Bainbridge High School senior flutist Hayden Tutty performed on Oct. 28 with an ensemble of the 673 most talented American music students.

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss the show.

Unless, of course, you were in Nashville, because they played on the world-renowned Grand Old Opry House stage, the legendary “Home of American music.”

The young island musician was performing as part of the National Association for Music Education’s 2015 All-American Concert Band, an elite ensemble — a kind of all-star national youth concert band — made up of selected high school-aged music students from across the United States and overseas in military base schools as well.

An impressive feat, especially considering that only a few short years ago she didn’t want anything to do with making music.

“I actually wasn’t very good my first year,” Tutty, who began playing the flute in fifth grade at Sakai Intermediate School under the direction of Ralph Burton, laughed. “I was pretty bad, actually. I was behind everybody and I wanted to quit.”

Then her mother Laurel Tutty said she should give it more time, and sought out a private instructor.

“I said, ‘Before you quit, why don’t we try some private lessons?’” Laurel said. “’And then, you can at least know if you like it or not. At least be sure.’”

A little extra attention quickly reminded Tutty why she’d wanted to play an instrument in the first place, and as her skills improved, so too did her love for being part of an ensemble. She’s also added a few instruments to her repertoire.

“I play piano and flute and ukulele,” she said. “But ukulele is just for fun, and piano is to help me understand music more. So I don’t really play it to be super talented at piano. I’m not the best piano player, but it helps me to understand a lot.”

It’s that same kind of casual and humble manner which inspired Tutty’s choice of the flute.

“I don’t remember if I made a big decision about it,” she said. “I didn’t really have like a big ‘Aha!’ moment. I was just in fifth grade and they made you choose an instrument, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play flute or clarinet and I was just kind of randomly like, ‘Oh, whatever, I’ll play the flute.’”

Her road to the Grand Old Opry has been a long one, including a relentless practice schedule and performances with the school band, at her church and with the Tacoma Youth Syphony as well.

“I am so proud of Hayden, her family [and] the rest of her bandmates,” Chris Thomas, Bainbridge High School director of bands, said in a recent email announcement to band parents and boosters. “I can’t wait to hear about her amazing experiences rehearsing and performing with the All-National Concert Band.”

Playing with the ensemble is the reward after the arduous audition process, Thomas said.

“To earn this opportunity,” he explained, “Hayden successfully auditioned into the All-Northwest Symphony Orchestra last winter. That placement earned her the right to record a video audition for the All-National program, where she was to go against the best players from the rest of the country.”

A few months later, he said, they got the good news.

“I think I was kind of in shock,” Tutty said of her initial reaction. “It didn’t really hit me for a while. I was kind of like, ‘Oh, it’s so far away.’ And I always thought that maybe they made a mistake with picking me? Because I didn’t even think my audition tape was that good.

“I kind of just sent it in [and] I was like, ‘Oh, what the heck? It can’t hurt to try,’” she added. “So, when I sent it in and [Thomas] said I got in I was in a lot of shock and then I was really excited after that because I knew this was such a great opportunity.”

Tutty said she practices at least eight to 10 hours a week, and also enjoys playing tennis regularly and tutors other students in chemistry twice a week. She plans to study music at college next year and hopes someday to play professionally with an orchestra.

“There’s so much depth to it,” Tutty said of classic symphony music.

“My favorite part is to be playing in an orchestra,” she added. “If I’ve listened to the song before, and now I’m a part of it, I’m part of the layers, that’s the coolest part to me, is that I’m part of creating this really amazing thing.”