Under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle , Brennan plays with the London Symphony Orchestra .
Brennan practices with ( top ) and gets rehearsal notes from ( bottom ) 15-time Grammy Award winner , Bela Fleck .
I ’ ve made my passion into a career , and that is just the most rewarding feeling .
Brennan has taken countless auditions for symphonies , earning three of the four positions she holds today . “ At 26 years old , I have literally traveled around the globe , several times , and had the opportunity to call many different places , on several continents , " home ". I ’ ve seen the world , I ’ ve performed in some of the most beautiful and famous music venues , and made lifelong friends along the way . I ’ ve made my passion into a career , and that is just the most rewarding feeling .”
Of course , she still negotiates the challenges particular to her work , which she describes as linking self-worth with the ability to perform in your chosen medium . “ It can be difficult to separate your personal self-worth from your musicianship , skill level , and performance confidence ,” she explains , “ especially when you ’ re constantly receiving critiques .” Her words of wisdom for the students who currently walk the halls of the arts wing at TA are the same she ’ s heard from her mother a million times . “ She always said , ‘ Learn one single note at a time .’ As usual , she was right , and by learning a single note , and then the next single note , I could invariably work my way through the piece and have it perfected in no time . This same mindset can be applied to absolutely anything . When it all gets to be too much — take life one note at a time .”
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