The piece of music that singlehandedly changed my life was the Chaminade Concertino for flute and piano. Toward the end of my freshman year in high school, my band director recommended that I audition for the PMEA district band the following year. I had never done an audition before, but I was ready for a new challenge, and it was a decision that changed my life. After buying the Chaminade Concertino for the audition, my flute teacher at the time, a band director who taught all wind instruments, said it was time I find a new teacher who was a professional flutist. My dad went searching for the best flutist in town and got me a lesson with her. After that first lesson, my whole world changed. She had me get a step-up flute and had me learn scales, etudes, and taught me vibrato, double tonguing, complex rhythms, phrasing, and so much more. In a matter of 6 months, I was a whole new person, one who had spent countless hours learning as much as I could to ace the PMEA audition that December. I always enjoyed music, but never to this extent. I was challenged and excited to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, and to play this audition to the best of my ability. The Chaminade Concertino was the first piece of classical flute repertoire that I learned, and it seemed truly impossible when I started. Slowly, I learned one measure at a time, and it was my sole focus for months. As I worked through this piece, I discovered the world of classical music. Up to this point, I had never been exposed to orchestral music, having only experienced elementary and intermediate level band music throughout my years in public school. My flute teacher was the principal flutist of many local orchestras, and I began to learn about the world of classical music from her. When it was time for the PMEA audition, I was more determined, nervous, excited, and scared than I had ever been because I wanted this so bad. I had worked for months for this moment, and it paid off. I was selected for the PMEA District X Band and had an absolute blast. The experience was wonderful, but the real prize was having learned this piece. It was because of the Chaminade that I met my teacher, Robin, who changed my life, and because of her that I wanted to pursue music after high school. I've now played this piece with the Municipal Band of Allentown as a featured soloist and on my senior recital at the Boston Conservatory. This piece is undoubtedly the most important piece that I've ever learned, and I will always enjoy getting to perform it, as I hope it can impact other people's lives, as it once did for me.