Selah Dowell performs with Michigan Pops Orchestra

MELINDA MEI STAFF WRITER

Selah Dowell, sophomore, takes a bow with the talented Michigan Pops Orchestra on the Michigan Theatre stage, with the filled audience clapping loudly.

Dowell has been playing violin since she was four years old. Most kids are forced into instruments by their parents – but not Dowell; beginning the violin was Dowell’s own decision. Even at the young age of four, she took initiative to go for what she wanted.

“There was this threeyear-old girl on TV,” Dowell said. “She was playing the violin and I was like, ‘I’m going to play the violin now.’”

Dowell currently plays in the Huron Symphony Orchestra, the highest level orchestra at Huron High School.

Director Timothy Krohn posted information in the bulletin about an opportunity to audition for playing with the Michigan Pops Orchestra, and Dowell took the chance.

At the time, she was playing the Mendelssohn Concerto First Movement. However, the previous winner played that piece, so Dowell had to pick a different one.

“I was stuck,” Dowell said.

Luckily, her teacher Danielle Belen, professor at the University of Michigan, was there to help. She told Dowell to play the Symphonie Espagnole 1st movement by Édouard Lalo, which Dowell had been preparing in December for the collage concert.

“Before my teacher told me that I was going to play [my chosen piece], I had no idea it even existed,” Dowell said. “But now it’s my favorite piece on violin to play.”

Dowell has been studying with Belen since Dowell was eight years old.

“She’s the best teacher I’ve ever had,” Dowell said.“I couldn’t ask for a better teacher.”

The initial step of the audition was an online recording. About fifteen people did the pre-recording, and roughly half made it to the live audition.

After making it into the live audition,

Dowell began intensive preparation. She typically practices an hour a day, but the week before the audition, she started increasing her practice hours.

“I remember one day I practiced for four and a half hours,” Dowell said.

“I would record myself and listen back to it. I would also practice really slowly. I was going through each measure really slowly for intonation.”

Dowell made her room “a vibe” to keep practicing fun.

“I would turn off the light in my room, and turn on my fairy lights,” Dowell said.

As the live audition came up, Dowell felt well-prepared, but she was still nervous.

“I was nervous because that mattered the most,” Dowell said. “It determined whether I would get to play with [the orchestra].”

Right before the audition, a mishap occurred that spiked Dowell’s nerves. She forgot her rosin. Dowell ended up knocking on a random door and borrowing another person’s rosin.

“But then my hands were all sticky and I was scared it would mess me up because I couldn’t shift as well,” Dowell said.

Despite her sticky hands, Dowell performed well.

“There were a few intonation spots that weren’t perfect, but it was the best I could have done,” Dowell said. “I was telling myself that I wasn’t going to win so I wouldn’t be too disappointed if I didn’t win.”

A few days later, Dowell received an email with the results. She had won the competition and would be featured in a Michigan Pops Orchestra concert. On April 8th, Dowell performed the Symphonie Espagnole 1st movement with the Pops

Orchestra accompanying her.

“My mom sent me the email when I was at school around my orchestra friends,” said Dowell. “I ran over and told them the news. Mr. Krohn was there too. It was very exciting.”

Dowell kept practicing to prepare for this performance, but not as much as she had been for the live audition. Prior to the performance, Dowell had two rehearsals with the orchestra, a dress rehearsal and then a soundcheck at the Michigan Theatre. Her performance was in the second half of the concert, and she stayed backstage beforehand.

“I was practicing but