First Person SPRING ’25

In addition to playing the flute at venues like Tanglewood and Symphony Hall, Giulia Vitolo ’25 has participated in the Massachusetts All State Festival band as well as the Massachusetts Eastern District band and orchestra. She volunteers as part of Winsor’s Allegro Club, visiting with and performing for the residents (age 62+) at the Mount Pleasant Home in Jamaica Plain.

How did you first become interested in playing the flute?

I began playing the flute in fourth grade as a part of my school’s band program. Originally, I had picked the flute for fourth-grader reasons: the look and the sound. However, I owe my passion for the flute to my amazing flute teacher. Her teaching emphasizes encouragement, discipline, and consistency.

How do you balance school, music, and other commitments?

Playing the flute after school allows me to compartmentalize my musical endeavors from my academics. Playing an instrument is a skill that you use or lose, so some practice is always better than none. I had to learn how to make the flute a part of my daily routine. Like brushing my teeth or doing my homework, I have to practice the flute.

You’ve performed in some big venues—do you have a favorite performance experience?

In a BUTI Young Arts Wind Ensemble rehearsal, James Stephenson, the composer of Symphony No. 2 Voices, came to share his experience writing the piece and he conducted us. He recounted his struggles with writer’s block after the passing of his mother. Hearing firsthand his strength in enduring difficult times to create a piece that reflects his anguish and coping revealed an entirely new meaning and purpose of music for me.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a musician?

What motivates me to choose music, day after day, is the opportunity to pour my emotions into a project. As much as practicing and performing are hard at times, in the end, I will always cherish the meaningful experiences I have, the long-lasting friendships I make, and the unforgettable memories I share.

How do you handle performance anxiety or nerves before stepping on stage?

I have learned two big lessons for reducing performance anxiety. One: Prepare, prepare, prepare. The preparation for an audition or performance begins weeks or months before. I will always create a detailed plan of attack, set reasonable goals, perform mock auditions/performances for others, and visualize the performance in hyper detail. Two: Expose yourself. Of my countless performances, there have been numerous where I’ve been disappointed in myself for letting my nerves get the best of me, especially when I knew I could play the piece the way I wanted. But, each performance let-down has been a learning experience. Could I have practiced with the tuner more? Could I have memorized the piece better? Ultimately, I know that performing is about expressing, not impressing. I acknowledge and celebrate how far I have already come and where I can go next.