What?

For as long as I can remember, music, or more specifically, playing the violin, has been one of my
core passions. Being able to take the black notes on the page and turn it into a beautiful harmony of
color and soul is so incredibly exciting to me. After developing my skills through the continuation
of private lessons, I joined a community orchestra and it exposed me to a side of music I had never
experienced before. Before this experience, I had only played solo pieces; I had never performed
with an ensemble before. However, hearing all the instruments coalesce to produce a beautiful,
unified sound only furthered my love and passion for music and my violin. Throughout these past
ten years, Ive participated in the Dublin Jerome Chamber Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony
Youth Orchestra, and the OMEA All-State Orchestra. In addition, I was part of a quartet that
performed for various school and community events. Being part of various ensembles not only
exposed me to diverse repertoire, but also individuals who share the same love for music as me.
So what?
My interest in music started at a pretty young age. When I was seven, I attended an orchestra
concert with my parents and the soloists flawless interpretation of the Bruch Violin Concerto left
me in awe. Immediately after the concert, I begged my parents to let me start violin lessons.
Needless to say, I was instantly captivated. What I love most is that the world of music is infinite,
and its endless possibilities leave me craving for more. Although I have already been on this
musical journey for nine years, there is so much more to discover. When my school quartet would
dive into String Quartet Op. 51, No. 1 in C minor, IV by Brahms, I was immersed in a new world in
which I would have the freedom to embellish the piece with my own visionary expressions. As we
conversed through the music and heard the notes blend into a perfect harmony, it would feel as if
we were one body. Admittedly, music was also my greatest source of frustration. The convoluted
cadenzas, which required my fingers to move with both keen precision and rapid speed, would not
seem worth the hours of practice and pain. The daunting prospect of failing loomed over my head,
but my violin helped me gain resilience and disarm the giant of these negative thoughts. Although I
made mistakes, I kept working and improving. Each mastery of a piece was a reminder that
genuine satisfaction emerges from tenacity. Like the bridge that holds the strings on the violin
together, music is what has bound together the fibers that make me who I am today.
Now what?
Music has purpose. Deep, far-reaching, fulfilling purpose. Its incredible how music has the power
to unite, inspire, and heal. Im extremely grateful to be at The University of Cincinnati, which
encompasses CCM, one of the nations leading music conservatories. This on-campus artistic
environment enables me to further my love for music by attending a wide variety of musical
performances. In addition, I am a member of the UC Symphony Orchestra and play the lovely
Hanson and Copeland with my fellow bearcats. With my passion for music, and my academic
major in Medical Sciences, I hope to be able to combine these two interests by learning more about
music therapy and its effectiveness in dealing with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs
of individuals. I hope to use the resources provided by my advisors and UHP to get connected with
hospitals, doctors, or principal investigators who are focusing on the relationship between music
and medicine. In addition, I would love to learn more about music in general, its history, and the
backgrounds of different composers. I hope to go on a study tour during my undergraduate years
that focuses on this aspect of the arts.