Staff Reports
The U.S. Navy Band Young Artist Solo Competition has named Buchholz High School junior Madelyn Urbine a finalist for the second year in a row.
The judging was based on a video recording Urbine submitted of an audition piece. In March, she will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete in the final round of the competition.
“To be around other people my age who are so talented and feel the way I do about music was amazing,” Urbine said in a press release. “I can’t wait to go back.”
As a finalist, Urbine will perform with the U.S. Navy Concert Band and receive individual coaching from a member of the Band.
The grand prize winner in March will perform as a featured soloist with the Navy concert band in May.
“Being selected once as a finalist is an incredible honor,” Noah Graben, Buchholz band director, said in a press release. “Being selected twice as a student who is among one of the top eight or ten instrumentalists in the nation is something else.”
Urbine began playing the French horn in band at Ft. Clarke Middle School under now-retired band director Everett McConn. Before that, she had never played an instrument, and after that, she never stopped participating in school band.
“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be part of band,” Urbine said. “We get to create something together, we’re not competing against each other, and that’s a great feeling. Music really brings people together.