Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance and I decided I want a life full of art, collaboration, and bringing people together. In addition to performing, I founded an ensemble and directed my compositions. I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and my power to impact others. I recall a student telling me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during COVID. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. I will persist in exploring this power of music. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my artistic goals requiring intensive study. I seek more like-minded artists and scholars who recognize the value of intellectual rigor. This scholarship will help me afford to delve into my lifelong passions in piano performance and music composition. I’m eager to grow further, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and work with others to foster environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

I walk on stage. The lights blind me and I can hardly see the audience, but I hear their roar. The piano stands like an elegant black statue in the center of the room. I sit down, I take a breath, and I start playing an ambiance, keys flickering. I’ve done many things, trying to understand music’s impossible nature; I compose, explore different genres and cultures, I’ve even tried to write mathematical equations to explain it. As I play, my mind is clear. I immerse myself in pure emotion. My chromesthesia swirls colors around me. This is my home. The Transcendental Étude Chasse Neige, meaning Snow-Drift, is the first piece I ever performed. The journey of learning and performing this piece taught me mentality. I practiced for perfection. Discipline was necessary. I even practiced how I would walk on stage; everything had to be unique and confident. I decided what I would whisper as I sat down; performing is easy, just sit down at the piano and bleed. I couldn’t imagine a better performance if all went as planned… But it did not. During the dramatic rest in the middle of the piece, the audience should hold their breath… Waiting… They started to clap. I dropped my hands back to the keys to play the next chord and held one hand out signaling the audience to stop clapping. My mentality allowed me to journey on, still deep within the music. Confident. I played the piece through. Each section reminds me of different people, places, and times in my life. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. This piece is so simple yet so powerful. It feels as if the melody has always existed long before I unveiled it and will exist long after I play it. Live music, performing it, or listening to it, has shown me music’s significance to the world: its power to inspire. Music helps us understand ourselves and our existence. This is a lesson I remind myself of as I sit at the piano, and it's a lesson I hope to illustrate to others. When I lay my fingers on these keys, I see how grateful I am for live music. This scholarship will help me afford to study my lifelong passions in piano performance and music composition. I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while spreading music through the world.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance. Here, I decided I want a life full of art and collaboration. In addition to performing, I founded an ensemble and directed my compositions. I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and my power to impact others. I recall a student telling me how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during COVID. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. We learned together in the open environment that I established. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. It feels as if the melody existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, art, culture, and anything else I encountered. I found pianos for practicing and sharing my love for music. I met an atelier owner with a piano and visited frequently, welcoming customers into the store and giving him lessons. I felt I became part of a community, and in my career, I want to extend this feeling to others. After many eye-opening experiences, I realize there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I seek more like-minded artists and scholars who recognize the value of intellectual rigor. This scholarship will help me afford to study my lifelong passions in piano performance and music composition. I’m eager to grow, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and most importantly, work with others to foster environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance. Here, I decided I want a life full of art and collaboration. In addition to performing, I founded an ensemble and directed my compositions. I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and my power to impact others. I recall a student telling me how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during COVID. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. We learned together in the open environment that I established. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. It feels as if the melody existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, art, culture, and anything else I encountered. I found pianos for practicing and sharing my love for music. I met an atelier owner with a piano and visited frequently, welcoming customers into the store and giving him lessons. I felt I became part of a community, and in my career I want to extend this feeling to others. After many eye-opening experiences, I realize there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I seek more like-minded artists and scholars who recognize the value of intellectual rigor. This scholarship will help me afford to study my lifelong passions in piano performance and music composition. I’m eager to grow, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and most importantly, work with others to foster environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance and I decided I want a life full of art, collaboration, and bringing people together. In addition to performing, I founded an ensemble and directed my compositions. I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the compositions truly meant to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and my power to impact others. I recall a student telling me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during COVID. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. I will persist in exploring this power of music. I’m eager to grow further, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and work with others to foster environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance and I decided I want a life full of art, collaboration, and bringing people together. In addition to performing, I founded an ensemble and directed my compositions. I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I recall a student telling me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during COVID. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. I want to make absolutely sure my listeners feel that life and music are the same. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else I encountered. I found pianos for practicing and sharing my love for music. I met an atelier owner with a piano and visited frequently, welcoming customers into the store and giving him lessons. I interviewed houseless people and wrote the music for an original anthropology film ‘The Empathy Project.’ After many eye-opening experiences, I realize there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my artistic goals requiring intensive study. I seek more like-minded artists and scholars and recognize the value of intellectual rigor. This scholarship will help me afford to delve into my lifelong passions in piano performance and music composition. I’m eager to grow further, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and work with others to foster environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. During two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse, multinational group of students. I was pushed to become a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend embraced the challenge, improvising and starting the show the next day. This experience revealed the connection and mutual encouragement inherent in live performance and I decided that I want a life full of art, collaboration, and bringing people together. In addition to performing, I directed my compositions with an ensemble I founded, and I learned to be a leader; one who builds a community. During my first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. By sharing what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and admitting when I didn't understand something, I learned the importance of vulnerability. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I recall a student telling me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during the pandemic. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best achieved with others. This community taught me that emotions are an integral part of our human experience, and a good leader unites us through these feelings. When I listen to my compositions, I can hear the bond between players, shaped by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that motivate artists like myself. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. I found pianos for practicing, sharing my love for music, and connecting through music when my language couldn’t. I interviewed houseless people and shot and wrote the music for an anthropology film ‘The Empathy Project.’ After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I seek more like-minded artists and scholars and recognize the value of intellectual stimulation. This scholarship will help me afford to study the curiosities I embraced while abroad and delve into my lifelong passions in music. I’m eager to grow further, compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity, and work with others to foster inclusive environments where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Dear Senicia Marshall, Since my last application to the Combined Worlds Scholarship, I have succeeded as a student, artist, and individual. This semester, enrolled in Verto Education in Italy, I achieved a 3.95 GPA and earned recognition for various achievements, including an award for volunteer work, a program artist’s award, and a certificate of merit award in a music composition competition. I was proud of my lifestyle: studying hard during the week, maintaining a disciplined practice regimen at the piano, and traveling on the weekends. I led an Italian language club, guiding the exploration of etymological connections between English and Italian. In response to recent events on college campuses, I have completed an online course with the United States Institute of Peace. Yet, I have come to realize that these accomplishments are only labels under my name, a few more lines on my resume. These are not the moments that have transformed me. What truly matters is the growth and connections I’ve experienced during my time abroad. One impactful connection I made was with Gionata, an older gentleman and coat maker who welcomed people into his atelier, where vintage fur coats hung off every wall. His dark, inquisitive eyes lit up with passion as he improvised at the piano by the window. With his fragmented English and my developing Italian, we managed to communicate some, but we truly connected through music. After he closed the shop, I gave him lessons, leading him through an elusive Rachmaninoff melody or an operatic Chopin coloratura. He insisted I improvise on it, making it my own: “Rachmaninoff is Rachmaninoff, Ryan is Ryan.” It became the highlight of his day. I will remember him. The experience taught me how people, despite having different backgrounds, can find great connections. As I reflect on my journey, I recognize that many of my experiences–leading an Italian language club, coaching javelin, forming an ensemble, or connecting with Gionata–have been about fostering meaningful human connections. This scholarship will help me afford tuition to continue learning in a diverse and dedicated environment emphasizing human connection. My goal is to continue studying music performance and composition with intention, among other interests, and to further develop as an artist and individual. I would be motivated, honored, and grateful for this opportunity. Thank you once again for considering my application with care. Sincerely, Ryan Paulů

I walk into my piano studio, where I find solace and inspiration. The glow of the Czech name ‘PETROF’ greets me. Taking my seat on the second piano bench, the first for my students, memories of a lifelong passion flood my mind. Trying to understand music’s impossible nature, I compose, improvise, and study the physics behind it all. As I play, my mind clears. My chromesthesia swirls colors around me. When I lay my fingers on the ivories, I see how grateful I am for the passions I’ve learned in life thus far. This is my home. In AP Music Theory during my sophomore year of high school, I found the intricate inseparability of music and another fascination of mine: physics. Later, AP Physics informed my compositions and taught me to seek connections between disparate concepts and question the universe. If you were to open my notebooks, you would discover my fascination with physics and music. In one notebook, an atlas of musical pioneering, you would find lists of prepared piano timbres and harmonies written in 31-tone equal temperament with equations justifying the concept. In another notebook, one for waking up thinking of physics, vignettes about the cosmos fill the pages. Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. At New England Music Camp’s music-intensive program, I took advantage of every opportunity. When a concert fell through, my friend and I started the show the next day, improvising, embracing the challenge, and deepening our appreciation for spontaneity and connection in live performance. I was also working hard leading my compositions. As the ensemble leader, I learned to be vulnerable; I shared what my piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, and when I didn’t understand. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. While composing, I explored the worlds of harmonies through mathematical relationships. My physics knowledge helps me pioneer harmonies, reconstruct tuning systems, and design instruments. For example, I created soundscapes using harmonics replicating the overtone series of other instruments, mimicking a different timbre. This is called spectralism. Through physics, with calculus at its core, I can understand the relationship of consonance and dissonance that has driven musicians like myself for centuries. