Educational Career and Life Goals I intend to major in music. Music is my favorite thing and is an inherent part of my being. Without music, I would not know who I am. Music has always been a significant part of my life. I practice the violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar continually. Additionally, I spend time composing scores and soundtracks. My musical journey started as a toddler. I entertained myself by pretending to play a simulated violin with rubber bands tied around a macaroni box and a small stick under my chin. When I was four, I started playing a real violin and attending weekly lessons. My relationship with music grew during COVID-19. I practiced my violin for hours daily and began to teach myself guitar. By the age of fourteen, after a decade of working on my craft, I was accepted into Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School. Then, because of COVID-19, I played in an orchestra for the first time. I learned to communicate with an ensemble and the fun of playing with others. When I applied to The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, I was already well-versed in my musicianship and firmly committed to practicing. However, even the best musicians don’t become successful on their own; I will receive a big launch in the music industry. I recognize it as a tight-knit community where students can be mutually supportive and collaborate. Howard will bolster my success as a musician and composer and support me in realizing my dreams. While attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual abilities and musicianship skills, I plan to be part of an ensemble, create a band with classmates, and hope to graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, being part of a small string ensemble, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I’m committed to music, and I believe that Howard’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts will prepare me to achieve my dreams. By joining a legacy of excellence and creativity, I’m confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger; it gave me more confidence in my school work and myself. Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. This is why I plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. Bringing classical music to students who may never have had a teacher who reflects them. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. I’m committed to music, and the positive impact it can have on people and our world. I'm confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact through research, service and education.

As a songwriter, I've come to realize that collaboration is not just a means of creating music but a catalyst for enhancing creativity. It's more than just seeking feedback on your work or spending hours in the studio with others. It's about expanding your horizons and gaining fresh perspectives. Collaboration is a transformative force in songwriting, making it one of the most valuable and productive aspects of the art. It allows others to delve into your work in ways you can't, or voice things differently, opening up new avenues of thought and refining how you express your ideas. My earliest experiences in collaboration came from an unlikely place: playing duets with my little sister. When I was younger, my mother always made us practice together. At first, I dreaded it. My sister was just a bit behind me, and I often had to slow down or help her find the right notes. I didn’t realize then that I was learning something more important than just music. Through those sessions, I began to understand the value of teamwork and compassion. I knew that creating something beautiful often means meeting someone where they are and moving forward together. Sometimes she would even correct me, pointing out when I had rushed through a rhythm or missed a note, and I had to learn to take her criticism with grace. Those small lessons became the foundation for how I now approach musical collaboration. When two people work in harmony, they can create textures, harmonies, and melodies that neither could have achieved alone. Collaboration is not just about playing music; it's a cornerstone of the writing process. The insights of collaborators can be a guiding light, helping to evolve your original idea. In my personal experience, I recall a time when I was collaborating on a song with a friend and got stuck on a chord pattern. Her input not only helped me overcome the block but also guided me to the right chords to use, demonstrating the practical benefits of collaboration in overcoming creative hurdles and helping to build community, gain more knowledge, and expand my network. In conclusion, collaboration is not just a tool for creating music but a catalyst for personal growth. Every song, in its unique way, is a conversation between emotions, experiences, and perspectives. By embracing collaboration, we not only create better music but also evolve as artists and individuals.

Educational Career and Life Goals I intend to major in music. Music is my favorite thing and is an inherent part of my being. Without music, I would not know who I am. Music has always been a significant part of my life. I practice the violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar continually. Additionally, I spend time composing scores and soundtracks. My musical journey started as a toddler. I entertained myself by pretending to play a simulated violin with rubber bands tied around a macaroni box and a small stick under my chin. When I was four, I started playing a real violin and attending weekly lessons. My relationship with music grew during COVID-19. I practiced my violin for hours daily and began to teach myself guitar. By the age of fourteen, after a decade of working on my craft, I was accepted into Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School. Then, because of COVID-19, I played in an orchestra for the first time. I learned to communicate with an ensemble and the fun of playing with others. When I applied to The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, I was already well-versed in my musicianship and firmly committed to practicing. However, even the best musicians don’t become successful on their own; I will receive a big launch in the music industry. I recognize it as a tight-knit community where students can be mutually supportive and collaborate. Howard will bolster my success as a musician and composer and support me in realizing my dreams. While attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual abilities and musicianship skills, I plan to be part of an ensemble, create a band with classmates, and hope to graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, being part of a small string ensemble, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I’m committed to music, and I believe that Howard’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts will prepare me to achieve my dreams. By joining a legacy of excellence and creativity, I’m confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger; it gave me more confidence in my school work and myself. Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. This is why I plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. Bringing classical music to students who may never have had a teacher who reflects them. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. I’m committed to music, and the positive impact it can have on people and our world. I'm confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact through research, service and education.

