Give Mia Quinlan a few minutes and she’ll be able to pick out the notes to everything from the “Jaws” theme to her favorite new rap song on the radio.

Yet, when the Old Rochester Regional seventh grade flutist went to the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association’s Solo and Ensemble Festival on May 10, she wasn’t expecting to take home a gold.

After playing her solo performance of “Valse Gracieuse” by William Popp, the judges threw Quinlan a curve ball, asking her to play portions of the music with different rhythms and tempos than she had practiced.

“I was not prepared for any of that. I was a little upset and discouraged that I didn’t do the best I could,” said Quinlan, a Mattapoisett resident.

The 12-year-old expected a bronze medal for her playing, but after a “nerve-wracking” wait, got the good news that she had received the highest award for her playing.

Not bad for someone who only started playing the flute three years ago.

“When I picked up the flute, I said, ‘I’m just going to be average and blend in with everyone else,” said Quinlan.

Instead, she found a new passion.

“I started listening to new music. It just opened me up to a new world,” she said.

Before the flute, Quinlan played the piano. She has also taken up the ukulele, but said flute is her favorite instrument. In addition to private lessons, she plays with the ORR Junior High concert and jazz bands.

Quinlan also participated in a jazz festival in April, and said, “It’s always good to try something new and challenging to better yourself.”

She said ORR band director Jim Farmer and her private teacher Wendy Hawes have been helpful and encouraging as she works improve her playing.

And while Quinlan got very high marks in the festival, her judge also said she needs to relax more and stress less when playing.

That will be good advice for Quinlan who is considering a career as a flutist as well as a marine biologist. Helping her along with that goal is the new professional flute her parents, Bill and Dina Quinlan, purchased for her after she got the gold medal.

In addition to the new flute, Quinlan said she took away an important lesson from the festival: “Don’t ever underestimate yourself.”