Oblivious about her future major, Melinda Wisdom (12) picked up the trombone in eighth grade for fun. Though she only played a few months, Melinda introduced trombone to Harker orchestra, when she joined in ninth grade.

“When I came to Harker, Mr. Florio said they had no trombones in the orchestra and if I would  consider playing it, even though I had only played for a couple of months,” Melinda said. “So I agreed, and immediately I got to play the first part on some of the most difficult orchestral repertoire that exists, and I was baptized into the orchestra with fire.”

Even though unsure at first about her major, Melinda’s musical path was determined when she discovered her love for the trombone.  

“I was really excited about [the solo], and I practiced so hard, even before the first rehearsal, so everyone heard the solo that I played loud and confidently. The performance was just the most tiring concert ever,” she said. “It was at the very end when I got to play the solo. It was the best I’ve ever played, but it was so loud, and I was so happy. I was thinking that I had to do this forever.”

She prepares for all her performances with as much passion and fervor as the actual concerts and auditions. Her dedication to her instrument unveils through striving to become a better musician from persistent rehearsing.

“I always think my audition starts the minute I open the door and walk in. I want to seem confident the entire way through so that they take me as a serious musician,” Melinda said. “I walk in the door, and I walk in confidently. I’d already planned the notes that I’m going to play as my warm-up, and it is always in the key as the piece I’m playing.”

As a female playing a predominantly male brass instrument, Melinda experience condescension from judges. Benefitting from her personality, she applies her sophistication, kindness, and confidence to glide past those situations.

“Trombone is a male-dominated instrument, and sometimes it is easy to be overlooked. When I went to the audition, I played an orchestral excerpt for [the judges]. They said, ‘Could you play that again, dear?’. I felt really conscious being a woman playing the trombone. I knew that they wouldn’t call anybody else in the audition ‘dear,’” Melinda said. “It reinforced that I always have to be confident and mature, when I’m playing trombone because it was patronizing to be called ‘dear’ in an audition against people who I knew wouldn’t be called ‘dear’.”

Though her future is unknown, Melinda has a mindset about success that will certainly support her love and devotion for the trombone.

“Success for me is being content with what you’re doing. Growing up in Silicon Valley, surrounded by affluence, it’s hard to separate that from success. I think it’s different, and it doesn’t always mean satisfaction either because I think I can be successful and still hungry for more,” she said, “As long as I am doing good and helping other people and content with what I’m doing, then I’m successful.”