“I was born and raised in South Korea. I started music there – piano at age 6 and violin at age 9, but it wasn’t until I came here to the US at age 10 that I considered music as a career. There are just more opportunities here. My elementary school strings orchestra teacher, Lubima Shentov, is the bass teacher at @juilliardschool Music Advancement Program and she encouraged me to audition for the program there. If it had not been for her, I wouldn’t have even known it was a possibility for me. My parents are not musicians, so this is my journey on my own, but I have their full support.

When I was in 6th grade, I founded the Music Around Us Project (music.aroundusproject.com). I organize and perform seasonal concerts for the senior citizens at a local assisted living facility. Everyone is really welcoming and appreciative. I make arrangements of oldies songs so they have something they can relate to. It’s the best when they sing along and bob their heads! And everyone is smiling. And some people recognize me when I come to perform the next time. About two years ago, this one lady pulled me aside and said, “Look! I saved all your programs!”. I draw the covers myself, so that made me happy.

I have not been that affected by the storm myself, but a lot of my neighbors and friends were. My mom is from Japan, and ever since I was little I have heard about families there getting affected by tsunamis and earthquakes and I have always wanted to help. Tonight’s concert is my chance to make people happy. I would do 100 of these concerts, for free. It’s just bringing music to people that is meaningful to me. That’s my dream. I want to make people happy with music.”

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