I plan to attend Howard University, an HBCU, to have a supportive community and closer ties to my history and culture. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a multiracial person, but I didn’t always have many black influences as a child. I struggled academically in elementary school but loved playing the violin. My parents found a locally respected African-American violin teacher named Mr. Henri Khan Mohammad. His influence significantly impacted my life positively. Before this, I had not had the experience and influence of an African-American man as a music teacher. As a result, I became more confident. While attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual abilities and musicianship skills, I plan to be part of an ensemble, create a band with classmates, and hope to graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, being part of a small string ensemble, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. Art and History are most important, and being involved in both has helped me grow as a musician but as a student in general. Especially art and history that celebrates the stories of African Americans. It shows how horrible things can be but how it is getting better. History will help teach us how to be better people. Initially, I might want to minor in African-American history to learn more about America’s history through the eyes of black people and how it differs from the rest of history. I’d like to explore Hip-Hop, and popular music more as a Howard student. I would bring my classical music training and love of history to these classes. By researching African music and African American History, I could learn more about its long history, which has affected most, if not all, of the music from the American continent. From bosa nova to rap, hip hop, blues, and jazz, African American music has been essential and generally the most popular. This topic interests me because it affects popular culture, history, and, most importantly, past and present political movements. This is important to the world as it shows how culture and music have evolved and will co-evolve in the future. In time, these courses would attract a more diverse student body, which could result in more diverse music teachers, creators, and leaders in music production. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger; it gave me more confidence in my school work and myself. Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. Bringing classical music to students who may never have had a teacher who reflects them. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. I’m committed to music, and the positive impact it can have on people and our world. I'm confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact through research, service and education.

Music is my favorite thing and is an inherent part of my being. Without music, I would not know who I am. Music has always been a significant part of my life. I practice the violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar continually. Additionally, I spend time composing scores and soundtracks. My musical journey started as a toddler. I entertained myself by pretending to play a simulated violin with rubber bands tied around a macaroni box under my chin with a small stick. When I was four years old, I started playing a real violin and attending weekly lessons. As time passed, I felt drawn to the cello, but a cello wouldn't fit in my family car, so I chose the violin. Around the age of six, I had my first concert. By seven, my parents would drive to Tonawanda (from Buffalo) for weekend lessons, even through winter. I continued my lessons, but by the time I was ten years old, I began weekly lessons locally in Buffalo. At age fourteen, after a decade of working on my craft, I was accepted into Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School. It was then that I started playing in an orchestra, learned of the viola's existence as a different instrument, and began to save money to buy one for myself. So, after a year of saving money by busking, I purchased a lightly used viola and loved it despite its flaws and misgivings. My relationship with music grew during COVID, and I began to study guitar. I play all of my instruments frequently to get better at them because music is my passion. During my undergraduate journey, I’d also like to research and prepare for financial independence, entrepreneurship, and ways to be of service to the community. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. To support these goals, I will engage in informational interviews and seek mentorship from leaders. I maintain balance and stay grounded in my world through activities like writing music, connecting with friends, drawing, cooking, camping, running cross country, playing video games, and resting when necessary. I spend two hours per day writing music, beyond practicing instruments. I use Ableton and MuseScore 4. I am proud to have self-published on Soundcloud. Inspirations include Béla Bartók, Johann Brahms, Little Cake, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. My process begins with the piano, where I find a key to experiment with, and then I add more instruments and mix them. I work in my studio sessions during the day and evening year-round. I struggled academically in elementary school, but the only thing I loved was the violin. My parents found a locally respected African-American violin teacher named Mr. Mohammad. His influence significantly impacted my life positively. I had not had the experience and influence of an African-American man as a music teacher before this. As a result, I became more confident. When I applied for the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, I was already well-versed in my musicianship and had a steady commitment to practicing. Purchase is a smaller school where I will receive specific attention. I recognize it as a tight-knit community where students can be mutually supportive and collaborate. Purchasing this will bolster my success as a musician and composer, supporting the actualization of my dreams.

