A peaceful whistle flows across the wind, cutting the air in half so elegantly. Pass some time and that melody has matured into a booming force. That force is so strong, it shakes the body, shakes the mind, and shakes the soul of those who hear that force. Almost in a calming way does this force bring excitement. I know both these sounds too well. This year, I have become part of those sounds.

Danzón NO.2 is a beautiful conjuring of modern orchestral music. Inspired by Spanish culture and dances, it is enough to get anyone to move. The song can be like a butterfly, flowing through the spring air. The butterfly brings a breeze. But next minute the song introduces a rush of tempo and moves along like a rapid current.  Then once again it might transform back into that butterfly. As a musician myself, this kind of composition reels in my eye, along with the eye of the audience.

How did I learn about this song? Well, I gambled with life and decided to join an orchestra. As a Jazz Bass Trombonist, elegance comes to me like Patrik Star trying to learn calculus. The answer is that it doesn't, I’m a loud, brooding, and excited player. I was accepted into MY SON's middle-in-line orchestra, the Philharmonia. 

Once we were handed this chart, I gave it a listen. That is when I first felt that sweet melody. I began to listen over, over, and over again. I studied that song as if my life depended on it. I went to school with part of Danzón, I hung out with my friends with a part of Danzón. I played my trombone with a part of Danzón. This song strangled me into learning how to play with elegance, and only let me go when it was time for me to release my energy into the rapids. And I loved it.

The time came for the big show to happen, to perform that song that now lies within part of me. Our band clearly had put a part of Danzón into themselves too. Our hearts racing, sweat pouring down our faces, hitting note after note. The end was soon near. We got faster and faster until the final rush and SWEEP . . . BOOOOOM! Our hearts' symphony came to a close, and the crowd went wild. Danzón NO.2 was over.

That's what I thought, until our School Director put down a wind ensemble arrangement for us down on our stands. I was excited once again, I couldn’t wait to have everyone experience the glory of that piece once again. We began to get to work, and it was like stepping into the past. Working on this song from the bottom up was all too familiar

While we were learning that piece, the time came for me to submit my audition for MYSO next year. I couldn’t play the Danzón for that, but I realized that maybe I should take that song into my own playing. I played my solo like the oboists solo in the beginning, elegantly and flowingly; because now, I learned to play in a way I wouldn’t have ever imagined. I filmed the video, and submitted it to the MYSO team.

But now was the time for our Wind Ensemble to work on that song again. We poured our hearts out once again, learning note after note. And that day came again, there was that feeling once again. That song possesses us, in a good way, forcing us to adapt styles and play with not notes on a paper, but codes written in our hearts. And then there was it again, SWIPP . . . BOOOOOOOM! Those last two notes released us from our trance and the crowd went wild. Sweat dripped from our faces while the stage light shined on us, Gustavo was proud.

Time came to put that song away, and everyone seemed to not want to let it go. I know I didn’t. It hasn’t occurred yet, but this doesn’t seem like the last time this song will be in my life.

A month passes, I drive home from school. An ordinary day. I walk over to the front door and am greeted by my dog. I hear footsteps coming from upstairs and see my mom. Nothing too off from a normal day. She greets me and says, “Your Myso Audition Results came back, you are in the Senior Symphony.”

I was at a loss for words. The top orchestra? Me? I thought back to the ride home. What song was I listening to? Danzón NO.2.