What a year Carmen, from Stanhope, has had.
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
In March & May this year Carmen competed in Eaglehawk, Bendigo & Melbourne solo competitions bringing home 1st, 2nd placing's
Then to Melbourne, Bendigo & Ballarat as a member of Shepparton High School brass and Wind Symphony bands, who also bought home 1st, 2nd & 3rd placing. In July, Carmen again competed in Melbourne solo competition coming home with a 1st & 3rd placing & also won Victoria State Solo Champion for Cornet. Travelled to Adelaide as a member of the Shepparton Brass Band to compete in the national titles for bands in which they were placed 2nd.
The School band has also toured to Sydney playing at the Sydney Opera House & Queensland in recent years and are hoping to tour Tasmania early next year which Carmen will be a part of. Carmen is 2011 school music captain helping with fundraising amongst other duties.
In August, Carmen was asked to play in Notre Dame College's production of Jesus Christ Superstar as well as soirees at Mooroopna & Shepparton High School.
She was selected to participate in Orchestra Victoria's workshop & concert held over 2 days in Shepparton, with students selected from around Victoria.
Carmen was asked to again play in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular, this time as a leading trumpeter, travelling to Melbourne from June to September for rehearsals. This years show was called "Show Time 2011" there were 2 shows, both being held on September 18th at Hisence Arena. 2 days after Show Time finished, Carmen participated in the Dookie 3 day Music Camp, where she has been a regular for many years.
Following the Dookie music camp it was head down, tail up, for a few weeks studying for her year 12 exams which happened in late October early November. However, the traveling didn't stop, 2 of Carmen's exams were held in Melbourne.
She was also asked to join the Goulburn Valley Concert Orchestra who perform regularly. She was also asked to be a member of the Honour's Band. The band was put together from players throughout the region and recently played all the principal's conference in Melbourne as well as other functions.
Earlier this year Carmen travelled to Melbourne to be part of the James Morrison work shop, where James spoke about his trumpeting; they even got to try out different trumpets.
The Shepparton drama group has recently contacted Carmen to play in the band for their latest production which is Chicago
Like all busy people, Carmen has had to decline many invitations to play, due to clashes with other performances. Carmen spends on average 4/5 nights/days/weekends at various band rehearsals.
Carmen hasn't decided if she will take a year off next year before starting a 4 year Masters degree in music on completion & depending where that leads she may decide to do a further 3 year course to become a Music Therapist. She ahs recently been asked to join a Melbourne Brass Band when she goes to Melbourne & she will no doubt join orchestras through the degrees sh will be doing. She would like to follow a solo career as well.
She has the talent, she is getting the contacts, she has the determination, she is going places. Carmen is a young achiever. A great effort for a young girl with a severe hearing problem.
Carmen's favourite quote. ''I would rather die than live without music"
Over the past 6 years it has cost her parents in the region of $45,000+ and approx. 100,000km traveling, taking her to rehearsals, competitions, productions ect. There is a lot of waiting around, fitting in, rescheduling and financial sacrifices for her.