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for the diverse students. I remember when a student told me how much it meant to rehearse my piece, especially during Covid. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. Attending college is more than a step in my academic journey; it's a gateway to a world with endless opportunities to collaborate with individuals who share my aspirations. I know the value of pursuing higher education in an environment that nurtures curiosity and innovation. I would be deeply grateful to be awarded this scholarship, as it would allow me to pursue my lifelong passions in physics and music by affording the education I need. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity and explore physics to inform my compositions and question the universe. Calculus is at the core of this exploration. Calculus is an important and beautiful foundation for understanding complex relationships and finding connections between seemingly disparate concepts. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually and as an individual.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. For two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. Here, I explored the passions that are my strongest motivators. I decided that I want a life full of art and collaboration. I was working hard directing my compositions and learning to be a leader; one who builds a community. Directing the first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable, I shared what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand something. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I remember when a student told me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during Covid. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which I believe is best done with others. This community taught me that emotions are a part of our human experience, and music unites us through these feelings. Listening to one’s own compositions is a pure beauty emanating from the bond between players, crafted by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that drive artists like myself. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to delve into my lifelong passions in music. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity while working with others to foster inclusive environments, where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. For two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a diverse group of students. Here, I explored the passions that are my strongest motivators. I decided that I want a life full of art and collaboration. I was working hard directing my compositions and learning to be a leader; one who builds a community. Directing the first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable, I shared what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand something. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I remember when a student told me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during Covid. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which I believe is best done with others. This community taught me that emotions are a part of our human experience, and music unites us through these feelings. Listening to one’s own compositions is a pure beauty emanating from the bond between players, crafted by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that drive artists like myself. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to delve into my lifelong passions in music. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity while working with others to foster inclusive environments, where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

I walk into my piano studio, where I find solace and inspiration. The glow of the Czech name ‘PETROF’ greets me. Taking my seat on the second piano bench, the first for my cats and students, memories of a lifelong passion flood my mind. Trying to understand music’s impossible nature, I compose, improvise, and study the physics behind it all. As I play, my mind clears. My chromesthesia swirls colors around me. When I lay my fingers on the ivories, I see how grateful I am for the values I’ve learned in life thus far. This is my home. In AP Music Theory sophomore year of high school, I found the intricate inseparability of music and another passion of mine: physics. Later, AP Physics informed my compositions and taught me to seek connections between disparate concepts and question the universe. If you were to open my notebooks you would discover my fascination with the relationship between physics and music. In one notebook, an atlas of musical pioneering, you would find lists of prepared piano timbres, and harmonies written in 31-tone equal temperament with equations trying to justify the concept. In another notebook, one for waking up thinking of physics, vignettes about the cosmos fill the pages. Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. At New England Music Camp’s music-intensive program, I took advantage of every opportunity. When a concert fell through, my friend and I started the show the next day, improvising, embracing the challenge, and deepening our appreciation for spontaneity and connection in live performance. I was also working hard leading my compositions. While composing, I explored the worlds of harmonies through mathematical relationships. My physics knowledge helps me pioneer harmonies, tuning systems, and instrument design. As a leader, I learned to be vulnerable; I shared what my piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for the diverse group of students. I remember when a student told me how much it meant to rehearse my piece, especially during Covid. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I learned, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I feel the need for more musicians, physicists, and scholars. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to study the curiosities I embraced while abroad and delve into my lifelong passions in a physics and music degree. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity and explore physics to inform my compositions and question the universe. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually and as an individual in a forever-inspiring home like Prague was to me.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. For two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a multinational, diverse group of students. I was pushed to be a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I started the show the next day, improvising, embracing the challenge, and deepening our appreciation for the connection and mutual encouragement in live performance. Here, I explored the creative passions that are my strongest motivator. I decided that I want a life full of art and collaboration. I was also hard at work directing my compositions and learning to be a leader; one who builds a community. Directing the first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable, I shared what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand something. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I remember when a student told me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during Covid. