Artist of the week – Christa Naber
Junior Christa Naber takes a break after auditioning for the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Naber later found out that she had made Wind Symphony. “There so many amazing musicians, especially in this area,” Naber said. “And, a lot of them are really friendly … everyone kind of helps each other.”
Trombonist brings ‘beautiful sound’ in midst of community, work
Q: What genres of music do you play?
A: “I play classical and jazz and then sometimes I do covers of different songs. I like doing movie soundtrack covers – for example, ‘Spiderman.'”
Q: What is your favorite genre of music?
A: “My favorite genre is classical. I really like Dvorak and really common ones like Mozart and Beethoven and Vivaldi. They all really inspire me. I think one day I might want to try composing some music even though my main passion is with the bass trombone.”
Q: What is your favorite piece to play?
A: “I really like playing “Symphonic Metamorphosis” by Hindemith and my solo from last year. It’s called ‘Zwei Fantasiestucke.'”
Christa Naber performs “Zwei Fantasiestucke” alongside accompanist Sunny Yun at the Prosper Concerto Competition. “I really like the tone (of trombone),¨ Naber said. ¨It’s just such a beautiful sound. It kind of reminds me of a French horn, which is technically my favorite instrument.¨
Q: What is your favorite piece to listen to?
A: “Recently I was introduced to Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” I’ve been kind of studying all of the movements, and I think the lyrical movement … is probably my favorite piece of classical music of all time. The English horn solo is amazing.”
Q: How long have you been a trombonist?
A: “Five or six years now. I’ve been a bass trombonist for four or five years.”
Q: What got you interested in trombone?
A: “I remember I was in fifth-grade music class with Mr. (Joshua) Ferman, and he said I had a really good ear. That’s something my dad, who was also a music major, had been saying for a long time. I actually picked the flute in my band auditions, but then I switched to trombone because I liked the sound of it better. It has been a really good experience because of all the people I’ve met. And just the tone of the instrument is something I love.”
Q: Are musicians prevalent in your family?
A: “Yes. My dad went to UNT (University of North Texas) for music ed. He started as a worship pastor, and he was a worship pastor for 10 years. Now, he does private lessons for the saxophone. He’s really into jazz.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about trombone?
A: “I really like the tone. It’s just such a beautiful sound. It kind of reminds me of a French horn, which is technically my favorite instrument. Trombone is so versatile – you can play jazz, classical. It’s in marching band. It’s also the effect of when you go into a live orchestra performance. You hear that low brass, and you feel it in your chest.”
Q: What is your favorite aspect of being a musician?
A: “I like the community. I like the competition. There so many amazing musicians, especially in this area. And a lot of them are really friendly … everyone kind of helps each other. I have a lot of friends in the trombone section who give me advice when I need it. And (there is) so much emotion involved – and community and family – so much that you can portray in music.”
Q: What is your future as a musician?
A: “I have some really big dreams for the future with colleges and orchestras. I’m not really sure how it’s all going to work out. I want to be a music performance major and play in a professional orchestra, specifically recording in films. I just know that I have to work really hard because the community is really competitive. Getting a spot in one of those orchestras is really, really difficult so I’m ready to work hard.”
Q: Any words of advice for student musicians like yourself?
A: “Keep trying no matter what. Because there’s a lot of times in my practicing when I get stuck, and I don’t know where to go. There’s always something you can do. Keep trying even if you feel like you want to quit. Band is worth it, and orchestra is worth it. It’s a great community that you can really learn a lot from. It’s something you should really persevere in – even if it’s getting hard.”
Artist of the Week is an opportunity for Prosper High School student artists, performers and creative people to share their story on Eagle Nation Online. If you are interested in participating in Artist of the Week, please fill out THIS FORM. Or, contact Kate L. Keeler at keelekat000@k12.prosper-isd.net.
This article has been updated for necessary information.
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