I knew I wanted to join an orchestra after seeing my first concert at the age of 9. What got me hooked was discovering the versatility of the cello with its wide sound range resembling a human’s. This interest pushed me to join my middle school orchestra where I learned the basics of playing a string instrument, however, I wanted to take my skills to the next level and heard of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO).
From the information I saw on the WYSO website, I knew I would enjoy myself there, however, I was already taking piano lessons and couldn’t make the commitment needed to practice both at the same time. I decided to take a break from my piano lessons while I focused on practicing the cello for my WYSO audition, luckily my sacrifice paid off.
My WYSO experience for the last three years was great. Members and faculty helped further establish my appreciation for music and allowed me to share this appreciation with schools close by with in-state tours. I always looked forward to the opportunity of getting others as excited as I was when I first heard an orchestra.
Next year, I plan to go to UW Madison to pursue an undergraduate degree in microbiology in the hopes of becoming a doctor one day. While in college, I will continue my musical education by joining the All-University Strings Orchestra at UW Madison.