Kiara wishes to attend college after high school to pursue a major in flute performance, along with a "possible minor in music composition, a science, or art." Hopefully her experience as a Concerto Competition winner has and will help her in her decisions for her future, but she currently "aspire[s] to be a professional flautist," though more specifically for the "production of movie soundtracks."
Kiara chose to participate in the Concerto Competition "for the experience" and for "constructive feedback on [her] performance from an outside source." She was "most definitely" nervous while competing: "Whenever I play flute with piano accompaniment alone, my hands will often get icy cold and I get a shaky feeling. Makes it rather tricky to play fast runs and moving segments when your fingers are cold and stiff." Admitting she is "a bit nervous about the future performances," Kiara says she was "kind of shocked" when she learned she won the competition, but she "suppose[s]" she is "glad [she] did well."
Upon her instructor Ruth Giles' recommendation if Night Soliloquy, she was drawn to the dark tones and intrigued by the "mysterious quality" of the piece: "This piece isn't written in the style of most classical music. It sounds much more contemporary... This piece was challenging due to the fast ascending and descending runs... I tend to like pieces that give me an opportunity to push my limits." She is currently focused on perfecting the challenging piece: "... being nervous means I about the quality of my performance and bringing the piece to life for the audience. Hopefully being nervous will bring a mysterious quality and enhance the piece, as well as keep me focused."
So far, the only music competition Kiara has participated in has been this Concerto Competition. However, she is looking to participate in a flute competition called Laudie Porter later this Spring, along with a State High School Solo competition through her school, Mankato East High School.
Kiara is currently a Sophomore at Mankato East High School, and has been in MAYSO for three years, now. As she plans to stay in the organization until she graduates and "aging out," she still has a couple years left. She says she comes back not only for the music, but also for the people: "Really, it's the opportunity to make connections with other talented musicians and learn from one another." She enjoys that relaxed atmosphere of MAYSO, and Dr. Rodger's "stories, jokes, and YouTube recordings... I don't know how many languages Dr. Rodgers speaks, but certainly quite a few more than the average person."
Kiara is also part of MAYWE, the new winds ensemble directed by Dr. Amy Roisum-Foley, whom Kiara says "is very energetic and cheerful - she is always a happy person and makes the atmosphere light." She enjoys the group, saying it's a "very good place to practice with wind and percussion." Understandably, as it's in its first year, Kiara mentioned the MAYWE isn't big:
This year, we had a number of college students filling in spots, but I hope that won't always be the case (although we really did appreciate their help). I hope word of this great group will spread in the future and attract more interested students. Dr. Amy Roisum-Foley is great to work with and brings her own style and passion to direct this group.Kiara is appreciative of the experience she has gained playing in a "symphony group setting and at different venues," along with the "fabulous pieces" she has played: "The music that I play has... helped me to appreciate the music that I hear. It's kind of gotten to the point that whenever I'm walking somewhere, I'll start tapping out a rhythm on my legs from a band song, movie score, or musical, etc." Music plays a big part (flute part, of course, though she has recently taken up saxophone) in Kiara's life, saying it's "something important" to her: "I realized recently that I have been playing flute for more than half my life."
Kiara's other activities include her school's jazz band, for which she is playing the alto saxophone, as opposed to jazz flute in her junior high years. She has also been a flute soloist, a member of stage crew for her high school, and a part of a pit band for a Bethany Lutheran College performance of Music Man. Last Summer, she also participated in tennis and Summer pop's camps. Musically, she participates in three school bands, MAYSO and MAYWE, and Pop's camps, so "spend[s] a lot of time with [her] flute." In addition to the ensembles, she has been taking private lessons with Ruth Giles for the last eight years, beginning with a "curved head joint Gemeinhardt flute and progress[ing] from there over time." She also takes advantage of solo opportunities and performs recitals.
For the saxophone, she "chose it because [she] wanted to play in jazz band during high school ... [She] also wanted to be able to play in 'pit band', [which] the alto sax would allow [her] to double in the pit which is often needed." Besides one lesson to learn the basics, the saxophone is self-taught for Kiara, and she is currently wanting "to improve on controlling [her] sound and getting more proficient in appropriate fingerings."
For prospective students, Kiara says,"Basically, just practice, practice, practice. Listen to great performances/performers, and most importantly, just relax and have fun!" She first joined when her private flute instructor told her that MAYSO had been looking for flautist: "[She] thought the experience would provide greater opportunity and range of experience in playing with a group. I decided that I would get the music and give it a try, and I've been here since. I suppose she's figured out by now that she was right -- thank you."
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