Joelle Russell's trip to South Carolina was both affirming and potentially life-altering.

The Quarryville native finished third in the flute at the 47th annual American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) national competition held April 9 at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.

Joelle performed "Meditation From Thais" by Jules Massenet. "I felt like I couldn't have performed better under nervous circumstances," she said. "I feel like the Lord helped me with that."

Joelle initially wasn't certain what those in attendance thought. "You always know what your best performance is, so I was kind of feeling like I didn't make any note mistakes but thought maybe I didn't put enough emotion into it," Joelle said. "But at a master class a day later, a lady came up and told me I played flawlessly. That was sweet. That gave me some reassurance."

The judges concurred with the lady's assessment. "I was really excited and surprised," said Joelle. "I didn't know what to feel. I couldn't believe it, really. I wasn't expecting to win anything there, but that was the Lord's plan."

Joelle and her twin sister, Joy, who both turned 18 on April 21, started homeschooling a year earlier than usual and each earned a high school diploma last spring. Joelle and Joy, who also plays the flute, took elective courses at Harford Christian School this year, which enabled them to try out for the school band. Joelle earned the honor of being the first chair for flute.

Despite late notice, Joelle was able to enter and win first place in the Maryland Association of Christian Schools (MACS) competition March 14 at Harford Christian. That victory over flutists from Maryland and Pennsylvania Christian schools earned Joelle a spot in the national event.

She was not planning on attending college before visiting Bob Jones University this spring. Joelle had been there twice before when her older sister, Anne, finished second in the high school flute competition in consecutive years.

Joelle attended music classes on this trip, and Bob Jones University instructors expressed interest in having her take courses at their institution.

"It was different going back being older now and thinking, 'Well, do I want to go to college?'" Joelle said. "And (Bob Jones University) is the college I always thought in my mind that I would go to if I decided to go to college. Going back for the competition reaffirmed that thought."

Although she noted there are a lot of details that must be figured out, Joelle is seriously considering attending the school starting in the fall and becoming a music teacher. "Music consumes most of my free time," she said. "It is something I could do as a career, sharing that love for music and helping others build skills and enjoy music."

Music runs in the Russell family. The girls' father, Mike, who played the euphonium, performed with the all-region and all-state band as a student at Solanco High School. Their mother, Dorine, played the piano as a child. Older brothers Abel and Daniel play multiple instruments, and Mike's mother, Joyce Russell, plays the piano at Faith Reformed Church.

When Joelle was 5, she could play music on the piano by ear. Joelle, Joy, and Anne took lessons for three years starting when the twins were 8. Joelle and Joy perform with the woodwind ensemble at Reformation Bible Church in Darlington, Md., and they restarted lessons last fall. "We've been enjoying that and feeling like we can progress again," Joelle said.

Joy is a talented flutist in her own right and also plays the piano and violin, but they agree Joelle is the more musically minded of the two. Joy is an aspiring photographer and is contemplating joining Joelle at Bob Jones University and honing her picture-taking skills.

Dorine recalled the terms "stepping up, stepping down, then a skip" from her days of learning how to play the piano. "That's how I would describe Joelle's music career," said Dorine. Now Joelle is ready to focus her full attention on music.

"Last year, I would have said I don't know what I want to do," Joelle said. "Having the different opportunities to play in the band and opportunities to compete, I feel like the Lord has been leading me into the direction of music, confirming my desire to continue with music."