Nena Kunnateerachadai
My Experience

I don’t think that anything else would have made my summer this year. Being able to win the Martin Ormandy Scholarship and going to the New York Summer Music Festival camp in Oneonta was already the beginning of a special journey for me this summer. I knew that it was going to be my first time to experience what living all alone in college would be like without parents and just a bunch of friends, teachers, and counselors.

The two weeks at camp was absolutely astonishing, but my first day there went pretty bad. When my parents left, it was already time for my audition. I thought I did horribly during my audition after hearing the other saxophonists play since they were all older and more advanced, and because I didn’t do so well on my sight-reading. As time passed, I began to talk to my friend next door, who I recognized was another Ormandy Scholarship winner. Later on in the evening, everyone introduced ourselves and I began feeling more comfortable around everyone.

As time went on, I began talking to many other different people, and I was having the greatest time of my life. Everyone was so nice and no one cared about how you dressed or looked or how bad or good you played your instrument, and everyone especially loved to share and cared for one another.

All the classes I took were amazing as well. I couldn’t believe how much I was learning and how much I was enjoying it there. My three most favorite classes had to be the Practical Acting Workshop, Jazz Improvisation, and Lab Jazz. Practical Acting Workshop was something I never thought I could do, and it was something I was not able to take as a class that often back at home, so I really enjoyed seeing myself act on screen. Talking about knowing lots about my music and scales, Jazz Improvisation definitely showed me that I had much more to learn. Finally Lab Jazz was something I always looked forward to everyday because I loved doing solos and the music we play in the class just gets my feet moving. Although those were my favorite classes, it doesn’t mean I didn’t like all the classes I took there. It made me feel so grateful to play my also saxophone amongst other musically talented students at this camp.

The first week went by with evenings of great fun. We went bowling, roller skating and even to a beautiful lake. The second week went by with so many concerts and by the time it reached the day when everyone had to pack and leave, I felt that two weeks had gone by too fast.

I have to say that it was such an honor to experience something this wonderful. Although I hated sleeping early and waking up early, I began to get used to it. Overall, I learned so much at the camp and I’m so proud I got picked as a Martin Ormandy Scholarship winner. No matter what lies ahead next year, I sure would love to go back there during the summer of 2007 and probably again in the future. Thank you to the New York Pops for organizing such an amazing opportunity for kids today. I will never forget how you made my summer of 2006, and wherever I go, I will always talk about what a great opportunity I had this year.