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ENLARGE
Stephanie Texera, flute
Summit County CO Colorado
Many in the community know her as the Summit High School director of instrumental music who leads the county's musical students to honors. But at her core, Stephanie Texera is a performer.
Often accompanied by harpist Janet Harriman in small chamber concerts for local events, the Breck resident also performs solo and in the community orchestra.
"I love performing. It's such a payoff when you work so hard and spend so many hours and days on it," Texera said. "To be able to present this to the people is pretty powerful."
On choosing her instrument of choice, the flute, Texera recalled the first time it made an impression.
"I went to a concert with my father and saw fluting and thought, 'I want to be like that.' I never heard the instrument played like that ... It was way more powerful an instrument than I'd ever heard it previously." She cites a CD by the legendary flute player Sir James Galway as an early influence.
And now with the Summit High School bands she directs, she's found a new instrument that interests her. She recently traveled to Europe with more than 50 students where she conducted the band.
Many in the community know her as the Summit High School director of instrumental music who leads the county's musical students to honors. But at her core, Stephanie Texera is a performer.
Often accompanied by harpist Janet Harriman in small chamber concerts for local events, the Breck resident also performs solo and in the community orchestra.
"I love performing. It's such a payoff when you work so hard and spend so many hours and days on it," Texera said. "To be able to present this to the people is pretty powerful."
On choosing her instrument of choice, the flute, Texera recalled the first time it made an impression.
"I went to a concert with my father and saw fluting and thought, 'I want to be like that.' I never heard the instrument played like that ... It was way more powerful an instrument than I'd ever heard it previously." She cites a CD by the legendary flute player Sir James Galway as an early influence.
And now with the Summit High School bands she directs, she's found a new instrument that interests her. She recently traveled to Europe with more than 50 students where she conducted the band.
"With conducting a whole bunch of instruments, that becomes your instrument - the ensemble," Texera said. "It's the same premise, but you are getting way more into it."
Catch Texera in action on Jan. 21 at the Lake Dillon Theatre along with Harriman on harp and Dexter Williams on percussion.
What are your dreams/what would you like to do with your art?
This is a difficult question, because honestly I live my dream by creating high-quality music with high school musicians every day. In the future, I would love to get my masters in wind conducting and teach at the college level. But I am having too much fun teaching high school.
What does art give you/why do you do it?
I think Victor Hugo best said it. "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." The ability to express yourself nonverbally is extremely powerful and cathartic. Music allows you to unleash your soul. It is so unfortunate that so many people have jobs just for a paycheck. I am so blessed that I have a career that fulfills me on so many different levels.
Catch Texera in action on Jan. 21 at the Lake Dillon Theatre along with Harriman on harp and Dexter Williams on percussion.
What are your dreams/what would you like to do with your art?
This is a difficult question, because honestly I live my dream by creating high-quality music with high school musicians every day. In the future, I would love to get my masters in wind conducting and teach at the college level. But I am having too much fun teaching high school.
What does art give you/why do you do it?
I think Victor Hugo best said it. "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." The ability to express yourself nonverbally is extremely powerful and cathartic. Music allows you to unleash your soul. It is so unfortunate that so many people have jobs just for a paycheck. I am so blessed that I have a career that fulfills me on so many different levels.
What do you try to convey through your art?
As a conductor and performer, your main goal is to convey the composer's intentions. The composer left a blueprint (musical score) for you to decipher. There is so much preliminary work to be done before a note is ever played. I hope to convey to my students and my audiences my intense love for music.
What is/has been your biggest challenge, and how do/did you deal with it?
Trying to balance being musically demanding and remembering that my students are young adults. These young musicians are capable of playing pretty demanding literature and I often forget that they are still in high school.
What are you most proud of regarding your art (and/or greatest accomplishment)?
Prior to the summer of 2006, I would have said the numerous awards that the SHS Instrumental Music Program has received over the past five years. But after traveling to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with 52 students, I have to say that was the one of the greatest experiences of my life. These students never cease to amaze me. Everyone thought I was insane to take this many students to Europe but I had such an incredible time with them. I firmly believe that travel is an extension of the classroom. I would go just about anywhere with these students.
How do you stay fresh/motivated?
I constantly attend workshops and conferences, such as the CMEA (Colorado Music Educators Association) Conference in January. This summer I had an opportunity to take a conducting workshop at the University of Southern Maine that forever changed the way I approach conducting/teaching. My main motivation is always the students.
What do you do when you're not making art?
Aren't artists always artists? No seriously, I love to cook, read, ski, travel, hear live music, play outside and sometimes absolutely nothing!
Prior to the summer of 2006, I would have said the numerous awards that the SHS Instrumental Music Program has received over the past five years. But after traveling to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with 52 students, I have to say that was the one of the greatest experiences of my life. These students never cease to amaze me. Everyone thought I was insane to take this many students to Europe but I had such an incredible time with them. I firmly believe that travel is an extension of the classroom. I would go just about anywhere with these students.
How do you stay fresh/motivated?
I constantly attend workshops and conferences, such as the CMEA (Colorado Music Educators Association) Conference in January. This summer I had an opportunity to take a conducting workshop at the University of Southern Maine that forever changed the way I approach conducting/teaching. My main motivation is always the students.
What do you do when you're not making art?
Aren't artists always artists? No seriously, I love to cook, read, ski, travel, hear live music, play outside and sometimes absolutely nothing!
