Duke School Under the Oak Magazine, Fall 2018

Claire
McGovern,
Duke School Class
of 2018, played
cello with some of
North Carolina’s
best orchestra
students when she was selected to the
2018 Western Regional Orchestra last spring.
With the encouragement of her private lesson
instructor, Anna Barson, Claire decided to
audition for the Western Regional Orchestra
earlier this year.
“I wanted to play in an orchestra that included a
lot of focused musicians,” Claire said. “I thought
that would be a fun thing to try—to get a feel for
playing in a higher level orchestra.”
Each year, the North Carolina Music Educators
Association sponsors Eastern and Western
Regional orchestra clinics and concerts for both
middle and high school students. Students must
audition, and those selected are placed into
either honors (advanced) or repertory orchestras.
Claire auditioned by performing part of a solo
piece as well as memorized scales, and sightreading
music. Her hard work and talent earned
her a spot in the honors orchestra.
Once selected, Claire had two months to prepare
on her own to perform at the Western Regional
Orchestra concert. The weekend of the concert,
students played together for the first time and had
seating auditions, with Claire named to seventh
chair. That Saturday involved two intensive, threehour
group rehearsals, followed by the concert at
the end of the day.
It was special “just to see so many people that
care that much about music all working together,”
Claire said. “Our conductor was from Juilliard—
she was really talented at her job.”
Claire, who has played cello since third grade,
continues to take private lessons with Anna,
and was a member of Duke School’s new string
orchestra, led by Duke School’s Director of Bands,
Andrew Lovett.
“She’s always willing to try things,”
Andrew said. “She’ll jump right in to a
new piece; she’s got a great attitude.”
“Because of her experience,
I never really have to worry
about her learning her part,”
he continued. “She’s brought
a lot to the orchestra.”
Claire hopes to continue
playing into college, though
she doesn’t expect to
major in music.
“I doubt I’ll play
in a professional
orchestra, but
I’d like to join an
orchestra or at least
keep playing,”
she said.
14 14 UNDER THE OAK