The annual Concerto-Aria competition is an event that many choir, band and orchestra students look forward to: an opportunity to showcase their musical talent and a chance to perform on stage along with the Middleton High School (MHS) orchestra.
The Concerto-Aria competition was started by orchestra conductor Steve Kurr in 2001 in his first year at MHS.
“The previous [teacher] had simply chosen people but I did not know the students as well and decided to make [Concerto-Aria] into an event,” Kurr said.
An aria is a vocal work, and a concerto is a solo work for instruments, hence the name: the Concerto-Aria competition. However, according to Kurr, “A few years ago, we added a dance option for students. We have had a few dancers audition, and this year, we have a dance winner.”
The winners of this year’s Concerto-Aria competition are pianist Sarah Blust, dancer Marla Mendelin and violinist Indre Raghavan, whose musical skills and talents blew the judges away. They performed their pieces along with the MHS orchestra Thursday night on Feb. 26.
Q&A: Marla Mendelin
Kerina: What made you want to audition?
Marla: I found out about the competition through a fellow participant in my advisory. I primarily wanted to do it as another performance opportunity during my last year at Middleton and my final year as a dancer. As a dancer, I have never been drawn to large national ballet competitions. What the concerto competition seemed to offer felt more focused on the performance quality of the artist rather than how closely they achieved perfection.
K: How did you prepare for your audition?
M: I worked under the mentorship of Margarite Luskik to rehearse my variation. We primarily focused on the musicality of my movements, making sure to accent them with the music I selected. It was challenging to find large amounts of time to rehearse my variation alongside all the new repertoire I have been learning for an upcoming show this spring. However, I used days off from school and time after class to work on my piece in the studio.
K: How did you feel when the winners were announced?
M: I was genuinely in shock, as I did not expect to be chosen as a winner among such a talented group of musicians who auditioned. I also felt an added pressure to prove that I wasn’t selected simply because I was the only dancer, but because I truly deserved to share this opportunity alongside the other accomplished winners.
K: There have only been a few dance auditions in the years it’s been added as an option–how do you feel about being a dance winner?
M: I feel honored to represent the small number of classically trained dancers at our high school. While many students know me as a dancer, they may not fully understand the level of training I have reached. I look forward to showcasing the years of hard work and dedication to a new audience.
K: What made you pick up dance? Why did you stick with it?
M: Like many girls growing up, my mom enrolled me in ballet when I was about three years old. Maybe it was the pink tutus, or maybe I just loved spinning around, but whatever the reason, my love for dance stayed with me. As I grew older, it became more than just a childhood hobby. It became a future I want to pursue. I have had incredible experiences training at Ballet Chicago and Cincinnati Ballet during the summers. Those experiences have inspired me to continue working toward an even higher level of training.
Q&A: Sarah Blust
Kerina: What made you want to audition?
Sarah: I actually did this competition my freshman year, and had so much fun being one of the winners and getting the chance to play with the orchestra. It’s a really cool full circle moment to get to come back and work with Mr. Kurr and with the high school orchestra again, and get to notice the ways I’ve grown as a musician since my freshman year. Getting to perform as a soloist with any kind of ensemble is super super beneficial, and I would strongly recommend taking any opportunity you have as a musician. It’s a ton of fun and is one of the best rewards to the work you put into your instrument.
K: How did you prepare for your audition?
S: Lots and lots of practice! The piece I chose, Prokofiev’s concerto No.2 mvt 1, is the most technically challenging piece I’ve ever performed – I decided it would be a fun project for senior year, just to see what I could do with it, but I knew it would be a lot of work! I also did a lot of rehearsing with my awesome accompanist to make sure we were in sync the whole time.
K: How did you feel when the winners were announced?
S: Super excited! There are so many talented musicians competing, and also so many things that go into choosing the winners, so it’s really important to remember that winning or losing isn’t everything. But I’m really excited about the opportunity.
K: What made you pick up music? Why did you stick with it?
S: I’ve always loved music, and started playing the piano when I was super young, probably three or four. I think it’s such a cool way to express yourself and connect with others on such a unique level. It also has given me so many opportunities to go places and meet people that I otherwise would never have. There’s so many kinds of music and ways to engage with it, and whether I’m listening to Don Toliver at the gym or improvising on a blues with my jazz group, I’ll never stop enjoying it.
Q&A: Indre Raghavan
Kerina: What made you want to audition?
Indre: During a summer music festival, my teacher encouraged me to learn a Mozart concerto to broaden my musical horizons—since I had never played one before—and to push me out of my comfort zone. Lucky enough, learning Mozart Concerto No. 3 was such a fun experience. I decided to audition because it felt like a great opportunity to run through my piece and receive feedback, especially since Mozart and other early classical works are not as commonly performed in competition settings.
K: How did you prepare for your audition?
I: I listened to many different recordings, practiced the piece, and played it for my teacher, Professor Eugene Purdue, who helped me refine my technique and shape my own interpretation.
K: How did you feel when the winners were announced?
I: I was thrilled, because winning meant another chance to perform and, even more exciting, the opportunity to play Mozart with an orchestra for the first time. Additionally, I was grateful to see my name recognized alongside Sarah and Marla. They are both such kind, genuine, and incredibly talented artists whom I admire, so it felt especially meaningful to have the chance to perform with them in the same concert.
K:What made you pick up music? Why did you stick with it?
I: I was first introduced to music when my mom enrolled me in Kindermusik, a music enrichment class which focused on basic rhythm skills, instrument recognition, and ear training. The teacher would often have instrument “show and tell” days where students could bring their instruments and play a little piece for the class. One day, my friend brought her violin. Never hearing the violin before, I was mesmerized and knew I wanted to play too. After a lot of persistent nagging on my part, my parents finally agreed to let me try the violin. I think music–and the violin–has always been, and will always be, a part of my life because of how instrumental it has been in shaping who I am as a person. It has had such a positive impact on me, whether by teaching me structure, goal‑setting, and the discipline of a consistent practice routine, or by allowing me to meet incredibly talented and inspiring people from around the world, many of whom I’m lucky to now call my closest friends.
The Concerto-Aria competition showcases not only the incredible talents of the MHS students, but also the dedication and passion that all these musicians pour into their art forms. Whether it’s through musical instruments, singing, or dancing, the competition continues to be a meaningful tradition at MHS, bringing the school community together through music.
