To me, living a life of service means using what I’ve been given to pour into others in a meaningful way. For as long as I can remember, music has been how I do that. What started as a simple decision to join my church’s children’s choir in third grade turned into an eleven-year volunteer commitment to serving through music. Over time, I realized that service is not always something big or visible. Sometimes it looks like showing up every week, giving your time and energy, and being part of something that lifts others up. I grew up surrounded by music because of my mom, who is a pianist and choral director. Being in church choir was never just about singing. It was about connection, faith, and community. Singing alongside others taught me how to listen, blend, and support the people around me. When I joined the adult choir in eighth grade, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and had to grow quickly. I developed my musical skills, but more importantly, I began to understand the responsibility of being someone others could rely on. As I got older, my role in music began to shift from simply participating to leading. In high school, I became a cantor, leading worship at different churches. Now in college, I serve as a section leader for choral masses and sing as a cantor at my local church when I return home on college breaks. In these moments, I am not just singing. I am helping create an environment where people can feel something deeper, whether that is peace, joy, or comfort. Every week, I help lead worship for hundreds and sometimes thousands of people, and that is something I do not take lightly. Music has a way of reaching people in ways words cannot, and being part of that is incredibly meaningful to me. When COVID-19 took that experience away, even temporarily, it changed my perspective completely. Choir had always been a constant in my life, and suddenly it was gone. That loss made me realize how much music truly matters. It is not just an activity or a hobby. It is a form of connection and healing. It brings people together, especially in moments when they need it most. That realization strengthened my desire to keep music at the center of my life and to continue using it as a way to serve others. Now, as a Music Business student at Belmont University, I am learning how to expand that impact beyond performance. I want to build a career in music publishing and marketing so I can support artists and songwriters behind the scenes. I have seen how much passion and effort it takes to pursue music, and I want to help make that path sustainable for others. Everyone deserves the chance to share their voice, and I want to be someone who helps make that possible. At the heart of everything I do is a desire to give back. Whether I am leading worship, mentoring younger musicians, or helping artists grow their careers, I want my life to reflect service. Music has given me purpose, community, and a way to connect with people on a deeper level. Through my education and future career, I hope to pass that on and continue serving others in the most authentic way I know how.

What does it take to turn great artistry into a lasting career? The truth is, talent alone is not enough, and that is where I come in. As a singer and student at Belmont University majoring in Music Business, I plan to make a positive impact on the world by helping artists build sustainable careers in music through marketing and Music Publishing. My experience spans both performance and behind-the-scenes work. I have studied violin for nine years, trained in ballet for seven, and developed skills in music production and marketing alongside my work as a vocalist. Additionally, I have always loved to paint, bake, and do any crafts that get my creativity going. These combined experiences have given me a broad understanding of how many different elements must come together to support an artist’s career. Growing up surrounded by music through my mother, a pianist and choral director, I learned early on that music is both an art form and a way to connect with others. Singing in church choirs, becoming a professional cantor in high school, and later serving as a section leader in Nashville, TN, helped me see how music can create community and purpose. This also showed me how many talented artists struggle to turn their passion into something stable and long-term. Through my studies, I have become especially interested in music publishing and social media marketing. I want to work behind the scenes to help songwriters and performers share their work and grow their audiences. In today’s industry, success depends not only on talent but also on understanding how to navigate business and digital platforms, and I want to help artists bridge that gap. My goal is to use my creative and business training to support emerging and underrepresented artists globally, so they are not held back by lack of access or resources. Whether through publishing, marketing, or artist development, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive music industry where more voices have the chance to be heard. Ultimately, I want my work to help artists feel supported, valued, and able to continue creating. If I can play even a small role in helping someone build a lasting career in music, I will consider that a meaningful impact.

