How long have you been in the YSO? I’ve been in the YSO since 6th grade, so this season will complete my 6th year.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in high school? Some might beg to differ, but I think my greatest accomplishment in high school would be reading the entirety of Jane Eyre in one, 7-hour session.
Where are you headed after high school? After high school, I plan to attend Rice University, majoring in Biochemistry and Mathematics.
What advice might you give to younger musicians? My biggest piece of advice is to just stick with it. I know there are moments when we are learning where it seems so much easier to just pack up your instrument away and never take it out again, but the moments that our hard work pays off are so rewarding. When it gets too tedious to practice or to go to rehearsal, just remember why we are musicians: to bring joy to other people and ourselves through music. The memories I’ve made at concerts and recitals are some of the happiest that I have, and I wouldn’t trade this special experience for the world.
What are your plans after high school? After high school, during the summer, I plan to relax... a lot. After that, I will head off to Houston for my freshman year of college, studying Biochemistry and Mathematics and playing in the non-major orchestra. Eventually, I want to go to medical school and become a cardiothoracic surgeon as well as participating in the local symphony wherever I end up living.
Anything else you want to say? I am incredibly grateful for the experiences and memories that WFYSO has given me: playing in concerts, attending symphonies, standing around and eating ice cream at the annual ice cream social, and walking outside with friends during breaks every Sunday. The WFYSO has been the most constant thing in my life ever since 6th grade and I’m really glad that I joined this wonderful organization.