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1 • Wednesday, October 25, 2017 - The Independent-Register
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Tallman to return to Overture Center for State Honors performance By Ryan Broege EDITOR
Danielle Tallman, a senior at Brodhead High School, has been nominated to return to the Wisconsin State Musical Conference, where she will join her peers to perform on Thursday night. Along with her counterparts, Tallman endured an arduous audition process that turns away two young musicians for every one invited to join the group. In an email exchange last week, Tallman reflected on the audition process, her instrument, and what role music plays in her life. Tallman has played the tuba since fifth grade, and said she enjoys the sound, the music and how happy she feels playing the instrument. Tallman said her choice was likely surprising to her family, who expected her to play the flute, clarinet or trumpet, but is thankful to them for enduring some “horrendous sounding concerts,” she was assigned for perform before an audience. Tallman said she’s proud of her continually expanding repertoire. “The music gets harder, scales get faster, and my determination grows. “ Tallman’s account of the rehearsal process, held back in February, paints a painstaking picture: she was to memorize six scales, the chromatic scale (the one that plays every note low to high, and back again), a “Class A solo,” an ensemble-approved piece without any accompaniment, a WMSA piece to be read and performed on sight, and a soulless etude she was tasked to imbue
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Brodhead senior Danielle Tallman, pictured here with her marching band tuba, will perform with the state’s best young student musicians at the Overture Center on Oct. 26.
with a jolt of personality. Tallman described a “Class A solo” as a piece likely out of the reach of all but the serious devotees to an instrument. The pieces are “full of musical complexities” and require “practice, motivation, and perseverance” to perform. After performing the demand-
ing regiment of pieces, the judges deliberately withhold feedback or commiseration, instead maintaining straight faces while they scribble down notes and offer parting words such as “Thank you. You will hear from the WSMA in the next couple of months. Have a good day,” Tallman said.
“I left with a sick stomach, and heard the sounds of pencil on paper,” Tallman said. “It is a bittersweet moment when you leave. It is done, but the anxious feeling(s) start to build up, and I started critiquing my every move during the audition. Tallman is grateful to Brodhead High School band director Jason Ri-
esterer for his guidance and help in preparing for both the audition and performances. Riesterer said Tallman’s selection speaks for itself. “(Tallman) is super driven and had a goal to be part of this group,” he wrote in an email. “She worked extremely hard to achieve her goal.” “To be chose one time is a great accomplishment … to be chosen a second time really speaks volumes to who you are as a musician.” Tallman is planning on pursuing a career in nursing at a 4-year university after graduation, but said she will rely on lessons learned through her time playing the tuba. “There are almost too many things I learned from this. I learned that I have more capabilities than I could have ever imagined,” Tallman said. “I do not want to pursue musicfor a future career, though I have thought about it deeply. Music has made me the person I am today and … I will never forget what blissful memories that music has blessed me with. “If music was to ever be thought of being terminated in school curriculum, expect a big mess of a battle with me.” Tickets to the WSMA State Honors Project performance are available through the Overture Center Ticket Office. Visit http://www. over- ture.org/events, and click on WSMA High School State Honors Orchestra and Band Concert. The event will also be streamed online at wpt.org.
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