Hi.
My name is Gina Mentzer and I have been in HSYO for seven years now. I started in JYSO on violin in 6th grade, went into HSYO in 9th and 10th, and recently changed to flute last year in 11th grade. I am a senior at Bishop McDevitt High School and am one of two people from my school in HSYO.
I have never REALLY known what I have wanted to do after high school. It's being pushed on me a lot this year because everyone is asking, "What colleges did you apply to? Where did you get accepted? What will be your major?" and I'm sitting here like, "Well... I didn't apply to any and I don't even know what my major would be."
The summer after my sophomore year of high school, I went on a trip called American Music Abroad Burgundy Tour 2017. We played music all around Europe in Italy, Germany, and Austria. I played flute for that trip and I realized that I loved traveling and performing for people. I loved the environment of people sharing their talents of music to please an audience. Because of that, I dropped violin, which I started in 4th grade and flute in 5th. I wasn't doing anything with my violin at the moment because my school does not have an orchestra and I was only using it for HSYO. I realized I enjoyed music more playing flute, so I continued to pursue it.
My junior year was one of the most amazing years in music for me. I made it to District Band, District Orchestra, Region Band, and Region Orchestra. I didn't believe I could make it that far because there were numerous people I saw that were better than me. Just for District Orchestra, I had to audition against seven other people, all the top four after Lower and Upper District Band auditions, for FOUR spots. I thought my audition was terrible, but I made it in. I thought that after every audition I did, yet I was surprised every single time that I moved on.
I recently decided that I would pursue music by becoming a Marine and joining the United States Marine Band. I love to travel, perform, and learn new music, so I think this will be a great option for me. Right now though, I am trying to have as much fun as I can with all kinds of music that comes my way. By donating to CADENZA, you will be able to help me and everyone else in HSYO and JYSO have the ability to enhance their talents. Your money will go towards buying new instruments for HSYO to play, like the new piccolo and english horn they just bought (I've played the piccolo and it is REALLY nice, so thank you for that!), buying fun music for the concerts, and so much more. Your donation will help so many people accomplish their dreams in music.
