M.V. Youth Selected To Perform With Orchestra Of So. Utah

By WESLIE STRATTON

Moapa Valley Progress

The Orchestra of Southern Utah has selected seven young soloists to feature in its annual Salute To Youth concert. And one of them is a Logandale teen-ager. Musicians between the ages of 13 and 25 were eligble to audition for the opportunity and 16-year-old Moapa Valley High School junior Aubrey Aikele was among the few selected.

After months of preparation and rehearsal Aikele was chosen as a piano soloist and looks forward to the opportunity to perform with the symphony in an upcoming Spring concert.

According to Aikele’s mother Marquessa the audition was a two-step process.
“You have to turn in an audio recording of your concerto with an accompanist,” she said. This step narrows down the number who are invited to audition in person.
“Only seven were selected to audition and [Aubrey] was the only pianist selected to do so,” Marquessa said.

Aubrey has been playing the piano since she was four years-old. Marquessa said that she loves it.
“My husband and I both play piano,” she said. “We always planned that our children would play the piano but we never forced them to compete.”

She said that Aubrey has always been really excited about competition and that she has also auditioned to solo with the Southwest Symphony and is currently waiting to hear back on their selections.
“It’s a great experience,” Marquessa said. “It took her about a year to have her piece ready.”
According to Aubrey she does solo competition along with audition preparation that results in six to seven hours of practice a day.

Aubrey studies with piano instructor Brandon Lee in St. George.
“We practice a lot on our lessons to make sure we could get our timing right with the orchestra in the background,” Aubrey said.

Aubrey will be performing the first movement of Concerto No. 2 by American composer, Edward MacDowell.
“My teacher gave me options that would suit me well and I chose the one I liked best,” she said of the piece.

Aubrey said that she gets nervous before competitions but that she felt comfortable during her audition.
“I kind of know that piece inside and out by now,” she said. “It’s easier to get nerves out before hand with practices.”

She said that opportunities like this are an important part of building a music portfolio for college.
“It’s also fun to talk about,” she added.

Aubrey also plays year-round tennis as well as playing in the jazz, pep and concert bands at school. She said that she has to stay focused to accomplish her schoolwork as well as extracurricular activities.
“We go to St. George for lessons so we do homework while we drive,” she said.

Aubrey will perform in the R.L. Halversen Young Artist Concert on April 11, 2019.