Concert writes music of harmony, unity for city to sing as one

Athletes all throughout the district and surrounding areas climb the mountain to state every year; setting new records, new wins, and personal goals. From soccer to tennis, and every sport in between, it is not uncommon to see a student compete at such a high level. However, others make the summit through a different activity. Senior Michael Tang reached rarified air as a member of the WSMA (Wisconsin School Music Association) symphony orchestra. This orchestra requires student musicians to audition for their respective groups, such as orchestras, bands, or choirs. 

“I had to prepare a solo that I would have to perform in front of a judge,” Tang said. “After that, they would let us know if we got in or not. This was for the general orchestra. For the front-row chair, I had a separate one-minute solo audition.”

After a set of successful auditions, Tang claimed the exclusive title of concertmaster. 

“I was responsible for leading the orchestra, specifically the first violin section,” he said. “Every time before we rehearsed, I would go up and tune the orchestra.”

Such honors spring from a genuine passion for what the senior does.

“I play the violin, and I’ve been playing for over 11 years,” he said. “I really like playing the violin because it gives me a time where I can step away,  just play, and not really think about school. I can let out a lot of my emotions while playing.”

Passionate concertmasters need to embody this sort of mindset. It is a responsibility Tang has come to cherish.

“Being a concertmaster for the orchestra is very special to me, and I’m very honored to have that position out of the many great violinists that are also in this orchestra,” he said.

Tang got to know and grow with these musicians for only about a week at a music camp during the summer.  

“We first got together in June, and we rehearsed for four days,” he said. “Then we rehearsed for about six hours a day. After that, we went home and practiced on our own until October, when we got back together to have the final group rehearsals before the actual performance.”

This is how a typical large-group orchestra functions, something Tang has grown familiar with over the years. However, this was the first time that he had experienced a performance of this size, especially in a music hall as large as the Overture. 

“Right when I walked into the concert hall, I looked up and I was just stunned because of how big the hall really was,” he said. “Especially when the people started filling up the seats, I really saw how many people were there.”

Despite the size of the environment and the nerves, orchestra teacher and Oshkosh Youth Symphony Orchestra director Yukiko Grine has faith in Tang’s performance.

“He has natural leadership qualities, and I think that’s always been evident in his playing,” she said. “He’s not afraid to play out or make mistakes, and that’s one of the things that he’s developed over the years. Those skills have really helped him become the strong leader he is today.”

Grine has been teaching Tang for about 10 years and has witnessed his growth firsthand.

“The first time I worked with Micahel was in fourth or fifth grade, in the Philharmonia orchestra of the Youth Symphony program,” she said. “He has advanced a whole lot since he was little, but even then you could see that he was motivated to achieve and get better. You could tell that he enjoyed playing and that he was going to continue to play.” 

Grine has been a lasting source of inspiration throughout Tang’s life and has helped push him in the right direction.

“She helped me get a new violin that I could use,” he said. “I was using a rental violin and the quality wasn’t as great, so she gave me a nicer violin I could use.”

However, Tang’s biggest idol is his older brother, Nathaniel, who is also a violinist.

“My older brother inspires me the most,” he said. “He’s taught me to keep playing more in general. He’s a piano performance major at Lawrence University, and the amount he practices motivates me to want to as well.”

However, dedicating so much time to one activity comes with challenges. Many musicians, including Tang, struggle with the idea of perfectionism and have to learn how to deal with mistakes. 

“The biggest challenge I have faced while playing violin is understanding that nothing is perfect,” he said. “No matter how much I practice, I’m still going to make errors, and that’s okay.”

Pushing through this barrier has led Tang to commit to playing, even after his high school years come to an end.

“I'm definitely going to continue playing violin,” he said. “I’ve been playing for so long, I think it would be a waste to just stop playing. I hope to play in college and probably play in the orchestra.”

Determination and perseverance are key when it comes to any hobby or skill. For musicians specifically, Grine urges younger students to keep going, just as she saw 10 years ago with Tang.

“I hope that young musicians continue studying music either in school or, if they have the chance, to study with a private teacher,” she said. “Even if they don’t play music after high school, I hope they continue to be lifelong appreciators and consumers of it.”

Tang has similar feelings and hopes that he can inspire others to keep doing what they truly want to do.

“Keep practicing and listening to other great violinists and try to mimic them,” he said. “You just have to keep pushing through all the struggles and just keep doing what you love.”

by Delaney Smith and Len Kloss

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue III

November 28 2022