Sue Chiang, Storyteller

SUE CHIANG, Costume Shop Coordinator, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

From seventh to twelfth grade I played flute in my high school band, which recruited middle-schoolers to help round up the numbers in our small Massachusetts community. We played a mix of classical and contemporary music and so I learned to appreciate Mozart and Bach as well as Broadway show tunes.

One day in rehearsal after playing a particularly rousing rendition of the Impresario Overture, the entire band begged to play it again. And we did while our director beamed.

My favorite part of playing in the band was rehearsal. After we played a section of music, our director would stop us, break down each part by instrument and explain how to play it better either through tempo, dynamics or technique. We would practice again and, slowly, our playing improved until we were ready for performance. One day in rehearsal after playing a particularly rousing rendition of the Impresario Overture, the entire band begged to play it again. And we did while our director beamed.

I came to realize that often the work the audience hears does not reflect the richness of the performer’s experience. For me, then and now, process is always the most satisfying part of any performance.