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FSHS student chosen to perform own composition at KMEA event
When Charlie Sercer first began composing musical pieces on the piano, he could not have predicted the early success it would bring to him.
Sercer, a Fort Scott High School sophomore, has been chosen to perform his own original piano composition in Wichita during the February Kansas Music Educators Association State Inservice Workshop.
Sercer, who has been playing the piano since the conclusion of his kindergarten year, began composing musical numbers when he was either 10 or 11. Until recently, Sercer had been playing his musical creations from memory. However, this past fall, Fort Scott High School Orchestra teacher Jane Williams introduced him to a computer program, which enables Sercer to create sheet music for each of the pieces he has written.
Williams also asked Sercer if he would be interested in entering one of his compositions in a KMEA composition competition. Sercer agreed and began searching through his compositions for the most appropriate one.
After Sercer decided which piece he would enter into the competition, he used the computer program to create sheet music for his song. According to Williams, three judges were chosen to review the submitted entries. The are George Farmer, band publications; Kirt Moiser, orchestra publications; and Dana Mengel, choral publications. After the three judges finished examining the musical pieces, Marcus Dowty, chairman of the KMEA composition competition, picked three entries that were worthy entries for performance at the February Inservice. Sercer's entry was among the three chosen.
Sercer said that although he has played his composition for his family and his peers, the February performance will be his first public performance of the song. He said that he is very nervous about the upcoming debut. Wanting to make sure that the piece sounds really good, Sercer said that he practices daily.
However, Sercer's daily practices, which usually last 30 minutes and sometimes longer, are packed full of other pieces in addition to his composition. Since Sercer is under piano instruction once a week by Prof. Giuseppe Lupis at Pittsburg State University, he must also make time to practice three or four additional pieces. He said that he also often plays other musical pieces of his own choosing just for fun.
In addition to the time spent at home practicing the piano, Sercer can also utilize extra time at school, which has been set aside as an independent study hour for him. He said that during this class, which was created for him to practice the piano and utilize the composition computer program, he is responsible for setting goals to work toward. This gives him an opportunity to master the playing of difficult pieces and writing new pieces in addition to creating sheet music for his new compositions.
In a written statement, Williams expressed her pride in Sercer's accomplishments.
"Charlie has always been a strong musician in our music program. We are proud of the well-deserved recognition he has received for his original piano solo. His performance in Wichita during our concert will be a wonderful addition to our program," Williams said.
Williams is not the only one proud of Sercer's accomplishment. KMEA president Jean Ney, expressed her delight, also.
"KMEA is very proud to sponsor the Composition Competition for Kansas students in grades K-12. We're particularly proud of Charlie Sercer! We all look forward to hearing Charlie perform for music teachers from across Kansas at the Fort Scott Orchestra concert during the KMEA State Inservice Workshop," Ney said.
Sercer said that, although Ragtime is his favorite style of music to write, he recently began experimenting with other styles.
According to Sercer, at the present time, he plans to major in mathematics when he gets to college, as he hopes to one day become a math teacher. However, he does plan to continue developing his musical talents.