When it comes to the arts, music has grasped my mind and attention the most. I’ve been playing musical instruments since I was nine years old. I was not interested in music until the first time I touched a piano. My mother and I were getting a piano because everyone in our family wanted to learn to play the piano. I’m still the only one in the family who does.

After a not-so-pleasant experience in 6th grade with the middle school I was going to, my parents were looking for a school I could go to that had many other arts enthusiasts like me. We chose Sandy Spring. I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t an awkward transition. I got involved with handbells and the instrumental ensemble. The middle school ensemble was probably the smallest school band I’ve ever been part of. Handbells was pretty fun.

In Upper School, there was a wider range of ways to express the love of music and other performing arts. I found myself playing the piano and saxophone more often. I like to play in the Beestro because people will sit on the piano and sing along with whatever bar piece I’d play. Sometimes, I think about my ability to play multiple instruments. Many tell me that they envy this skill. I don’t want people to envy me.

Being on this campus as a musician is a unique experience. There are many opportunities to play my saxophone or a piano. One example is the Coffee House. I performed a 4 part saxophone Sonata for everyone during the Coffee House outside. I felt nervous about the large number of people who came to watch it. At the end of my performance, I was reminded of the great feeling of accomplishment when everyone cheered for me. Being a Musician on campus can be great and not-so-great. There are some musicians (will not be named) who treat music as a constant competition. There are other musicians who want to play along with you and are in it for the fun side of performing music.