Senior Spotlight: Helen Freeman, flute
Miranda Martin Southwood
What is your current AYPO orchestra and ensemble?
AYP, Chamber Ensemble
What AYPO ensembles have you played in and for how long?
I've played in both AYP and the Chamber Ensemble Program for 3 years.
Your advice for young musicians?
The best advice I could give would be to make everything as easy as possible for yourself. Listen to the piece before hand, write in accidentals before you miss them, practice anything that looks tricky! More meaningful progress is made when you aren't worried about what could go wrong and that giving yourself help allows you to grow as a musician; you aren't cheating for making something more simple. Also, the more horrible, embarrassing, loud mistakes that you make, the more confidence you'll have for the future. Trust me, I play the piccolo.
What college/university do you plan on attending this fall?
The Eastman School of Music; Flute Performance
A favorite, or memorable AYPO experience?
Although virtual orchestra wasn't the most fun for anyone, the woodwind section and our (rather spectacular) group chat made it possible for us to be closer than ever which was truly memorable.
What do you hope to do after graduation or your more long-term goals?
I'd love to one day play in a professional orchestra and perform with a chamber ensemble of my own. Also, I'd like to continue my education beyond my undergraduate studies and be a flute professor at a college or conservatory someday!
What musician, conductor, or orchestra inspires you and why?
I've always been really inspired by flutist James Galway. Even though people (including myself) don't always prefer his interpretations, he has an incredibly intentional style that makes his playing both recognizable and personal, a skill that I hope to develop further as I continue my studies. Of all the flute playing I've listened to, his tone is my absolute favorite; my mom and I always joke that if I just play with his tone, the rest won't really matter!
What additional memories or advice would you like to share?
This is your sign to write in that one accidental you've been missing for weeks but haven't marked.