My Musical Journey

Music entered my life when I was 5 years old—sparked by watching my older sister practice. Curious and eager, I wanted to play, too. That early curiosity quickly turned into a dedicated passion. By age 6, I was already entering competitions, setting the stage for milestones like my first international event, the Seattle International Piano Competition, and my concerto debut at age 11 with the Los Angeles Bach Orchestra.

Growing up, music always felt like a natural extension of who I was. I loved classical ballet and dancing to rhythm, so expressing myself through the piano felt effortless from around age ten. Yet, even with that deep certainty, my mother instilled an important lesson in me: always keep your options open. I worked hard in academics alongside my practice, ensuring I’d have choices—whether that meant double majoring or taking a completely different path later on.

That dual focus shaped my high school years at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). When college audition season arrived, I applied to both dedicated conservatories and comprehensive universities. Receiving offers from institutions like Eastman, Peabody, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, and the University of Michigan was an incredible milestone.

Ultimately, I chose the University of Michigan for two key reasons: the chance to study with Professor Christopher Harding, and the ability to pursue a top-tier academic education while taking classes outside of music. During my time at Michigan, I discovered a strong second passion for marketing, took full advantage of diverse coursework, and even spent a transformative semester studying abroad at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany under Gilead Mishory.

Looking back, balancing rigorous academic curiosity with artistic dedication gave me a broader perspective on music and life. Stay tuned for the next chapter of my journey—where I head to Northwestern University for my Master’s degree and discover my lifelong calling in teaching!