Music Student Hits All the Right Notes
Julia Hong is leaving her mark on 色情视频 through her music.
The rhythm of collegiate music scenes tends to be dictated by a population of SoundCloud rappers and coffee shop bands.鈥淚t was a once-in-a-lifetime to be able to hear the piece performed by our amazing orchestra.鈥�
However, with three concert bands, two symphony orchestras and three choirs, the classical musicians at 色情视频 are also leaving their mark on campus at in a major way.
One such student is Julia Hong, a music education junior with an emphasis in voice. Hong recently won a contest to have one of her pieces performed by the school symphony orchestra.
She said she aspires to be a high school choir director in order to repay the public school system with the same passion for music that it instilled in her. Hong began playing piano at three years old and went on to learn how to play a variety of instruments.
Although she has also been singing since elementary school, Hong was hesitant to pursue a major, let alone a career, in music.
She spent a summer in a program at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts that led her to contemplate the feasibility of her dream.
鈥淚 was so intimidated by how talented and driven everyone was there that I almost quit music altogether afterwards,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, it was one of the most influential experiences of my life and I quickly realized that there is nothing I am more passionate about than music and it would have been a huge waste to throw away all that I鈥檝e learned over the years.鈥�
Once she got to 色情视频, Hong was still unsure of how she wanted to channel her passion into a career. She changed her major three times within the first three semesters but is now thankful for going through the process of trial and error.
Now she has no doubt that she is on the career path she is meant for. The testimony of Michael Gerdes, professor and director of orchestras at 色情视频, reinforces Hong鈥檚 belief.
鈥淭he most important thing is that you do your homework, literally and figuratively,鈥� Gerdes said. 鈥淛ulia does both. Julia comes prepared and it鈥檚 evidenced by the beautiful music that she鈥檚 written. She always has something to offer.鈥�
Although she acknowledges that it鈥檚 a clich茅d sentiment in the choir world, Hong believes that the composer Eric Whitacre is the artist that has most influenced her work.
鈥淗is choir pieces are absolutely inspiring and appeal to anyone and everyone,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e is able to take an image or feeling all humans have experienced and create a piece of music around it that fully embodies it.鈥�
Hong thus chose to arrange Whitacre鈥檚 piece, 鈥淎 Boy and A Girl,鈥� for orchestra, the arrangement that won the contest.
Although she had sung it in high school, Hong notes the challenges of transforming this choral piece into an orchestral one.
鈥淚 had to really familiarize myself with the different timbres, or colors, of the instruments in an orchestra and figure out which instruments I wanted to play which parts,鈥� Hong said. 鈥淭he difficult part is making sure that the music is able to convey the message of the original poem without the usage of words.鈥�
Hong鈥檚 hard work paid off when her piece was recently played live by the .
鈥淚t was a once-in-a-lifetime to be able to hear the piece performed by our amazing orchestra,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was honestly so cool to have the music that you have been hearing in your head for months become a real living thing. I am so grateful for the experience and to have musicians who gave up their time to learn and play the piece.鈥�
With a considerable amount of love and care devoted to each note, the biggest misconception about the music major is that it鈥檚 鈥渆asy.鈥�
In addition to the classes she takes each semester, Hong is expected to learn how to play every instrument, teach lessons in local schools to kids ranging from grades K-12 and participate in ensembles that rehearse four days a week.
For Hong, her unseen challenges behind the scenes are made worthwhile by both the passion and promise associated with her future career.
鈥淭he best part about being (a music education major) and wanting to be a choir teacher is knowing that I am going to be able to share the incredible process of making music with a younger generation,鈥� she said.
Musical or not, the arts are a vital portion of any well-rounded education.
鈥淣ot everyone thinks the same way or learns the same way,鈥� Hong said. 鈥淭he arts teach essential life skills (like) how to work together, be compassionate, be sensitive, be responsible and self-aware, and to embrace individuality.鈥�
