Performing under pressure is an elusive art.

But 10 musicians demonstrated that ability in their final music performance juries last semester and were selected for the School of Music's Jury Recognition Recital at 8 Friday night.

Each area -- brass, keyboard, percussion, strings, woodwinds and voice -- has 10 minutes of performance in the recital.

The concert gives the students the chance to perform for other faculty who don't normally hear them, as well as the public, said Lisa O. Bontrager, assistant music professor.

Those selected performed the most outstanding juries in the fall, said June Miller, chairwoman of the Undergraduate Commission in the School of Music and recital coordinator. Miller, also a music professor who teaches organ, said she looks for technique and musicianship in the keyboard juries.

Of the 60 brass students, the faculty judges for brass juries could easily choose 10 as outstanding performers, said Bontrager, a brass judge.

But the decision must be based solely on that day's performance, she said.

"We're looking for exceptional," Bontrager said. "We have a lot of good students." Besides technique and musicianship, the faculty judges look for confidence in playing, stage presence and finesse, she added.

The number of performers selected for the jury is not constant, Miller said. Up to 12 people, two from each section, can be selected for the recital. But some years, the faculty judges don't feel their area has an outstanding performer, she added.

Bontrager helps her students prepare for juries by making them rehearse often with their accompanying pianists and giving them the chance to perform in public a few days before juries in the French horn studio recital.

"I want them to have a good experience playing the piece so next time they're even more confident," she said.

Kevin Chen (sophomore-engineering science), Andrew Davis (sophomore-music education) and Chris Greene (junior-music performance) all said it helped to perform their piece before walking into their jury. Chen played in a solo recital, while Greene and Davis played their pieces for the School of Music's "common hour" -- a periodic recital designed as a reward for students who perform well during lesson time.

Chen said much preparation went into his solo recital.

"The pieces just simmered until the jury," Chen said.

Despite the pressure, he found the jury enjoyable because the piano he played was of good quality.

"I just try to play and have fun," he said.

Chen credits his teacher, Steven Smith, professor of music, for his ideas and musical experience.

The jury results surprised Greene, who thought he did well but did not expect to be chosen for the recital. He simply tried to relax, he said.

"Music is not a competition to me," Greene said. "I'm not out to beat anyone." The best way to go into a jury is just to "pick up, walk on and not think about it," he added.

Davis saw insight into the music as the most important aspect of performing.

"I think you have to look beyond the notes on the page," Davis said. "It's all about being musical."

Looking at a piece as a whole and listening to recordings to learn expressive techniques are important and are also integral parts of performance, Davis said.

"Once you understand all that mental stuff, then it's a matter of having enough mastery over your instrument to put through the instrument what you hear in your head," he said.

The following people were selected for the recital:

-- Brass: Michael Forbes (sophomore-music), tuba and Greene, French horn.

-- Keyboard: Sheila Berger (junior-music performance) and Chen.

-- Percussion: Amy Swanson (freshman-music performance), marimba and Eric Sanders (sophomore-music performance), xylophone.

-- Strings: Doni Boyer (junior-music performance), string bass.

-- Woodwinds: Davis, saxophone.

-- Voice: Melissa Wallner (sophomore-music performance) and Patti Vallei (junior-music education).