Harker Heights High School’s Jaeyoung Cho recently played his way into an elite group of Texas musicians, earning Outstanding Performer following his performance during the University Interscholastic League Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest in May.
Outstanding Performer is the contest’s highest individual honor and awarded to a small percentage of students who participate, Killeen ISD Assistant Director For Fine Arts Amy Bennett said.
“It feels amazing to be recognized,” Cho said. “Honestly, I would have never expected to receive this award, since not a lot of people do. So when I saw the ‘OP’ label next to my name on the results website, I was almost frozen in shock.”
At state event, musicians are tasked with performing advanced repertoire mostly from memory, and are evaluated based on statewide standards.
Cho, an incoming junior and a member of the Harker Heights orchestra program under the direction of Joshua Kroft and Michael Resetar, performed the fourth movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
Elgar’s Cello Concerto was composed after World War I. The fourth movement is the finale.
“I chose to perform the piece that I played partly because it was one of the pieces my teacher gave me a choice on, and mostly because I just love the piece,” Cho said. “When I first heard Elgar's Cello Concerto around two years ago, my mind was blown that so much emotion and tragedy could be conveyed in one piece of classical music. I immediately fell in love with it.”
Cho said performing in front of the judge was “extremely scary” and that there were some added nerves because he was running a bit behind schedule. However, he relied on past experiences and confidence in his craft to deliver when it mattered most.
“The judge was really kind, which I was glad about,” he said. “I enjoy the mix of expressiveness and virtuosity that the piece contains, and the story that it tells. There's a mix of triumph, grief, and sorrow, and I really love that. It's so full of emotion.”
Earlier in the school year, Cho received Superior rating at the regional UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest, which earned him a spot into the state contest –– the highest level of solo and ensemble competition and often includes about 20,000 of Texas’ top high school musicians.
"Jaeyoung's recognition reflects his standing among the state's finest young musicians,” Bennett said. “We congratulate Jaeyoung on this exceptional achievement.”