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which is best done with others. This community taught me many things: emotions are a part of our human experience, and music unites us through these feelings. Listening to one’s own compositions is an odd, pure beauty emanating from the bond between players, crafted by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that drive artists like myself. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. I found pianos for practicing, sharing my love for music, and connecting through music when my language couldn’t. I interviewed houseless people and shot and wrote the music for an anthropology film ‘The Empathy Project.’ After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I feel the need for more like-minded artists and scholars. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to study the curiosities I embraced while abroad and delve into my lifelong passions in music. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity while working with others to foster inclusive environments, where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. For two summers at New England Music Camp, I enrolled in a music-intensive program with a multinational, diverse group of students. I was pushed to be a better individual and artist. When a concert fell through, my friend and I started the show the next day, improvising, embracing the challenge, and deepening our appreciation for the connection and mutual encouragement in live performance. Here, I explored the creative passions that are my strongest motivator. I decided that I want a life full of art and collaboration. I was also hard at work directing my compositions and learning to be a leader; one who builds a community. Directing the first rehearsal, I defined my leadership style: authentic, open-minded, and vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable, I shared what the piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand something. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for every student. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. I will remember the importance of personal connection and the power I have to impact others. I remember when a student told me how beautiful my piece was and how much it meant to rehearse together, especially during Covid. It is my dream to bring inspiring and transformative works into this world, which I believe is best done with others. This community taught me many things: emotions are part of our human experience, and music unites us through these feelings. Listening to one’s own compositions is an odd, pure beauty emanating from the bond between players, crafted by their leader, and the desires to evolve and create that drive artists like myself. It feels as if the melody has existed long before I caught it and will exist long after I let it go. I will persist in exploring this power of music. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. I found pianos for practicing, sharing my love for music, and connecting through music when my language couldn’t. I interviewed houseless people and shot and wrote the music for an anthropology film ‘The Empathy Project.’ After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I will take with me, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I feel the absence of like-minded artists and scholars. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to study the curiosities I embraced while abroad and delve into my lifelong passions in music. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity while working with others to foster inclusive environments, where each individual can contribute their unique perspectives to the pursuit of artistic excellence. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually, artistically, and as an individual while helping others along their paths.

I walk into my piano studio, where I find solace and inspiration. The glow of the Czech name ‘PETROF’ greets me. Taking my seat on the second piano bench, the first for my cats and students, memories of a lifelong passion flood my mind. Trying to understand music’s impossible nature, I compose, improvise, and study the physics behind it all. As I play, my mind clears. My chromesthesia swirls colors around me. When I lay my fingers on the ivories, I see how grateful I am for the values I’ve learned in life thus far. This is my home. In AP Music Theory sophomore year of High School, I found the intricate inseparability of music and another passion of mine: physics. Later, AP Physics informed my compositions and taught me to seek connections between disparate concepts and question the universe. If you were to open my notebooks you would discover my fascination with the relationship between physics and music. In one notebook, an atlas of musical pioneering, you would find lists of prepared piano timbres, and harmonies written in 31-tone equal temperament with equations trying to justify the concept. In another notebook, one for waking up thinking of physics, vignettes about the cosmos fill the pages. Amidst the pandemic, I found the transformative and unifying power of music. At New England Music Camp’s music-intensive program, I took advantage of every opportunity. When a concert fell through, my friend and I started the show the next day, improvising, embracing the challenge, and deepening our appreciation for spontaneity and connection in live performance. I was also working hard leading my compositions. While composing, I explored the worlds of harmonies through mathematical relationships. My physics knowledge helps me pioneer harmonies, tuning systems, and instrument design. As a leader, I learned to be vulnerable; I shared what my piece truly means to me, where I stole ideas, or when I didn’t understand. In the world of art, it is through vulnerability that the truest beauty is unveiled. Music is a confluence of many disciplines and life backgrounds, and I enjoyed creating a space for the diverse group of students. I remember when a student told me how much it meant to rehearse my piece, especially during Covid. At my next institution, I will continue to bring people together beyond the classroom, providing spaces of focus, creativity, and refuge for all, despite what may be going on in their lives. After graduating, I sought to expand my perspectives and horizons, so I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. I have never felt such fascination. I absorbed the language, history, art, culture, and anything else that confronted me. After many eye-opening experiences, I’m left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I am grateful for the values and curiosities I learned, studying abroad does not fulfill my goals requiring intensive study. I feel the absence of musicians, physicists, and scholars. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and this scholarship will help me afford to study the curiosities I embraced while abroad and delve into my lifelong passions through a physics major and music minor. I’m eager to grow further. I’m eager to compose original works of expressive depth and intellectual curiosity and explore physics to inform my compositions and question the universe. For my next adventure, I will dedicate my time to releasing the grandest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually and as an individual in a forever-inspiring home like Prague was to me.

