I have been playing violin for almost 12 years and I am currently a Senior at Henderson State University. I am majoring in Music Education. 

I first picked up the violin when I was nine years old and it feels like I have not put it down since. It was actually thanks to an after school program that Barbara Burroughs, Director of Education of Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO), started at my school, Lakeside Intermediate. This is also how I met my incredible teacher, Mr. Keith Klosky, who continues to be my mentor today. I have to admit that as an nine year old I underestimated the impact a musical instrument would have on my life; but as I progressed, my teacher saw potential in me and spoke with my parents about me joining the ASYO. My mom did have to push me out the door a few times to get to rehearsals, but that was before I realized how much I would love playing violin and before I developed any real ambition. 

          I started in a group called Prep (the first level of ASYO); we rehearsed twice a month in Little Rock. The drive was long and the rehearsals were early, but we eventually started carpooling with some other students that were also coming from Hot Springs, to save gas and time. I carpooled with three other girls from my school, one of which became my best friend and still is to this day. In fact, we carpooled to ASYO together up until we graduated. After our yearly concert, I auditioned for the next level of ASYO, Prelude. After getting into Prelude, I realized that this orchestra would be a big part of my life. I noticed the shift in difficulty and that I would need to practice more to perform at what sometimes felt like levels beyond my ability. A few years in prelude got me ready for the third level of Academy. I auditioned and made it in. Academy was a hard but necessary transition. I had to leave my friends in Prelude and stop carpooling for a while as I went into a much more sophisticated orchestra. 

          At this time, the after school orchestra program had ceased at my school. I still valued playing with others so, I went to one of the School Board meetings at Lakeside and played violin for the members in order to convince them to start a full orchestra program. Once a teacher that my mom and I suggested was hired full time to start orchestras during regular school hours, she quickly also became one of my best friends. This teacher, Ms Osman, asked me if I would like to play at a wedding with her and a few other musicians in a quartet. I agreed and, when I was 14, we had our first of many gigs together. I felt overjoyed that I could understand the music and play for others while getting paid; though honestly, I had so much fun that I would have done it without any compensation. We not only played at weddings but also other performances for various organizations and churches. The level of creativity and collaboration I experienced as such a young musician was amazing.  I believe these experiences gave me a glimpse into a life that though initially I could only dream of, now I can actually see becoming my reality.

          As my playing improved, my school theatre teacher, Ms. Hammon, hired me along with a band of professional musicians to play at a Patsy Cline Tribute concert in Hot Springs Village. It was exhilarating to be in a background band for my teacher and, as a bonus, I got to meet a lot of new people in the music community. I also performed with a giant ensemble during a Christmas concert at the Geyer Springs First Baptist Church; I was overjoyed to play with professional musicians and be part of these incredible shows. 

Ms. Osman even let me teach the orchestra class on days that she was absent from school. I learned how to conduct and how to sight read the bass and alto clefs. My private instructor, Mr. Keith, heard of this feat and gave me a batton, which I carry with me to this day in my violin case. After several great years of expanding the orchestra and memorable performances at my school, Ms. Osman moved to teach in a different state. At the same time, I got accepted into ASMSA (Arkansas School for the Math Sciences and the Arts) and left Lakeside. This presented several challenges. I had just gotten into the Youth level of ASYO and was finding it hard to get back to school before curfew on Sundays; I missed my family; and I was even struggling academically because of the lack of time for both practicing violin and completing such rigorous course work. I was not enjoying myself and I realized then that I wanted to be a musician, not an engineer, which was my previous goal. I left ASMSA in the middle of the year, and moved back with my family. My mother was not disappointed but supportive of my choice.

          When I moved back, it was difficult to catch up with school and violin. So much had changed. We had a new orchestra director, Mr. Chong. He was a kind man, but was only able to be a teacher at Lakeside temporarily. Sadly, due to required classes and a confusing schedule, I was not able to participate in my school’s orchestra my senior year; though, since there was not even a permanent teacher there until the second semester, I became extra motivated to become an orchestra teacher myself. I also found several other ensembles to participate in. I have played with the chamber orchestra, which was an after school program for some time, and even the choir. I also found a way to be part of my school's Pep Band and performed during basketball games. I contributed to school events like performing the national anthem at my school’s wrestling matches. I have also performed in my school’s Pit Orchestra for musicals including “Shrek the Musical '', “Legally Blonde” and “Tuck Everlasting”.

I also competed in Lakeside’s talent shows and placed 1st all three years improvising on my electric violin. The second and third years I won, I represented my school at the Garland County’s got talent show. I placed first on the second time and was honored with the Trophy for my school to display. I believe my unconventional style stood out and grabbed attention along with my backtracks that consisted of songs from classical to pop. After performing at the Garland Talent Show, one of the judges, Shirley Chauvin, approached me and offered me a fully funded scholarship to attend a jazz camp at UAM. Playing my electric violin was a very unconventional thing to do, but, despite not having a violin part for most of the songs, it worked out perfectly and I enjoyed every minute of it. At the end of the concert, I even received the outstanding student award and a full scholarship to attend the same camp the next summer for free.

