“It’s always been in my blood.

I’ve always done band and choir. I’ve done choir since kindergarten, and then I started band in sixth grade, at Pin Oak Middle School. I’ve always taken piano lessons [and played] clarinet, bass clarinet and tenor sax [because] I’ve always [played instruments] in the band world. I self-taught myself ukulele and harmonica.

Coming to high school [I was] like, ‘Oh, of course, I want to do both [band and choir]’. I really wanted to [be a drum major], the conductor of the band, my freshman year. I auditioned, and I made it my sophomore year.

I did [take] a break from choir my freshman year. After that I was like, ‘I don’t think I should join choir,’ because I already missed a year. It was awkward for me coming as a sophomore. But long story short, I ended up being in choir, because it was my only option for my fifth period. I mentioned to Mrs. Solberg [that] I’m also in band. We ended up doing this piece called, ‘Who has heard the music?’ There was a clarinet part, so she was like, ‘Do you want to do it just for fun?’ I said ‘Okay,’ and ever since then, she’s always put me on an instrument. That was actually my first performance in choir. I didn’t sing in it. I played an instrument, accompanying choir, which is something I never even thought I could do. I was so nervous, and it ended up being probably one of my favorite performances I’ve done.

I think specifically becoming a drum major through band has definitely made me a more confident person because I used to be such a shy person [with] maybe only a few close friends. Being a head of the band has really opened [me] up. In the same way, being a choir officer is really fun. It’s just different leading a band than leading a choir. Being a leader in different organizations has brought more opportunities.

I think [Bellaire] made me take [band and choir] more seriously than I did before because music has always been a hobby. Because of COVID, I couldn’t pursue it as much as I wanted to in middle school. Coming to Bellaire, where you have marching band and you have to devote hundreds of hours to band, made me acquire more [skills] than I did before [and] made me more active and appreciative of my hobbies.

My passion has always been music. I think ever since I [was a kid] I’ve loved music. I’m a music nerd. I have passion for music and the community I’m with in band and choir. I love doing it with people who have the same common interests as me.”