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In this archival episode of the Tuning into Tomkins Orchestra's podcast (from 2024), we welcome Tompkins' graduated senior Mr. Jake Jiang, a four-time region orchestra member and three-time all-state musician.

Jake joins the host and co-host Vicki to tackle one of music's toughest challenges: performance anxiety and choking moments during high-stakes auditions. Jake admits that nervousness is a natural feeling when you care about something, but he shares how focusing on the shared feeling of nervousness among competitors can alleviate stress.

Learn Jake's philosophy for turning nervous energy into "excellent" music. He advises musicians to concentrate on the musical aspect, focusing on sound quality ("tone") and expression, rather than getting caught up in technical details like shifting. The ultimate goal is making music and sharing the joy of it. When performing, Jake focuses on getting that "juicy vibrato," stressing the importance of looking at the "big picture".

We also explore handling inevitable setbacks. Jake explains that when a mistake occurs during a performance, a musician must compress the "five stages of grief" into a single second and "move on," a concept he relates to the "fleeting nature of life".

Tune in to hear Jake’s wisdom; a blend of musical and life philosophy that applies not just to orchestra auditions, but to job interviews and other fearful occasions.

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