Music is my favorite thing and is an inherent part of my being. Without music, I would not know who I am. Music has always been a significant part of my life. I practice the violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar continually. Additionally, I spend time composing scores and soundtracks. My musical journey started as a toddler. I entertained myself by pretending to play a simulated violin with rubber bands tied around a macaroni box under my chin with a small stick. When I was four years old, I started playing a real violin and attending weekly lessons. As time passed, I felt drawn to the cello, but it wouldn't fit in my family car, so I chose the violin. Around the age of six, I had my first concert. By seven, my parents would drive to Tonawanda (from Buffalo) for weekend lessons, even through winter. I continued my lessons, but by the time I was ten years old, I began weekly lessons locally in Buffalo. At age fourteen, after a decade of working on my craft, I was accepted into Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School. It was then that I started playing in an orchestra, discovered the oboe as a distinct instrument, and began to save money to buy one for myself. So, after a year of saving money by busking, I purchased a lightly used viola and loved it despite its flaws and misgivings. My relationship with music grew during COVID, and I began to study guitar. I play all of my instruments frequently to get better at them because music is my passion. During my undergraduate journey, I’d also like to research and prepare for financial independence, entrepreneurship, and ways to be of service to the community. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. To support these goals, I will engage in informational interviews and seek mentorship from leaders. I maintain balance and stay grounded in my world through activities like writing music, connecting with friends, drawing, cooking, camping, running cross country, playing video games, and resting when necessary. I spend two hours per day writing music, beyond practicing instruments. I use Ableton and MuseScore 4. I am proud to have self-published on Soundcloud. Inspirations include Béla Bartók, Johann Brahms, Little Cake, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. My process begins with the piano, where I experiment with a key, and then I add more instruments and mix them. I work in my studio sessions during the day and evening year-round.

I plan to attend Howard University, an HBCU, to be part of a supportive community and to foster closer ties to my history and culture. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I didn’t always have many black influences as a child. I struggled academically in elementary school but loved playing the violin. My parents found a local African-American violin teacher. His influence had a profoundly positive impact on my life. As a result, I became more confident. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. I’m also interested in history, especially the stories of African Americans. History will help teach us how to be better people. Initially, I wanted to minor in African American history to learn more about America’s history through the eyes of Black people and how it differs from the rest of the history. There are several reasons why I'd like to attend Howard University, and I believe I’d benefit from the campus. Of course, I want to improve my performance and composition skills during my undergraduate journey.

Music is my favorite thing and is an inherent part of my being. Without music, I would not know who I am. Music has always been a significant part of my life. I practice the violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar continually.I spend time composing scores and soundtracks. My musical journey started as a toddler. I entertained myself by pretending to play a simulated violin with rubber bands tied around a macaroni box with a small stick under my chin. I started playing a real violin and attending weekly lessons when I was four. As time passed, I felt drawn to the cello, but a cello wouldn't fit in my family car, so I chose the violin. Around the age of six, I had my first concert. By seven, my parents would drive to Tonawanda (from Buffalo) for weekend lessons, even through winter. I continued my lessons, but I began weekly lessons locally in Buffalo by the time I was ten years old. At age fourteen, after a decade of working on my craft, I was accepted into Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School. Then, I started playing in an orchestra, learned of the viola's existence as a different instrument, and began to save money to buy one for myself. So, after a year of saving money by busking, I purchased a lightly used viola and loved it despite its flaws and misgivings. My relationship with music grew during COVID, and I began to study guitar. I play all of my instruments frequently to get better at them because music is my passion. If accepted while attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual and musicianship skills, I plan to join a band with classmates and graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. I’d also like to be part of a small string ensemble. During my undergraduate journey, I’d also like to research and prepare for financial independence, entrepreneurship, and ways to serve the community. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. To support these goals, I will engage in informational interviews and seek mentorship from leaders. I keep balance and grounded in my world by writing music, connecting with friends, drawing, cooking, camping, running cross country, playing video games, and resting when necessary. I spend two hours per day writing music, beyond practicing instruments. I use Ableton and MuseScore 4. I am proud to have self-published on Soundcloud. Inspirations include Béla Bartók, Johann Brahms, Little Cake, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. My process starts with the piano, finding a key to fiddle with, adding more instruments, and mixing them. I work in my studio sessions during the day and evening year-round. I want to improve my performance and composition skills. I will be able to thrive at Howard. I struggled academically in elementary school, but I only loved the violin. My parents found a locally respected African-American violin teacher named Mr. Mohammad. His influence significantly impacted my life positively. Before this, I had not had the experience and influence of an African-American man as a music teacher. As a result, I became more confident. When I applied for the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, I was already well-versed in my musicianship and firmly committed to practicing. Howard is a tight-knit community where students can be mutually supportive and collaborate. It will bolster my success as a musician and composer and help me realize my dreams.

