12th Grade
KMEA All State, Valentines Serenades, Co-Concertmaster of Chamber Orchestra
Q. As a senior and Co-Concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra, how has your leadership role shaped the way you approach music and rehearsals?
A. Being concertmaster has really shifted how I think about my role in the ensemble. It’s not just about playing my part well, I also have a responsibility to the people around me. I have to be prepared and focused for our rehearsals and it’s made me more intentional about how I practice and more aware of how the group sounds as a whole rather than just my individual line.
Q. What did being selected for KMEA All-State mean to you personally, and how did you prepare for that level of performance?
A. Being selected for All-State was very exciting and it confirmed that the time I dedicated to practicing paid off. Preparing for the audition required a lot of focused, intentional practice and digging into the technical demands of the music and making sure every detail was polished. And having to audition alongside other musicians from across the state who shared that same level of dedication was very challenging and I’m excited to see what we all sound like together at KMEA next week.
Q. Valentine Serenades is a unique mix of performance and service — what was most memorable or meaningful about that experience for you?
A. The reactions, without a doubt. Watching someone tear up or stand there completely confused when we walked into their workplace with violins was just so incredibly enjoyable. What made it meaningful was that the music wasn’t just serving us as performers; it was genuinely doing something for other people in a really personal way. I think my favorite part was seeing how much joy we brought. It was a fundraiser, but at its heart, it was really about making people feel loved.
Q. How have your experiences in orchestra throughout high school influenced your confidence, discipline, or future goals?
A. Orchestra has truly built so much of who I am as a person. The discipline of showing up to rehearsal prepared, the humility of listening to those around you, the confidence of performing on stage in front of an audience, all of that has compounded over four years. I’m a much more self-assured person because of it. Music has also taught me that growth comes from being willing to struggle with something hard and not giving up on it, and that’s a lesson I’ll carry beyond high school.
Q. Looking back on your time in the Chamber Orchestra, what performance or moment best represents you most?
A. Definitely performing at Carnegie Hall. There’s something surreal about standing on that stage, a place where so many legendary musicians have performed, and getting to be part of that as a high schooler. It represents everything our orchestra has worked toward: the countless rehearsals, the discipline, the growth. I think that performance captured what Chamber Orchestra means to me at its best. We were doing something that genuinely mattered and carrying ourselves at the highest level. It’s definitely a moment I won’t forget.
