As a young girl living among a myriad of influences from my Dominican, Spanish, and American cultures, I was surrounded by a diverse repertoire of rich and soulful music. From the beginning, music helped shape both my cultural and artistic identity, and it gave me a conduit for creative, heart-centered expression. In its endless vibrant forms, from Broadway to bachata to hip-hop, music has helped me develop my emotional intelligence and nurture a new vulnerability that comes from a place of inner strength. Music, in all of its forms, has become the means through which I channel this powerful thunder I have in me - my curated Spotify playlists that range from James Brown to Juan Luis Guerra to Olivia Rodrigo, to my car-ride Broadway-ballad belting sessions, and to my truest voice, my violin. Throughout the seasons of anxiety that have come from the pressure to succeed, music has been my solace and the way I have been able to channel my complex feelings, allowing me to blossom into a more empathic and self-assured young woman. I’ve been lucky enough to have had incredible mentors that have exemplified excellence and true authentic artistry as people of color, and they’ve allowed me to see the incredible array of possibilities for my future, which has already pushed me to places far beyond my imagination. Their work in breaking down access and visibility barriers for students like me is the reason I am able to pursue what I love most in the world. At the core of my goals is a hunger to tell compelling stories that not only excite and help my audiences make sense of their own passions and emotions, but also allow them to empathize with people who have contrasting lived experiences. Being steeped in multiple cultures has given me a profound understanding of how important it is for me to share the depth of my unique worldly perspective. I envision myself using this to amplify artists who have been historically and systemically excluded from the classical canon and to engage audiences who have not previously had access to the established classical music world, building bridges for new generations of musicians and listeners to come together and bring a fresh, necessary vibrance to this beautiful and culture-defining art form. Through my conservatory studies, I want to continue to develop the expertise to effectively communicate my musical ideas and strengthen the leadership and teamwork skills that are required to achieve my career aspirations. I have no shortage of perseverance in me, and I have an abundance of ideas to share with the world.