Since 9th grade, I have been an active member of both the String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra at Crean Lutheran High School, serving as a section leader. Playing the violin has taught me how to perform with confidence, expressing the instrument’s bright and intricate melodies with passion. Later, taking on the role of the viola, I learned how to listen more deeply — not just to my own sound but to those around me — balancing and uniting the orchestra as a mediator and controller of harmony.

Through these experiences, I discovered that orchestral music is not only about technical skill, but also about connection; communicating through the movement of our bows, the rhythm of our hands, and the shared breath of a single performance.