Jason Choi Memorial Scholarship for Guitarists

My journey on guitar didn’t begin in ministry but actaully a year back. When I was 14 years old, I decided to learn to play guitar with the interest of learning to play Mexican folk music. This eventually led me to sign up to a mariachi music academy, an opportunity which I will never forget as it allowed me to learn the basics of music such as theory and rhythms. It also allowed me to get experience in playing acoustic guitar. A few months later, I accepted Jesus as Lord, and felt a conviction to leave the academy. Even though it was disappointing, I decided to trust the Lord and walked into the unknown path He had called me to follow. At the time, I didn’t know the Lord used this to prepare me to serve in the worship ministry in the church my family and I attended. Additionally, I began taking classes with a well known guitarist within the worship genre allowing me to expand my knowledge and learn different genres of music, such as contemporary worship, funk, coritos and pop ballad. Growing up in a Hispanic church, majority of the songs from artist such as Miel San Marcos, Montesanto and Juan Carlos Alvarado relied on the crucial role of the electric guitar, a powerful and versatile instrument. I don’t recall at any point being interested in learning electric, but as I continued to listen to a few songs, I got hooked into it. Soon enough, I began to explore this instrument learning many new concepts such as power chords, triads, melodies and much more. It also allowed me to learn how to use and equalize pedals such as the Boss GT-1 and Line 6 Helix, alongside the softwares they came with. This skills not only allowed me to explore the instrument itself, but further grow as a musician alongside learning a bit of audio engineering and production. Although I didn’t know much about what the ministry was about, there was always a desire in me to use a talent that I was naturally good at to honor God. Exactly one year after following God, for the first time ever I began to play in the ministry. I enjoyed playing my instrument of course, and also learn how it felt to work with other musicians, but there was something that felt more special to me: welcoming Gods presence. Knowing that every service, I had the opportunity to guide others to encounter the God who loves us carried a weight of responsibility, but also joy knowing that I am doing something to expand the kingdom. I have pushed myself as well to not keep my talent confined to the walls of my congregation, but also outside of it in places such school with friends and online through small clips. Surrendering these talent to His service has been the best choice I have done with this instrument.

For me, playing guitar has become a long-lasting marriage of sorts. Not that I am extremely experienced in marriage as an eighteen-year-old, but playing guitar has become not just something that I do, but a part of my identity. When people ask what I do with my life, one of the first things I tell them is that I play guitar. I have played acoustic guitar for over ten years, and have played electric guitar for around seven. In these years, the instrument has not only enhanced my work ethic, but has served as a source of comfort and beauty as well. I began taking guitar lessons in second grade. Although initially excited, I quickly lost interest, and for two years or so, wanted to quit. Thankfully, my parents did not allow this, and over time, the guitar began to give me clear goals to work towards. For instance, my first teacher arranged for me to play in coffee shops during open-mic nights on three separate occasions. I especially remember performing “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, which was the first piece that I ever performed in front of an audience. I was terrified and physically shaking, but felt like a celebrity after finishing the song and being met with a roar of applause from my small audience. During my high school years, I earned merit on both the Grade 4 and Grade 8 Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Practical Guitar Examinations, as well as distinction on the Grade 5 Music Theory Examination. All of these endeavors required significant work, and months of planning and preparing in advance. Many times throughout these processes, I doubted myself, thinking that I did not have enough time, or simply was not skilled enough to accomplish what I wanted to. However, by continuing to push forward, I ultimately achieved both formal qualifications, and unforgettable memories. Guitar has not only strengthened my work ethic, but has also served as an incredible outlet to alleviate stress and to enjoy the beauty music provides. My guitars (a Yamaha Acoustic and a tobacco-colored Gibson Les Paul) are almost like friends to me. When I play guitar, my mind enters a different mode of thinking, and I find myself less likely to think about the day-to-day stressors of life. When my hands touch the familiar fretboard of each of my guitars, it is second-nature for me to lose myself in the beauty of music. The guitar is like a second voice of mine; when I cannot fully express what I feel, my musical voice can. This is the true beauty of playing a musical instrument. Music provides us a transcendental experience that cannot be replicated. For me, this is the real reason I play guitar. Like any long-lasting marriage, my relationship with the guitar has required patience, dedication, and work, but it has rewarded me with confidence, comfort, and a lifelong passion I hope to continue long into the future.

Hi, my name is Zach Shin and I am beyond privileged to have this opportunity. Although my first musical experience was my mom introducing me to the violin, anytime I would attempt to play, I would often be compared to a squealing pig. As time grew, I found myself dreading the idea of touching my violin and music and overall was unappealing to me. Eventually, my dad, a former guitarist, introduced me to the bass guitar during quarantine. This small action led to my discovery of the electric, classical, and acoustic guitar. Thus, I instantly fell back in love with music and became fixated on guitar modifications, fine tuning my craft, and finally making use of the six guitars lying in my room that I had access to all my life. As more opportunities opened, I felt as if God had personally invited me to use my talents to glorify his name. Starting with playing bass guitar for my small youth group band, the idea of performing for his name was exhilarating and I quickly excelled. However, more than actually physically strumming the strings or finger plucking a certain pattern to achieve a style of the guitar, the sheer dopamine rush of playing how you truly feel on guitar is unmatched. Conveying messages, advocating for topics, and exploring your own self-expression is what motivates me to never stop playing the guitar. Not only has music been a major consistency in my life to cheer me up when I was down, to motivate me in pivotal moments, and etc. but music and specifically guitar ignites my soul by harnessing my creativity and creating infinite chord progressions, notes, riffs, combinations, strumming patterns, styles, tones, and much more! The possibilities are truly endless and everything you thought was already done on the guitar, can and is still being revolutionized as technology and music advancements. Therefore, even though I picked up the guitar later in my life, I realize how music unites people. Whether this be throughout playing in my middle school rock band, my previous, and current church worship team, my school chapel band, or even playing for friends, I feel there's something so timeless and classic that guitar cannot be replaced by by uniting us humans to come together and enjoy a piece of music for a brief minute or two. I thank God for these opportunities to glorify him and his people. Thus, playing the guitar means the world to me, and I don't ever see myself stopping.