receiving 1 – 1 – 2 from the judges in sight-reading. While it wasn’t perfectly uniform, it still reflected a strong performance overall, especially considering the difficulty of playing accurately on the spot without prior rehearsal. That one “2” honestly just shows how challenging sight-reading can be under pressure, and it became a reminder that even strong ensembles still have room to grow.
Looking back, the experience taught me more than just how to perform music. It reinforced the importance of teamwork, focus, and adaptability. In a concert band, success doesn’t come from one person playing perfectly — it comes from everyone adjusting, listening, and staying connected even when things feel uncertain.
Overall, this contest wasn’t just about ratings. It was about learning how to perform under pressure, trust the people around me, and stay composed in a high-stakes environment. I’m proud of what we achieved as a group, and even more motivated to keep improving for future performances.