Did you really think we could make it to the finals?  –Oomae Kumiko

I am pleased to report that “Winter – A Symphonic Poem” has done just that.

I was sent an invite to the fancily-named and therefore prestigious “Euro-Elite International Music Competition” and entered on a whim.  I figured that my piece can stand on its own, and that it should at least place somewhere.  And, as it turns out, I was right.  A couple of days ago, I was informed that my piece has passed the preliminaries and is now in the finals.

I am pretty proud that it has made it that far, it means that someone, somewhere thought it was good enough to stand with the best.  I also think that no matter how well I place (I very much doubt it will be rock bottom) going to the finals is something to be happy about and proud of.

There are lots of finalists.  Some are from the USA.  Most appear to be solo performers.  And I’d put money on my being the oldest finalist – by far.

In any case, I made it through, and I am looking forward to any feedback they might have.  To be quite honest, other than a couple of minor tweaks, I don’t know how my composition could have been improved, so I am interested to see what suggestions might be offered.

And no matter what, I can at least put “Finalist: Euro-Elite International Music Competition” on my musical resume, so there’s that, anyway.

I will update when I have the final results.  Of course, I hope it wins.  But I will be happy with just a decent placing.

I’ve already got an invite to enter another competition.  I will not be doing that right now.  I think one is plenty, for now, and if I’m going to enter anything, I want it to be with a different composition.  Besides, those entrance fees are steep.

I have done, at the least, what the Kitauji Wind Ensemble wanted to do, at least in Kumiko’s first year:  I made it to the “nationals” (well, the internationals, but it’s the same deal).

And I hope, at the end, I could say:

I’m so happy I could die –Kousaka Reina