           I was so glad to learn about all of the opportunities that I would have in the music world. It had been a dream of mine to one day be on T.V. and for a long time, I would beg my mother to take me to audition for a television show called America’s Got Talent. I showed my mom that I was serious about my music career, so we took three days off and drove to Knoxville, Tennessee to audition. It was a dream come true just to be there. I was on camera and met many talented musicians. Though I did not make the cut, I had a priceless experience that I will never forget. 

          Just as I thought things couldn't get any better, I received a letter from the Honors Performance series (HPS). I had auditioned every year for four years to try to get accepted into this program where I would get a chance to perform in New York City at Carnegie Hall with musicians from around the world. My senior year, the last year that I was eligible to apply, I was accepted. It was a dream come true to meet so many people including my conductor, Kirt Mosier, who composed most of the pieces we performed. I made many friends and enjoyed the city life for a few days. This was a “once in a lifetime” experience that I hope I get to do again!

I was hired to play solo at a luncheon for Hayden Shamel, and a jazz performance featuring Jacqueline Beaumont st the Elks Club where I was the opening act. I have also performed several times at the Kollective downtown and I have busked in restaurants, outdoors, and in hotels for tips in and. 

          I applied to Henderson as a Music Education major and I auditioned for several music scholarships. My schedule was quite difficult to plan at first because I would commute from Hot Springs, a forty minute drive, and would have to drive to Arkadelphia every day. However, my older sister Teresa also attended Henderson so we drove together with my father, who worked at Arkadelphia High School. 

          During my university's “welcome week”, I auditioned in the “Freshmen Got Talent” show. I thought it would be a great way to meet people and to showcase myself to my class. I won 2nd place next to an amazing singer. I was thrilled to perform for my class and it would not be the last time. Later in the year I performed in the “Hendersons Got Talent” show. This was much more advanced with a lot more students Auditioning. I passed the Auditions to the finale. I won 2nd place next to the same singer. We were on our way to bright futures.

I enjoy performing and I have played more concerts that I can count, but what I always remember is the feeling I get when I can tell the audience is smiling. I understand why people enjoy performing and hopefully my ambition will rub off on my little sister Ania, who has started on violin and has played in the prep and moved to Prelude. She was the concertmaster and I am very proud of her. I was a senior while my little sister was in Prep, which means that it was my last year in ASYO, and, at the last concert, I was a guest conductor for my little sister’s orchestra. As a Freshman in college, I conducted and taught the prelude orchestra along side Carol Laskrov and Drew Irving who are co conductors for prelude. 

          At Henderson I played in the Orchestra and NeuFusion Group. These two ensembles were very different from each other but I loved them both. In Neu Fusion, I performed jazz, pop, bachata, and disco tunes on my electric violin with an incredible band of talented students. The orchestra was very small and only consisted of 5 students and several people from the community. My second semester at Henderson, I was asked by Dr. Diamond, my conductor for both ensembles and student advisor, If I could play in the Presidents concert. I accepted and performed in the orchestra with other professional musicians, some of whom play in the ASO including my co conductor Drew Irvin. The orchestra performed the accompaniment for selected student soloists.

          During this time, I was asked to be showcased as one of the scholarship winners at the Elks Club. Shirley Chauvin put the event together for students to perform with a backing band and a year later we planned the same event, but got cancelled due to the global pandemic. After a few months of quarantine, the event was rescheduled to be safe and distanced by being live streamed on facebook. 

          After this performance, there very little events going on due to the pandemic. Since finding gigs was hard, I decided to do my own performances downtown. I had played a few times downtown during christmas time in hotels, ice creams shops and even with my sisters at a coffee shop, but this time I decided I could busk for tips in public areas downtown. I performed on my electric violin by a waterfall fountain the week before halloween and I even dressed up in an eye catching costume complete with colored contacts! I played mostly spooky tunes and made quite an audience.

          As I was packing up from busking, a man approached me and asked if I could play at a real estate event he was holding. Chris Rix told me to contact for the performance that weekend. He told me to play anything I wanted because he liked my style. I was very excited for the event, despite the cold. He had a playlist ready as well so I played along to his songs as well. It was a great gig and I had fun performing outdoors.

          The photographer for this event took some photos of me and asked me about my career. Later I found my pictures in the article for the estate sale. I also received an email from Grace Brown asking if I could be the cover story for the December issue of HER magazine. After several interviews, recording sessions and photoshoots, the story was put together and I could mark 'being on the cover of a magazine' off my bucket list.

 

           I am very excited to be able to pursue my dream and my passion as a career and I am very lucky to be able to enjoy every second of my future. After all, who can say they... I cannot believe how lucky I am. I have the opportunity to do what I love more than anything every single day and to share what I love with others as a teacher!