The Avalon Middle School Band recently had two representatives placed 5th in the state in both all state middle school symphonic and honor bands. While Abigail ‘Abby’ Nielsen made 5th chair for clarinet in the honors band, fellow classmate Adeline Belova earned 5th chair as a flutist in the symphonic band.
“They are top notch, both of them,” said David Riggs, band director at Avalon. “Last summer Abby played in the Escambia County Community Band in Florala and (she played) first clarinet parts in that with adults.”
Nielsen said attending last week’s Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference in Tampa provided her with more insight.
“It was such a good experience that I wish everybody else had the chance to do it, because I feel like I really learned from it,” she said.
Adeline Belova made history by becoming the 5th ranked flutist in the state on the middle school symphonic band at last week’s competition, according to Manuel Valdez, Belova’s father.
“The band director told me that no student from Santa RosaCounty has ever made symphonic band in the history of SRC,” Valdez said.
Belova said the achievement has not completely processed, adding she was a bit “overwhelmed.”
“I still don’t believe it,” she said.
In addition to having success at the state wide competition, Belova also had success at TroyUniversity in which she placed second chair in a competition encompassing three different states. Belova is currently playing first chair for the all county middle school band. Nielsen is also on the all county band in playing the clarinet.
In addition to learning instruction from music teachers, Belova also learns by watching You Tube videos on improving how to play musical instruments.
Belova’s parents said their daughter will spend hours using the website to practice at home. Riggs said he has heard of students using the website before, which can be of benefit to the students.
“Most of our kids don’t have the opportunity to take lessons from anybody,” Riggs said. “(The students) have to be self motivated, even if they are taking a lesson, they have to work on their own.”
In addition to having a real passion for learning and performing music, both students said they spend a majority of their free time practicing at home. Both also plan to stick with performing beyond high school.
“I want to go into college for it and major in music,” Belova said. “I just don’t see how people could not enjoy doing this, it just boggles my mind.”
Nielsen agreed adding she would not know what to do with herself without music.
“It’s personal preference…it’s not something that is easy to describe, you just feel it,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Avalon students placed 5th in state comp