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"MacArthur High School senior Lauren Gutheridge is shooting
for the stars after graduation, hoping to eventually become an
astronaut. But during her time on earth, she's making music that is out
of this world." summarizes Malinda Rust (Education), The Lawton Constitution.
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| MacArthur High School student Lauren Gutheridge plays one of two etudes
that landed her a spot in the Oklahoma Musical Educators Association’s
All-State Wind Ensemble during auditions earlier in December. Photo: The Lawton Constitution |
Gutheridge was recently selected as one of only 60 members
of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OMEA) All-State Band Wind
Ensemble. She will play the oboe as second chair during a special
concert next month an experience she is anxiously anticipating.
"I'm so excited," she said, closing her eyes and imagining the heavenly sound she and fellow musicians will be creating.
Participation in the OMEA wind ensemble requires months of
training and practice. Prior to the first audition in November, she
learned two special pieces of music and spent hours practicing her sight
reading an activity that requires musicians to play a
never-before-seen piece of music after just 30 seconds of review.
Gutheridge trained even more prior to her final audition in December,
and now she will spend the next four weeks perfecting about a half a
dozen musical selections before the OMEA All-State Convention, at which
she and the other high school students from the state will practice
together before their concert Jan. 23 at the Tulsa Performing Arts
Center.
MacArthur music teacher Larry Hatch said it is a
tremendous honor reserved for exceptional young musicians. Only 51
students from MacArthur have qualified for an All-State band seat since
the school opened in 1969, and Gutheridge is the only student in Lawton
to qualify for any instrumental spot this year.
Even though this is her
first time qualifying in band (she was an alternate last year), Hatch
said Gutheridge, who often trains with private oboe instructors from the
area, has been a phenomenal, multi-talented musician for many years.
In fact, she has already performed in the OMEA All-State
Choir twice as a sophomore and junior. She qualified for the all-state
choir again this year, but because of the convention's practice
schedules, she had to choose between band and vocal music performances
as a senior.
"It's unusual for a student to qualify in both choir and band," Hatch said.
Gutheridge said she chose to join the wind ensemble to
expand her realm of experience. She practically shudders recalling the
beautiful sounds she and fellow singers created during the previous
concerts and said she wants to experience making a different, yet
comparable joyful noise alongside an entire group of talented young
musicians. She's already been listening to some of the selections,
dreaming about how they will sound and longing to play multiple
instruments in the band as a result.
Gutheridge said music is a stress reliever. Sure, the
high-stakes auditions can be nerve-racking, but music has always
provided her with a creative outlet to manage everything from ennui to
elation.
Source: The Lawton Constitution
