Megan Evans takes the stage in her last year at La Sierra

Evans performed on violin in a student recital at Hole Memorial Auditorium on Nov. 5 with Kimo Smith, director of keyboard studies, joining her on piano. She will appear in another student recital at Hole Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 6, 2017 where she will perform on the clarinet.  

Evans musical career began at the age of 6, where she first began playing violin. She then picked up clarinet at age 9.  Her practice sessions started off as 20 minutes each day. However, her practice session for violin increased to three and a half hours and one hour for clarinet. To create a balance between the two instruments, she’ll focus mostly on the instrument that has a lesson or recital coming up. There have been rare occasions where she has practiced the violin for more than 12 hours.

Evans made her debut on clarinet at age 12 when she performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto” on tour with the Young Musicians Ensemble. She was the principal clarinetist for three years in the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble at Loma Linda Academy.

“My dad played clarinet through high school, which is why I played the clarinet because I used his old [clarinet] for a long time,” said Evans.

She has studied the clarinet with William Wellwood, along with Kathryn Nevin and Kirk Udvaridi. She’s received instruction on the violin from Ken Aiso, Jeanne Skrocki, Jason Uyeyama, and Bonnie Bell.

La Sierra’s department of music has supported her goals to become in a musician through numerous concerts, master classes, workshops, and opportunities. “[I get to] play in […] concerts with the professionals that I would not have if I had gone to another Adventist university,” said Evans. She has worked with Joseph Silverstein, Elmar Oliveria, Arturo Delmoni, Toby Appel, Elaine Skorodin, and others. She participated in a master class on clarinet with renowned woodwind artist Gary Foster. Evans has also performed in the Walt Disney Concert Hall as well as in other various venues in Spain, Japan, France, and Jamaica.

“[I got to make] lasting friendships with people from all over the world that I would've never met without my musical opportunities,” said Evans.

Evans has performed in numerous competitions where she has placed in a winning spot. She performed on violin for the VOCE Redlands division and made it to statewide competition. She also performed on both clarinet and violin for La Sierra’s Young Artists Competition. She was also chosen to perform a clarinet solo for La Sierra’s Concerto Competition concert in 2015 with the La Sierra University Orchestra.

Evans enjoys performing on both instruments, but has a greater love for the violin. “The one I have always dreamed about is the violin, and that is the one I never get tired with,” said Evans.

When she graduates from La Sierra, she plans to attend graduate school to receive a master’s degree in violin performance. One of her dreams is to be in an orchestra like the Los Angeles Philharmonic. “My musical experience at La Sierra has been blessed by the fact that we live so close to Los Angeles where so many talented musicians live,” said Evans.

At the end of the school year, Evans will present her Honors project on the origins of violin music. In the meantime, she can be found performing with the orchestra, wind ensemble, and many student chamber concerts.

“The La Sierra music department has given me opportunities to meet new people and professors that have molded me into the musician I am today, and I have learned how to better prepare for master classes and auditions,” said Evans.