Junior Rachel Chau reaches down to take her violin out of her case. She stands up in front of an empty room, waiting to be heard by three different judges from three different categories. She takes the smooth, shiny wooden instrument into her arms and carefully begins to play. Beautiful flowing music begins to come from the violin; the song is familiar because Chau has been practicing it for months waiting for this moment. After this audition, Chau will remember this moment for the rest of her life, because she was selected as first seat violinist for senior districts.

Many musicians like Chau would be overjoyed at the thought of being chosen as first seat violinist. A lot of talented musicians from around this area auditioned for senior districts, and it is an honor to be recognized at an elite level.

“It felt incredible,” Chau said. “I’ve been doing this audition process for a while now, and I never thought that I would get [the] first seat because there are so many amazing players that audition.”

Chau has been practicing and playing the violin since third grade. Even though preparing for senior districts can be time-consuming and stressful, she really enjoyed it.

“Playing the violin is something that I do to relax, and it is also a way to bond with my friends,” Chau said.

In order to prepare for senior districts, Chau worked on her tone and improving her sound. It took an incredible amount of effort to prepare for that audition moment. Fortunately, she already knew what to expect from the auditions, because she was chosen as third seat violinist last year.

“I prepared a lot by practicing, recording myself and basically just improving my tone,” Chau said.

Another great accomplishment that Chau achieved was being recommended for all-states. To be recommended, one must be selected for the front section, and receive a high score from judges. Not all musicians selected for senior districts are recommended for all states, so for Chau, it is an impressive accomplishment.

Chau enjoys playing the violin so much that she wants to continue playing it in college. Music has been a big part of her life for a long time, and she wants to continue playing.

“I don’t think I’m going to [play] professionally, but it’s definitely a hobby and something that defines me,” Chau said.