Through These Halls: The Schaper Series- Emily starts early with out-of-school performances on obscure instrument
February 19, 2014
This is Part 3 in our 3-Part Through These Halls series on the Schaper siblings- senior Ryan, junior Andrew and freshman Emily. All three are in the elite Symphonic Band together, and have individual stories to be told.
Emily Schaper is a freshman, but you would never guess that she’s only in her first year of high school if you heard about all of her experience as a musician.
Schaper began her musical journey in 4th grade when she learned to play the baritone. In 6th grade, she set the baritone aside and started playing the bassoon. In 8th grade she prepared to audition for the high school band. She landed a spot in Lafayette’s Symphonic Band and joined her brothers, Andrew, junior, and Ryan, senior.
“We don’t see each other much because we are in different sections, but I enjoying being in the same class as them,” Schaper said.
At this year’s Solo and Ensemble, the Schaper siblings will be competing together.
“My brothers and I are in a woodwind quartet, playing the oboe, bassoon, and horn. It’s cool because we like playing together, but there’s not really a whole lot we can do,” Schaper said. Emily will of course be playing the bassoon in the ensemble, Ryan will play the oboe, and Andrew will play the French horn.
Her experience ventures far beyond a school setting. Schaper is a member of Webster University’s Young People’s Concert Orchestra as the principal bassoon player, making her the head of her section. She is also an alternate for the STL Youth Symphony Orchestra. Auditioning for the Symphony Orchestra has become one of her favorite moments as a musician.
“When auditioning for the youth orchestra, you got to play on Powell Hall stage, so that was pretty cool. There was a panel of judges behind this black curtain, and it was a solo audition,” Schaper said.
One day, Schaper hopes to be apart of a professional symphony. It’s funny to think that all of her achievements simply sparked because of the interest of an obscure instrument name.
“I picked the bassoon because I just thought the name sounded cool,” Schaper said.
