I aspire to build a career in music as both a percussion performer and a creative leader in sound production. What excites me most is not fitting into only one lane, but being able to contribute to music from multiple sides: onstage through performance and behind the scenes through sound. I want to be part of creating experiences that people do not just hear, but feel. That is the kind of work that has always moved me most, and it is the kind of work I hope to spend my life doing. I chose music because it became the place where my voice was heard long before I was comfortable using it out loud. I have never been the loudest person in the room, but from the moment I found percussion, I found a way to express strength, emotion, discipline, and heart without needing to force myself into someone else’s idea of leadership. Music gave me confidence before I fully knew how to name it. It gave me belonging, purpose, and a place where I could grow into myself. Being a female percussionist has been an important part of that journey. Percussion is still a space where girls can be underestimated, and there have been times when I felt the pressure to prove that I belonged there. It would have been easy to become smaller in those moments, but instead music taught me how to stand my ground quietly and steadily. I learned that leadership does not always have to be loud to be powerful. As I grew into roles like Section Leader, Line Captain, and Sound Designer, I found that my strength came from consistency, preparation, encouragement, and the way I made others feel supported. I led by showing up, doing the work, and helping others believe in themselves too. That style of leadership became one of the most meaningful parts of my story. My biggest role models in music are the women who create space for themselves and for others. I admire women in music who are talented and fearless, but also those who lead with authenticity, generosity, and resilience. I especially look up to women who succeed in spaces where they are not always expected and who use that success to make the path easier for the next girl coming behind them. That is the kind of example I want to follow. I want to make an impact on the music industry by helping it become more creative, more collaborative, and more welcoming, especially for young women in percussion and technical production. I want to prove that women belong not only in the spotlight, but also in the rhythm section, at the sound board, in production meetings, and in leadership. I want to help create performances that move people emotionally while also showing younger girls that they do not have to change who they are to belong in music. I want people to remember me as someone who made a real difference with both heart and excellence. I want to be remembered as a musician and leader who brought people together, lifted others up, and made others feel seen. More than anything, I want to be remembered as someone whose presence was felt, even before she ever had to raise her voice.

Music has grown with me for most of my life. What started with a little pink drum set when I was young became the beginning of something much bigger: a passion that has shaped my confidence, discipline, leadership, and sense of purpose. At first, I was simply drawn to rhythm and the joy of making noise. Over time, that early spark became a serious commitment to percussion and to the future I want to build through music. I have now studied percussion for ten years, and what continues to inspire me most is its range. Percussion can be bold, driving, and impossible to ignore, but it can also be subtle, expressive, and deeply emotional. I love that it has a place in so many different musical settings and can completely change the energy of an ensemble or a performance. Through marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, youth orchestra, pit orchestra, and honors groups, I have learned how to adapt, listen carefully, and contribute to something bigger than myself. Every ensemble has challenged me in a different way, and every experience has helped me grow into a more versatile musician and a stronger person. Some of my most meaningful growth has come through leadership. In my high school marching band, I progressed from section member to Section Leader and then Percussion Captain. Those roles taught me that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about being dependable, prepared, and willing to set a standard through your actions. I learned how to lead sectionals, mentor younger students, and support my peers while still holding myself to a high level of accountability. Music taught me how to work hard, but leadership in music taught me how to use that hard work to help other people grow too. Music also led me to another creative path that has become a major part of who I am: theatre. Through school and community productions, I have worked as a pit musician, sound technician, and sound designer. Those experiences expanded the way I think about performance and storytelling. I became fascinated by how music and sound can shape emotion, strengthen a scene, and make a live performance more powerful and immersive. Theatre has made me more collaborative, more creative, and better at solving problems under pressure. It has shown me that I love live performance not only from the musician’s chair, but also from behind the scenes, where technical artistry helps bring a story to life. After completing my degree, I hope to build a career that combines percussion performance with live theatre and sound production. I am especially interested in performing as a pit musician and contributing to the technical side of live performance. I want to be part of creating work that is expressive, memorable, and meaningful for the people experiencing it. I also hope to give back by mentoring younger musicians and encouraging students who are still building confidence in their own talent and voice. This scholarship would support more than my education. It would support a future I have already been working toward for years, starting with that little pink drum set and growing into a deep commitment to music and live performance. Music has given me joy, purpose, community, and the courage to keep growing. I want to continue building a life in the arts, not only because it is what I love, but because I believe music has the power to connect people, tell stories, and leave a lasting impact.

Music has always been more than a skill I practice. It is the way I lead, serve, and connect with others. I began playing percussion at the age of seven, and over time music became the space where I found my voice, my confidence, and my purpose. As I grew older, I realized that music is not only a personal passion, but a powerful tool for mentorship and change, especially for young people who may not always see themselves reflected in leadership roles. As a young woman in percussion, a field that is still largely male dominated, I learned early what it meant to take up space with confidence. By my senior year, I was one of very few women in my section, and I often felt pressure to stay quiet or blend in. Instead, I chose to stay, grow, and lead. Serving as Percussion Captain taught me that leadership does not always come from being the loudest voice, but from consistency, preparation, and support. That experience shaped my commitment to female leadership and my desire to model strength and belonging for younger students. My passion for music is deeply connected to giving back. I have completed more than 200 hours of community service, much of it centered on youth mentorship, arts education, and music based leadership. I have served as a camp counselor, youth music mentor, and section leader, roles that required patience, empathy, and the ability to meet students where they are. Whether helping a young musician read music for the first time or encouraging a student who doubts their ability, I have seen how music can unlock confidence and self worth. In addition to performance, I have worked extensively in sound production and technical theatre, contributing to over twenty productions across school and community organizations. This work taught me that music and sound are collaborative by nature and that leadership often happens behind the scenes. As a sound designer, I learned how to guide teams, communicate clearly, and create environments where others can succeed. These experiences strengthened my belief that music leadership is rooted in service, not spotlight. I plan to pursue a degree in music performance with a focus on percussion, alongside training in sound production, with the goal of building a career that includes performance, mentorship, and education. I hope to work with young musicians, particularly girls and underrepresented students, helping them see music not just as an activity, but as a pathway to confidence, discipline, and opportunity. Representation matters, and I want to be the leader I once needed to see. Sunni E. Fagan’s legacy as a music educator and community leader deeply resonates with me. Her commitment to inspiring young students through music reflects the future I am working toward. This scholarship would not only support my education, but affirm my belief that music can change lives when paired with leadership, compassion, and purpose. I am committed to carrying that legacy forward by using music to uplift, empower, and inspire the next generation