It takes deep dedication to play the euphonium at a national level.
“If you want to compete, you have to practice a lot and be consistent or you will lose your progress.”
It’s a sentiment 14-year-old Kiara Curtis-Apeu values and upholds.
The musician from Te Kauwhata made that clear when she placed third in the Under 15 Instrumental Solo Section on her euphonium at the New Zealand National Brass Band Championships in April.
It was a significant and challenging moment for the young music maker, who was not only part of the Kerepēhi Brass Band but also the Jazz Band at her high school, Hauraki Plains College.
“This is my first year doing it [the competition], it was really stressful for me. I had to go outside in the rain and run to wash away my nerves, only 300 metres but it worked,” she said.
“I had to focus on my breathing just to keep calm.”
The award winner said she performed a difficult piece called Rhapsody for Euphonium and which had a “majestical” sound in the opening.
“I was really happy with how I played.
“[The achievement] means I have come a long way with all my learning with Clive Burnell, who is my music teacher.”
One moment where she was completely in the zone was during the piano solo.
“I came in with a slow melody through the middle and I felt really comfortable with that part. It was really soothing.”
Even though she felt she hadn’t yet mastered the song, she said her goal was to “play to my best potential” at the regional competition later this year in Te Awamutu.
The young euphoniumist also performed a solo piece in the Hauraki Plains College ‘One Autumn’s Night’ concert on April 29.
“I’m really happy with how it went, it honestly couldn’t have gone any better in my perspective,” she said.
“It was great. I didn’t even need a mic because the sound was able to project so well. It was kind of unfortunate for me though because it went better than my solo at nationals.”
It was nerve-wracking to see everyone in anticipation for her to start, she said, but by the end she was “at peace”.
“It felt as if all my stress that had built over the week had vanished away.”
The star performer was first inspired to pick up the instrument around five years ago.
“My brother had said he wanted to play a trumpet in a brass band, so I got nosey and wanted to try it as I liked the size of the euphonium.”
Kiara gave the instrument a go, said it had a nice sound and the rest was history.
“My nan comes and picks me up once a week and takes me to Kerepēhi for practice. My younger brother who is 12 is also in the band.”
She said there was a difference between the music she played for the brass band and the school band.
“In the brass band it’s more traditional marches and older songs.
“In the jazz band they are more well known songs and not as slow as the traditional ones.”
When it came to picking one instrument to play alongside, the music maestro found it hard to choose just one.
“I love playing with full bands because it sounds so much better,” she said.
The next musical mission for Kiara was to focus on the regional competition in September, where her goal was to get first place.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
