Scaramouche 1 Vif by D. Milhaud
Vidur S.
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I love the entire process of creating, performing, and experiencing music!
My musical journey began with learning the Tabla briefly as a 6-year-old in India.
Thereafter, I learned the basics of Piano, Guitar, and Clarinet, and was voice trained as the lead for several school musicals before discovering my true passion 5-years ago; the Alto Saxophone! Today, as a Junior and member of the Saratoga High Band leadership team, I perform with our top band ensemble and also co-founded a Saxophone Quartet. I often feature as a soloist as part of our band also play the Soprano Saxophone whenever a piece requires. I have performed with the band at Six Flags, Disneyland, and Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and was selected as a soloist for our 2021 Marching Band Show. I also auditioned and was invited to perform for the SJSU Honor Band (2021, 2022), Santa Clara County Honor Band (2022, 2023), and the California All-State Honor Band (2022, 2023). I have also competed in several music competitions and received first place in both the Bay Area Music Association competition and the American Protege’s Concerto Competition, earning me an invitation to perform at the Carnegie Hall in the summer of 2023. I also applied for CMEA’s solo competition and received a superior/exemplary rating and extremely positive comments from the judges. I even won the Lyrics Art Foundation Competition, received a $1000 prize! I have incredible mentors and teachers helping along my journey and now aspire to be a mentor for students through my school’s MESH program, which allows high school students to mentor middle school ones. My next goal is to work on my improvisation skills as part of the school Jazz Band! I play the tenor saxophone in jazz band and love making music with me peers!
During the pandemic, I missed working with like-minded musicians. I also felt motivated to help frontline warriors, seniors, and teachers, who have always supported us. To make a positive impact I started a nonprofit social venture named Music and Good In Concert, i.e. Magic (musicandgoodinconcert.org). Magic’s purpose is to use artistic expression in celebrating targeted beneficiaries and to raise funds for their benefit. Magic engages a culturally diverse global community of musically inclined souls, called Magicians, who collaborate to create artistic performances. Our community of about 75 Magicians has collaborated remotely and delivered several performances, streamed digitally, to entertain thousands of viewers globally, and raised about $25,000 for our beneficiaries. It has also been especially satisfying to learn about the remote social engagement and stress relief experienced by our global Magician community that spans 8-year elementary schoolers to 80-year-old grandparents, during their musical collaborations.
Through my experiences with music, the most interesting thing I have learned is the sense of accomplishment and happiness it now only gives audiences, but also participants. When I began my musical journey, I was hesitant and fearful to perform for others because I was scared they would judge me based on my ability. However, I quickly realized that music, just like anything else, is something that is meant to be shared and used for good. I now apply this mindset to all things I do in everyday life to have a more open outlook and to back myself whenever I am afraid of trying something new.
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The saxophone allows me to take a break from daily work to relax and make what I love, music. I have found some of my best friendships through music, whether it be while touring Europe to perform with my band, playing in all state band, or raising money for my non-profit, Music and Good In Concert.
