Music has always been a part of my life, even in ways I never realized, from family sing-along sessions on road trips to watching my father fiddle around on his old keyboard, to my first violin lesson in the living room of my home. These sometimes seemingly minuscule events were a part of a much larger picture molding me into the musician I am today.  Although music was a large part of my upbringing, it didn’t become my passion until much later.  For years, playing the violin was a chore. I only played because my parents told me to, and each day I hoped they would forget to remind me to practice. They never did.  Yet at some point along the way, my father’s efforts to turn me into a music lover transformed my daily dread into a budding passion. He once sat me down in our living room and handed me his iPod reading “Cinema Paradiso” by Chris Botti and Yo-Yo Ma. He often did this in the hopes that I would express his same excitement for whatever piece of music he showed me, but I never budged. Except this time.  In hindsight, this was the first time I felt a strong connection to a piece of music. I was deeply intrigued by the sounds that soared from Yo-Yo Ma’s cello and Chris Botti’s trumpet. Following this day, I began a deep dive into the world of classical music, discovering the great performers and composers of the genre, and soon enough, I wanted almost nothing more than to sound like the musicians I now loved.  Since then, I have progressed to a place I never saw myself. I have received some of the best opportunities to participate in some of the most amazing music programs in the country, including the Sphinx Performance Academy, The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Fortissima, and so many more. Yet along my journey, something that has been a crucial part of my inspiration is the influence of other BIPOC musicians. As a black classical musician, I know I am a minority in my field. In the U.S, Black musicians make up approximately 2% of the classical field. While being seen as an “anomaly” in the field, experiencing the works and talent of other BIPOC musicians like Florence Price, Samuel-Coleridge Taylor, Sheku-Kanneh Mason, Jessie Montgomery, and many others, has taught me a few things.  I have learned that musicians of color should not be viewed as an anomaly, as society should recognize classical music as a music for everyone.  I have learned that despite our racial disproportion, musicians of color are equally skilled in the field.  I have learned that if the effort to expose the works, performances, and talent of BIPOC musicians is not done, the world will overlook them, as done historically.  So, in the future, I hope to do the work of those who inspired me to pursue my musical dreams. I hope to serve as a reminder to those younger than me, who look just like me that despite the world’s standards and expectations, their musical dreams are achievable. I want to invite others to experience the transformative and communicative power of music, as it has changed my life, and I want nothing more than for others to experience the same.

For a larger portion of my life, music was a burden to me. I only practiced violin because my mom told me to, carelessly rushing through my workbooks hoping to quickly return to whatever had occupied me before. It was within my every intention to quit music when I finished high school. Yet throughout my journey, and through exposure to new music, a passion began to brew within me. As I grew, I learned to understand music’s true beauty, and it soon became something I could not live without.  I recall one day in particular, which I believe sparked my newfound appreciation for music. I was about twelve years old, and my father called me to the living room of our home. “Listen,” he said while handing me his headphones and iPod. The screen read “Cinema Paradiso” by Chris Botti and Yo-Yo Ma. He often did this with many of his favorite pieces hoping that I would like them, but I never did. Contrarily, I can confidently say that this was the first time in my life that I had felt a significant connection to a piece of music. From that day forward, I had that recording ready to listen to on any device I had and in any place I was. My pure obsession with that piece prompted me to look for more works of the like, and I began to delve into the world of classical music. Soon enough, I dreamed of becoming just like the musicians on the recordings I so often listened to.  In the coming months and years, I completely engulfed my life in music, not just through listening, but through playing, too. I joined new ensembles and filled my summers with music camps.  Never would I have guessed that I would be a part of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra or that I would get to travel across the country to participate in programs like Sphinx Performance Academy or Fortissima at some of the most prestigious conservatories in the world.  I am forever grateful for the experiences that music has given me, and it is important to recognize that a plethora of those opportunities were made possible through music education programs. It was through school music programs that I was introduced to other programs and ensembles that became an integral part of my growth as a musician. It was through music education programs that I realized my love for orchestral playing, leading me to join other orchestras and learn from some of the most talented musicians in my region. It was through school music programs I was given one of my first violins, a private teacher, and an endless list of crucial resources.  I recognize school music education as one of the initial stepping stones in my life-long journey, leading me to where I am today; an 18-year-old with an undeniable passion for music. And because of that passion, I am off to college in the fall to study music performance. Music has opened an immense number of doors for me, and I want every other child to be given the chance to have their creativity flourish through music. I want them to be able to find their own form of expression through music. I want them to be able to realize the beauty of music-making and have to experience some of the greatest, life-changing works. I want the youth to be impacted by music just as I was, and through music education programs, an endless amount of children will have a chance to flourish through the opportunities offered by music.