Many moons ago, I won my first competition. I think I was in second grade, and it was a spelling bee. Soon after that, I started playing the flute, and my competitive spirit found a place to blossom. I spent decades finding, preparing for, and--in many cases--winning competitions, auditions, scholarships, and jobs. I've always loved the thrill of stepping onstage to perform with an orchestra, knowing that I'd won the privilege to be there. However, the music world can be crue