How will I Give Back I plan to attend Howard University, an HBCU, to have a supportive community and closer ties to my history and culture. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a multiracial person, but I didn’t always have many black influences as a child. I struggled academically in elementary school but loved playing the violin. My parents found a locally respected African-American violin teacher named Mr. Henri Khan Mohammad. His influence significantly impacted my life positively. Before this, I had not had the experience and influence of an African-American man as a music teacher. As a result, I became more confident. While attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual abilities and musicianship skills, I plan to be part of an ensemble, create a band with classmates, and hope to graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, being part of a small string ensemble, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. Art and History are most important, and being involved in both has helped me grow as a musician but as a student in general. Especially art and history that celebrates the stories of African Americans. It shows how horrible things can be but how it is getting better. History will help teach us how to be better people. Initially, I might want to minor in African-American history to learn more about America’s history through the eyes of black people and how it differs from the rest of history. I’d like to explore Hip-Hop, and popular music more as a Howard student. I would bring my classical music training and love of history to these classes. By researching African music and African American History, I could learn more about its long history, which has affected most, if not all, of the music from the American continent. From bosa nova to rap, hip hop, blues, and jazz, African American music has been essential and generally the most popular. This topic interests me because it affects popular culture, history, and, most importantly, past and present political movements. This is important to the world as it shows how culture and music have evolved and will co-evolve in the future. In time, these courses would attract a more diverse student body, which could result in more diverse music teachers, creators, and leaders in music production. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger; it gave me more confidence in my school work and myself. Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. Bringing classical music to students who may never have had a teacher who reflects them. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. I’m committed to music, and the positive impact it can have on people and our world. I'm confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact through research, service and education.

How will I Give Back I plan to attend Howard University, an HBCU, to have a supportive community and closer ties to my history and culture. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a multiracial person, but I didn’t always have many black influences as a child. I struggled academically in elementary school but loved playing the violin. My parents found a locally respected African-American violin teacher named Mr. Henri Khan Mohammad. His influence significantly impacted my life positively. Before this, I had not had the experience and influence of an African-American man as a music teacher. As a result, I became more confident. While attending Howard, beyond gaining and improving intellectual abilities and musicianship skills, I plan to be part of an ensemble, create a band with classmates, and hope to graduate with honors. Longer-term goals include attending graduate school for performance, being part of a small string ensemble, composing and publishing musical scores, and gaining representation from an agency. Art and History are most important, and being involved in both has helped me grow as a musician but as a student in general. Especially art and history that celebrates the stories of African Americans. It shows how horrible things can be but how it is getting better. History will help teach us how to be better people. Initially, I might want to minor in African-American history to learn more about America’s history through the eyes of black people and how it differs from the rest of history. I’d like to explore Hip-Hop, and popular music more as a Howard student. I would bring my classical music training and love of history to these classes. By researching African music and African American History, I could learn more about its long history, which has affected most, if not all, of the music from the American continent. From bosa nova to rap, hip hop, blues, and jazz, African American music has been essential and generally the most popular. This topic interests me because it affects popular culture, history, and, most importantly, past and present political movements. This is important to the world as it shows how culture and music have evolved and will co-evolve in the future. In time, these courses would attract a more diverse student body, which could result in more diverse music teachers, creators, and leaders in music production. I’m grateful for having an African-American violin teacher when I was younger; it gave me more confidence in my school work and myself. Education is the framework through which people take flight socially and economically to improve their community. I also plan to give back to my community through grants and education. I want to find ways to be of service to the community, perhaps by being that supportive teacher to a music student like myself. Bringing classical music to students who may never have had a teacher who reflects them. Eventually, I’d like to start an annual scholarship, grant, or private fund to support musicians with financial constraints and help them reach their goals. I’m committed to music, and the positive impact it can have on people and our world. I'm confident that Howard will nurture my talents and empower me to make a meaningful impact through research, service and education.