I walk into my piano studio, where I find solace and inspiration. The glow of the Czech name ‘PETROF’ greets me. Taking my seat on the second piano bench, the first for my cats and students, memories of my lifelong passion for the piano flood my mind. I’ve done many things, trying to understand music’s impossible nature; I compose, exploring different genres and cultures. I study the physics behind it all. I’ve philosophized about how music helps us understand ourselves. As I play, my mind clears. My chromesthesia swirls colors around me, conjuring memories I cherish. When I lay my fingers on the ivories, I see how grateful I am for the values I’ve learned in life thus far. This is my home. The grand melody of Smetana’s Vltava illustrates why I chose to study in Prague. I sought to expand my perspective and horizons, in part to help me choose my college degree home. To study in Prague is to be inspired for music and life, to connect with ancestry, and to be filled with new worldly experiences and knowledge. After receiving a scholarship, I decided to go abroad. I have never felt such fascination. I wanted to absorb the language, history, art, culture, and anything that confronted me. My love of language burgeoned. My foreign language diary holds Czech tongue twisters to improve pronunciation and original Italian poetry which I may use as lyrics in my music. I spent evenings reflecting on my day in other languages, exploring connections between languages, and opening new outlooks. In Florence, Latin hid around every corner. I founded an Italian study group to practice complex grammar and conversational Italian, fine-tuning my teaching skills. Visiting the Terezín concentration camp, I understood Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the end of time. I felt connected to my ancestry. I interviewed homeless persons and shot an anthropology film ‘The Empathy Project’. I felt connected to my ancestry. I found pianos for practicing, sharing my love for music, and connecting through music when my language couldn’t. I learned the art of time management and independence in a multi-national urban setting and I’m proud of the life I built. After all of these eye-opening experiences, I am left with the realization that there are a million languages to speak, destinations to explore, a cosmos to unravel, and melodies longing to be released. While I empathize with Dvořák’s nostalgic Largo of Z nového světa, continuing to study abroad does not fulfill my goals of honing my piano performance under experienced mentors, composing original works of emotive depth and intellectual curiosity, and delving deeply into physics to inform my compositions and question the universe. Keenly feeling the absence of musicians, I’ve learned the significance of such a community. I know the value of intellectual stimulation and the scholarship money will help me afford tuition to further study the curiosities I embraced while abroad as I delve into my lifelong passions in music. Despite not wanting to continue studying abroad, I am grateful for all the values and skills I will take with me. For my next adventure, I envision a home where I can share not only the values, experiences, and perspectives I have learned while abroad but also delve into the new passions that grew. I hope to surround myself with diverse perspectives and shared curiosity and dedication, as well as like-minded musicians and physicists. I will dedicate my time to releasing the greatest and most intimate melodies in my heart, growing intellectually and as an individual in a forever-inspiring home like Prague was to me.

If there is one book I believe everyone should read, "Letters to a Young Poet" by Rainer Maria Rilke is both both my immediate and final answer. These letters are so full of wisdom on everything that is hard in life. I read the whole thing in one sitting on an airplane and have since reread it and taken too many notes. It has helped me be a better person and a great friend to those going through hard times in life and it has also given me the strength, curiosity, and knowledge to know what to do when I encounter turbulence in my life. I have paraphrased a letter I wrote to my friend who was going through a breakup, which sparked me to reread Letters to a Young Poet, and I borrow plenty of wisdom from Rilke here. Dear Bri, Below, I have some words for your solitude... You keep repeating that you are confused, justifiably so, but you treat this as a completely negative emotion. I don’t ask you to pretend this is a positive experience but at least consider that this is all natural. Remember that you are young. Please have patience with all that is unresolved in your heart. Recognize that you have already made an important step forward in embracing that 'this too shall pass'. Instead of trying to find an answer that cannot be lived, live the questions now. Trust what comes to you, as these are the moments when something new enters us and something within us changes. It is connected to the strange desire to evolve and to create that drives artists like us. Love and solitude are hard, but everything expected of us these days seems hard. This letter has been as much for me as it has been for you. It has been too long since I have sat down and gotten lost in time as I attempt to untangle philosophies, emotions, and other stirrings whatever they may be called. I have many thoughts on solitude, but I do know that looking within oneself is not the only answer. I do not recommend anyone to retreat into their own solipsistic world for too long. To conclude, one quote is left suspended in my mind from a poet named Rainer Maria Rilke. He wrote in a letter: “…But we are not prisoners. No traps or snares are set about us.” All my wishes accompany you, as does my faith in you, Ryan Paulů

