Scholar Scholar hopefuls strut stuff for judges

Standing in nearly the exact same place her mother stood many years ago, Andrea Hughes — a Sterling Scholars music finalist — played a seven-minute sonata on her violin for three judges.

She was among nearly 200 finalists who met for a final time Wednesday with judges at Alta High School.

Hughes, a Woods Cross High School senior, was asked questions regarding her own piano compositions, as well as her ability to play with one blind eye. The minor disability, she said, has never distracted her, only "made me a more sensitive player and more sensitive to the emotions going on around me."

The ambitious student has already auditioned at various music conservatories throughout the country, with her fingers crossed for Boston's New England Conservatory, where she hopes to continue studying music and composition.

Following her final interview for the annual contest, which is sponsored by the Deseret News and KSL-TV, Hughes said she believes she has "a good shot" at winning one of the 13 full-year tuition scholarships. She'll know when an awards ceremony announces the winners on March 25 at Cottonwood High School, 5717 S. 1300 East.

Nearly all of the 195 finalists Wednesday demonstrated the same level of confidence as they met their competition and performed in front of a number of well-known judges, including artist Greg Olsen and Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht. Many of the students were unaware of the prestige these judges held, but they tried to handle themselves as professionally as teens know how.

Hillcrest High School dance finalist Rachelle Baker said that although she knew her moves and had practiced them over and over in her head, "you never get away from the nerves." Baker is sometimes so overcome with her aggressive dancing that she's been completely breathless – literally.

The 18-year-old explained her exercise asthma condition as "one of the most scary things I have had to overcome." She planned a two-minute modern dance solo for the judges, choreographing her own moves as she has for hundreds of competitions in the past 10 years.

Dancing, Baker said, "defines my life."

"It allows me to express myself in ways unlike any other outlet," she said. "You can't hide anything on stage. You have to accept yourself and your body. Otherwise, people can tell you don't."