“It sounded like a bird, and I wanted to sound like a bird” answered Abrielle Scott when asked why she first picked up the flute.

As a child, Abreille Scott was first drawn to the flute as it mimicked the melodic trills of a songbird.

In the following years since then, Scott has developed a great passion for the instrument. She currently plays in the PHS Orchestra and is one of its cabinet members. Besides playing as a part of the wind section in the orchestra, Scott is also an active soloist, having performed with PHSO on its Italy tour and with the Westminster Community Orchestra as the winner of the Choir College’s concerto competition.

No matter where the results of her college applications might take her, Scott expects music to play an integral role in her post-high school life. Many options await her, whether they be trying out new genres of music, collaborating with fellow musicians, or joining an orchestra at her future college.

Q1: Have you composed any pieces of music?

The most recent group work I’ve written was probably two years ago with my friend Haley for a flute quartet.We came up with a motive. [which is] the best way to start [writing any piece of music]---approaching it with a really close reading and motive, deciding what [you] want the whole orchestra or ensemble to do. It’s really hard, having one little idea and seeing if you can carry it through.

[The composition] was called “Pirate’s Life”, a collection of scenes from a pirate’s life. It was supposed to be a suite, but we never really finished it. We got through like two movements but we were supposed to have five. We ended up performing them at my private teacher’s studio recital. That was really cool because it was [my] first time performing something that I wrote.

Q2: What do you enjoy most about playing the flute?

I’d say [it’s] all of the amazing people I get to work with. The flute community is a huge group of adorable [individuals]. As a flutist, I’d like to think [that] I enjoy the flute because it’s a versatile and diverse instrument, [giving me the chance] to work with a lot of different people and instruments. It’s a really good way to play and to connect with [others]. I’ve [also] had so many good [experiences]...Over the summer, I [attended] the National Flute Association Convention, and it was actually so much fun! That was my first year going, and I saw so many other flutists. You don’t really see them collectively or in one space. There were so many different types of people from literally across the world [who] brought all types of music with them.

Q3: In a world where musical education is so accessible, and where everyone has the opportunity to learn an instrument, do you ever worry that someone is better than yourself?

That [feeling] used to be really scary for me, but honestly, that’s just how it is. Maybe last year I kind of came to terms with it. Instead of [viewing the talented] negatively and [as] something that would lower your self-esteem, I think it's just better to look at them, and try [to] see them as a goal. If someone's technique is better than yours, [then] ask them how they got to where they are. Honestly, the music community is so small, and it’s better to just learn from each other rather than seeing everyone as competition. It's more fun that way too.