As I stood on the stage at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, about to open for Foreigner with my high school choir, I looked around at my friends and felt how surreal the moment was. It was not just about the performance or the audience, but rather the journey that brought us there together. Every rehearsal, early morning, and moment of growth had led to that stage. It was then that, I felt the true power of music, not just as something you hear, but as something that builds community, trust, and purpose. My passion for music began with my mom. As a pianist and choral director, she was the one who first invited me to sing in my church’s children’s choir. I had musical experience from singing along with the radio and thought, “Sure! Why not!” Singing in the choir became a way for my family to connect through music. My dad and I sang together while my mom directed. At the time, I saw it as volunteering, but looking back, I realize that small decision set me on the path toward pursuing a future in music. Singing alongside others taught me how to listen, blend, and support those around me. In eighth grade, I moved up to the adult choir, which pushed me in new ways. Being the youngest member challenged me to grow quickly, and it was during this time that I began developing key musical skills, like sight-reading and vocal techniques, which became the foundation for everything I know today. To this day, I haven’t taken any formal music theory classes. Instead, everything I know has been self-taught through experience and performance. Choir remained at the center of my life throughout high school, where I sang in my school’s choral program. When Covid-19 interrupted everything, that sense of connection disappeared. Choir, built on community, became impossible in the way I knew it. That loss made me realize how much music truly meant to me. It was never just an activity. It was a space where I felt grounded, understood, and connected to something bigger than myself. Having that taken away made me certain that I wanted music to always be part of my life. Now, as a Music Business student at Belmont University, I have chosen a path that allows me to stay close to music while exploring how it works behind the scenes. Even though my degree focuses on the business side, performing continues to be an important part of who I am. I sing in Belmont’s choir and take private voice lessons on my own time, not because I have to, but because I cannot imagine my life without it. My goal is to build a career in music publishing and marketing, helping artists and songwriters create sustainable lives doing what they love. I have seen how much dedication it takes to pursue music, and I want to help make that path possible for others. Josh’s story resonates deeply with me because of the passion and dedication he had for music. The joy he found in playing, teaching himself, and performing is something I relate to. Music has the power to stay with people, even after they are gone, and to continue inspiring others in ways words cannot always capture. Music has shaped my life in so many ways, just as it did for Josh. Through my education and continued involvement in music, I hope to carry that same passion forward by supporting musicians and giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams as well.

As both a musician myself and a Music Business student at Belmont University, I have learned that great music does not succeed on talent alone. Over the years, I have developed a perspective that combines both the creative and business sides of the industry. I am especially interested in pursuing a career in music publishing, while also exploring opportunities in marketing, particularly through social media. My goal is to help artists and songwriters turn what they love into something sustainable, so they can continue creating while also making a living. I chose to pursue music because it has been a part of my life from the start. My mom is a pianist and choral director, so I grew up surrounded by rehearsals, performances, and constantly hearing music. In third grade, I started volunteering in my church’s children’s choir, and by eighth grade, I moved up to the adult choir. Being part of those groups gave me a sense of belonging and helped me grow both musically and personally. When COVID hit, it was hard to see how much the music world was affected, especially choirs, which rely so much on being together. That experience made me realize how important music really is. In high school, I began working as a professional cantor at churches across Connecticut, which gave me my first real experience getting paid to do something I love. After moving to Nashville for college, I became a section leader at the Cathedral of the Incarnation for choral masses. I have also studied violin for nine years, which has allowed me to collaborate with other musicians in different ways. Through all these experiences, I have learned that music is its own kind of language. You do not need words to understand it. It brings people together and creates connections that go beyond anything else. Some of my biggest role models are not really well-known figures, but rather the individuals who shaped my musical journey directly. The section leaders I worked with in choir when I was younger were leaders who not only helped me sing the right notes, but also gave me hope that I could turn my passion of music into a livable career. Looking back, I realize how much I admired them, and now that I am in a similar position myself, I hope to inspire others in the same way. Above all, my mother has been my greatest role model. Watching her turn her passion for music into a career that supports her family has been incredibly inspiring. Her work as a church musician and Director of Choral Activities has shown me that it is possible to build a meaningful, fulfilling life through music. She has instilled in me the belief that music is not only an art form, but also a powerful way to serve and uplift others. I want to make an impact on the music industry by helping artists succeed behind the scenes. Through music publishing, I want to support songwriters and help them share their work. I am also interested in social media marketing because it plays such a big role in how artists are discovered today. Being able to understand and use those platforms is a valuable skill that can help artists grow their careers. At the end of the day, I want to be remembered as someone who supported others and believed in them from the start. Sometimes all it takes is one person to encourage you to keep going. If I can be that person for even a few artists, then I will know I made a difference.