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Practice, Practice, Practice?

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Marc Dinitz
Washington, D.C. --  Q: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? 
A: Get invited by your High School.  

It isn't every day that musicians get the chance to perform, let alone solo, at New York's famed Carnegie Hall, but that is exactly the opportunity Technical Sgt. Kristin Bowers received in March. Bowers, principal clarinetist in the Concert Band, was invited to perform on the renowned concert stage as an alumni soloist with the Downers Grove North High School Band from Downers Grove, Illinois. 

In the process of planning a performing trip to the Northeast, Bowers' band alma mater had uncovered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  A last-minute cancellation had created an opening in Carnegie Hall's concert schedule, and, after sending in an audition tape and having their proposed repertoire approved by the hall's artistic committee, the group was invited to perform. It was then that the band's directors decided that they needed a world-class artist to join them on stage as a soloist to strengthen the program.  

Bowers received a call from Brayer Teague, her former band director at the school, who asked her if she would be willing and able to join the group. After supplying Teague with a list of possible pieces she could learn and perform, Teague selected "Black Dog," a piece by Scott McAllister which was inspired by the Led Zeppelin song of the same name. The work features the clarinet in the role of the "lead singer" and requires the soloist to tackle extremely technical patterns while showing off the extreme high and low ranges of the instrument. "I was secretly hoping he wouldn't pick that piece, because it's a really tough solo," whispers Bowers with a grin, who added that in reality she does enjoy the work and is glad she was able to perform it.  

Bowers was able to rehearse her solo at her old high school last December, while in Chicago with The U.S. Air Force Band to attend an international music convention. But, when it came time for the performance in New York, things became a little more problematic. Bowers, who was performing with the Concert Band in Salt Lake City two days before her Carnegie concert, was scheduled to fly to New York to rehearse with the Downers Grove group the day before the show. Due to bad weather in New York, however, her flight was diverted to Detroit, where she had to spend the night. After a few hours of rest, Bowers boarded a flight the next morning to New York and met the group for a 20-minute rehearsal a few hours before her Carnegie debut. "I can't say I wasn't a little stressed out and totally exhausted," says Bowers. "Thankfully, as I began to play on that historic stage I was able to forget all of the crazy travel and focus on the music and the moment."       

When it came time for the performance, the group of high school students played a terrific concert, and Bowers was very grateful to be included in the musical celebration. Her piece garnered a great reaction from the large audience, and she even got to perform with the band on the concluding selection, a jazz arrangement of "Rhapsody in Blue." She acknowledges that this experience was special and is very grateful that she was able to take part.  "Being asked to solo with my old high school was quite an honor," says Bowers, "but obviously taking the show to Carnegie Hall was a highlight. Not many musicians, professional or young students, get the opportunity to perform there, and I feel lucky to be one of them."