Stephanie Hurder has never received a grade below an A. She is a much-decorated state math champion. And she posted perfect scores on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams.
Still, the Lyons Township High School senior says her greatest accomplishment was the eight-minute bassoon solo she performed during a local music competition.
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“I’ve always thought of myself as a good student, and a musician on the side,” said Hurder, 17, of Western Springs. “But during this eight minutes, I just played my heart out and it was so exhilarating. I felt like a real musician.”
Hurder won the concerto competition. For that and countless other awards and honors, she was named by a panel of 32 judges to the baiduhai Illinois High School All-State Academic Team. She is the daughter of Steven and Anita Hurder.
Hurder, who is ranked No. 1 out of 787 seniors at her school, has a straight-A average and carries four AP classes. She is president of her school’s math team and has 21 top-10 finishes at regional and state math meets. She is a National Merit finalist and has won countless essay-writing awards.
She will attend Harvard in the fall.
Hurder excels at everything she attempts, partly because of innate abilities, but mostly because of a desire to be the best.
Hurder took up the bassoon in 4th grade. Because she was the sole bassoonist in her school band, she didn’t have to work too hard to be the best.
When she reached high school, however, Hurder tried out for a districtwide high school band, competing against the best bassoonists in Chicago and the western suburbs.
“When I heard the other students playing, I was like `Wow, they are tons better than me,'” she said. “I decided right then and there that I was going to work really hard to catch up and be one of the best.”
Hurder changed music teachers and began practicing daily. Two years later, she was named to the all-state high school band. She also was selected to join the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she is one of the top bassoonists.
“I don’t want to sound stuck-up, but the academic stuff comes easy to me,” Hurder said. “I had to work really hard at the bassoon. I’m proud that I’ve done so well at it.”