Sisters Against All Odds

Two Samuel Clemens Sisters Go To Region

For most high school music students, the prospect of region auditions is the equivalent of being drawn and quartered, but for sisters Michaela and Marlena Carrillo, it was a blessing in disguise.
    The Region Orchestra of Bexar County is comprised of the best players in the entire county. Michaela and Marlena, two varsity orchestra students of Samuel Clemens, were recently announced at the Oct. concert that they each placed a seat in Region Orchestra. They were the only students in the entire orchestra, varsity and lower levels included, to place in the elite orchestra, and they will be representing the school in the upcoming Region concert.
    “I’m honestly so excited to be playing with my little sister,” said senior Michaela regarding playing alongside her sister in such a prestigious group. “We are three years apart and have never really got to go to the same school since elementary. To be able to play in an orchestra with her with this kind of recognition is honestly something I have been looking forward too for a long time.”
    The sisters began playing their respected instruments when they both entered their fifth year of school. Michaela has been playing cello for eight years, and younger sister Marlena has been playing her violin for five years. Both are dedicated to the orchestra program and their instruments in school and out, with both of them practicing up to ten hours a week. But for the audition, even more practice was required for top notch performances.
    “I played along with the recordings,” Michaela said. “I also practised with my sister a lot because this is the first and last time we’ll be playing the same orchestra.”
    Audition for Region Orchestra was held at Veterans’ Memorial High School on October 21st. Students are allotted approximately two or so hours depending on the time they arrive, and most of the students practice during that whole time. This year, all the students were held in the high school’s cafeteria, and sorted based on the instrument played. To the Carrillo sisters, the cacophony of all those young and talented musicians only served to increase the weight on their shoulders, especially for freshman and younger sister Marlena.
    “I felt very nervous going into it,” Mariena said. “I was competing against other freshmen as well as a bunch of upperclassmen with way more experience.”
    Now that the audition had passed, both Michaela and Marlena Carrillo will continue to practice for the upcoming Region concert together.
    “I feel very proud,” said Marlena, “because I get to share this experience with her.”

Dharma Boskat
Contributor