From Audition to a National Stage in Portland

By Gary Hyatt, WSU Honors College, gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

For Rey Howell, this summer was a moment she will remember for the rest of her life.

A fourth-year Washington State University Honors student studying music education, Rey was one of just 25 college students from across the country selected to perform in the National Flute Association Collegiate Flute Ensemble.

Her journey began with an audition. Encouraged by her professor to showcase her advanced knowledge of the bass flute, Rey submitted a complex audition recording in February. Because the ensemble was so competitive, she never expected to be selected. When she received the news, she was “extremely surprised and overjoyed.”

The experience in Portland was much more than performing. Throughout the National Flute Association convention, Rey attended workshops, masterclasses, concerts and speaking events focused on her instrument. She connected with musicians from around the world, learned new techniques and gained experiences she will carry into her future as a music educator.

The highlight came at the end of the convention, when Rey and the other 24 collegiate musicians performed a world premiere—a piece of music being performed for the very first time.

 

For Rey, it was a major milestone in her musical career, and a powerful reminder of how far her hard work has taken her.

Her growth extends beyond music. Through the WSU Honors College, Rey has begun her thesis research on incorporating music therapy into social-emotional learning. She also serves in a leadership role with Tau Beta Sigma and has developed a deep commitment to community service.

Rey hopes to earn her bachelor’s degree in music education and later pursue a master’s in music therapy. Her dream is to help young people grow through music and give back to her community through the knowledge and experiences she has gained.

The Honors College Fund for Experiential Learning helped give Rey access to an opportunity that might otherwise have been out of reach. More importantly, it gave her the chance to take everything she has worked toward at WSU and experience it on a national stage.

Her experience is a powerful example of what happens when talented students are given the opportunity to say yes to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.