As a first generation college student, my hope is to create my own legacy and hopefully be an example for my younger siblings. Growing up, college was something I’ve always wanted to do but never really knew exactly what I wanted to do until later on in high school. This decision came to me my junior year of high school when I began to start writing essays for college applications. Ultimately, I chose to attend The Ohio State University to earn my Bachelor’s of Music in Music Performance specifically on the French Horn. There is a clear misrepresentation of black people in the orchestral music world and I could tell that was the case early on my music career. Almost every workshop, honor band, or youth orchestra I participated in I felt like I was one of the only black people in that particular space. It occurred to me that not everyone like me has the opportunity to be in the space that I am in today and I would like to be that anchor to show others that we can in fact be in this space if granted the opportunity. I am hoping college will be the stepping stone to be as educated in the music field as I can be when graduating. After obtaining my degree in Music Performance I plan to be a freelance musician and take on auditions and gigs as they come along. Music is such a competitive field and sort of a waiting game so while doing that I will go for a masters degree in the arts administration/arts management field. My plan is to one day find a nonprofit organization to work for that grants under deserved people that would like to participate in the arts. I’d like to think of my future self as a philanthropist no matter where life leads me. It is important to me to be the change that I want to see and in order to do that, it is essential that I act as an advocate for myself and others. Music will forever be a vital part of who I am as a person. I hope to one day be the person that grants someone like me the opportunity to further their education in the music world and perform on the big stage. Not only do I hope to act as a philanthropist but hopefully share my knowledge from my higher institution with others and gain insight on things that I may not know about. Providing people that look like me with the same opportunities I was granted will hopefully make the statistics of black people being successful in the arts greater.

Being a BIPOC in the arts field is extremely rare as BIPOCs are underrepresented in formal ensembles. Between 1980 to 2014, musician diversity saw substantial growth in numbers, however African American and Hispanic/Latino musicians remained extremely low. It is important to me to be the change that I want to see and in order to do that, it is essential that I act as an advocate for BIPOC and myself. Acting as an advocate has become important to me after realizing what my role would be once choosing the college I would be at for the next 3-4 years. My passion for music is great and has been since the tender age of 6. I hope to one day use that passion and perform in an orchestra playing the French Horn and ultimately make myself a seat at the table. Growing up and attending an art school I had the opportunity to be provided with many great resources and was introduced to many different people. I feel as if these opportunities were handed to me and I didn’t realize the importance of working for things myself. My first time being in a youth orchestra and youth wind ensemble I was one of the few people that were black and female. At some point, I felt out of place and felt like there should definitely be more people that looked like me. I began to ask myself if BIPOCs that weren’t in my position were simply not granted the same opportunities or if they didn’t audition because they felt they weren’t worthy of the position. After my first year of attending college, I realized that opportunities had changed as the bubble has gotten bigger. Attending a PWI has made me realize the importance of providing BIPOC with the opportunity of being seen and heard in the art field because that representation matters. I hope to be provided with more opportunities involving BIPOC in the arts at my university and get the chance to express my concerns regarding the misrepresentation. After graduating, I hope to attend graduate school for my master’s in arts management and potentially work for non-profit organizations specifically for children in underrepresented areas. Doing that will ensure I am there for BIPOC that cannot advocate alone in such a big space where they may feel unheard. Providing them with the same opportunities I had growing up will hopefully make the statistics of BIPOC being successful in the arts greater.

Being a BIPOC in the arts field is extremely rare as BIPOCs are underrepresented in formal ensembles. Between 1980 to 2014, musician diversity saw substantial growth in numbers, however African American and Hispanic/Latino musicians remained extremely low. It is important to me to be the change that I want to see and in order to do that, it is essential that I act as an advocate for BIPOC and myself. Acting as an advocate has become important to me after realizing what my role would be once choosing the college I would be at for the next 3-4 years. I hope to one day use that passion and perform in an orchestra playing the French Horn and ultimately make myself a seat at the table. Growing up and attending an art school I had the opportunity to be provided with many great resources and was introduced to many different people. I feel as if these opportunities were handed to me and I didn’t realize the importance of working for things myself. My first time being in a youth orchestra and youth wind ensemble I was one of the few people that were black and female. At some point, I felt out of place and felt like there should definitely be more people that looked like me. I began to ask myself if BIPOCs that weren’t in my position were simply not granted the same opportunities or if they didn’t audition because they felt they weren’t worthy of the position. After my first year of attending college, I realized that opportunities had changed as the bubble has gotten bigger. Attending a PWI has made me realize the importance of providing BIPOC with the opportunity of being seen and heard in the art field because that representation matters. I hope to be provided with more opportunities involving BIPOC in the arts at my university and get the chance to express my concerns regarding the misrepresentation. After graduating, I hope to attend graduate school for my master’s in arts management and potentially work for non-profit organizations specifically for children in underrepresented areas. Doing that will ensure I am there for BIPOC that cannot advocate alone in such a big space where they may feel unheard. Providing them with the same opportunities I had growing up will hopefully make the statistics of BIPOC being successful in the arts greater.