"Letters to a Young Poet" - Rainer Maria Rilke These letters are so full of wisdom on everything that is hard in life. I read the whole thing in one sitting on an airplane and have since reread it and taken too many notes. It has helped me be a better person and a great friend to those going through hard times in life and it has also given me the strength, curiosity, and knowledge to know what to do when I encounter turbulence in my life. I have paraphrased a letter I wrote to my friend who was going through a breakup, which sparked me to reread Letters to a Young Poet, and I borrow plenty of wisdom from Rilke here. Dear Bri, Below, I have some words for your solitude... You keep repeating that you are confused, justifiably so, but you treat this as a completely negative emotion. I don’t ask you to pretend this is a positive experience but at least consider that this is all natural. Remember that you are young. Please have patience with all that is unresolved in your heart. Recognize that you have already made an important step forward in embracing that 'this too shall pass'. Instead of trying to find an answer that cannot be lived, live the questions now. Trust what comes to you, as these are the moments when something new enters us and something within us changes. It is connected to the strange desire to evolve and to create that drives artists like us. Love and solitude are hard, but everything expected of us these days seems hard. This letter has been as much for me as it has been for you. It has been too long since I have sat down and gotten lost in time as I attempt to untangle philosophies, emotions, and other stirrings whatever they may be called. I have many thoughts on solitude, but I do know that looking within oneself is not the only answer. I do not recommend anyone to retreat into their own solipsistic world for too long. To conclude, one quote is left suspended in my mind from a poet named Rainer Maria Rilke. He wrote in a letter: “…But we are not prisoners. No traps or snares are set about us.” All my wishes accompany you, as does my faith in you, Ryan Paulů

In the summer of 2022, I was at New England Music Camp with over 200 students and faculty. In this community, we made music together, taught each other, and performed for each other despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. Here, I had the unique opportunity to write a piano quartet for a performance. I had little time, but after my creativity was sparked by a breathtaking photograph my friend took during her travels in France, I had the inspiration I needed to complete the piece. While directing the first rehearsal, I realized I had to decide what kind of leader I wanted to be: a confident, positive, and open-minded leader. “Un Ciel d’une Prairie en Ete,” or “A Meadow and Sky in the Summer,” uses music’s power to explore a range of emotions. Emotions are a part of our human experience and music’s language that expresses these feelings unites us. This piece has a very emotional quality to it, enhancing music’s power to connect people through the shared experience of listening to or playing this piece. There is no way to describe the sensation of listening to your own music; it's an odd but pure beauty that comes from the strange desires to evolve and to create that drive artists like myself. Music like this is therapeutic. Music has been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. In these ways, music contributes to a more positive community and promotes overall well-being. I think most importantly, music like this inspires others to create and to evolve into the people they want to be. “Un Ciel d’une Prairie en Ete” illustrates how I took the initiative, used my skills, and led an ensemble to create a meaningful impact on my community.

In the summer of 2022, I was at New England Music Camp with over 200 students and faculty. In this community, we made music together, taught each other, and performed for each other despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. Here, I had the unique opportunity to write a piano quartet for a performance. I had little time, but after my creativity was sparked by a breathtaking photograph my friend took during her travels in France, I had the inspiration I needed to complete the piece. While directing the first rehearsal, I realized I had to decide what kind of leader I wanted to be: a confident, positive, and open-minded leader. “Un Ciel de Prairie en Ete,” or “A Meadow and Sky in the Summer,” uses music’s power to explore a range of emotions. Emotions are a part of our human experience and music’s language that expresses these feelings unites us. This piece has a very emotional quality to it, enhancing music’s power to connect people through the shared experience of listening to or playing this piece. There is no way to describe the sensation of listening to your own music; it's an odd but pure beauty that comes from the strange desires to evolve and to create that drive artists like myself. Music like this is therapeutic. Music has been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. In these ways, music contributes to a more positive community and promotes overall well-being. I think most importantly, music like this inspires others to create and to evolve into the people they want to be. “Un Ciel de Prairie en Ete” illustrates how I took the initiative, used my skills, and led an ensemble to create a meaningful impact on my community.