In this week’s edition of Artistic Expressions, Wingspan sits down with Sarp Sahin as he talks about his passion for playing the cello.
Sarp Sahin
Name: Sarp Sahin
Grade: senior
Instrument: cello
Future College: TBD
Future Job: biomedical engineer/surgeon
Years in Orchestra: 7
Favorite Musician: Jacqueline du Pré
Wingspan: What made you choose your instrument?
Sahin: “I chose the cello at my 5th grade Fowler Middle School Fiddle Fair because of its rich tone and wide musical range. I really enjoy playing the cello because of its deep, powerful sounds, classical repertoire solos, and its role in string quartets, ensembles, and full orchestras.”
Wingspan: What made you want to choose to do orchestra?
Sahin: “I’ve always enjoyed music, and the prospect of performing classical music literature in addition to the lasting relationships I would make made orchestra seem like the best fit for me. 7 years on, I can certainly say it was the right choice!”
Wingspan: Are you considering continuing the orchestra beyond? Why?
Sahin: “Yes, definitely. I plan on playing in the non-major Orchestra at my university. Orchestra has really shaped who I am today, and I’m excited to be part of a similar community next year.”
Wingspan: What are your personal goals for this year?
Sahin: “After an exciting 3rd quarter of rigourous classical repertoire for our UIL performance, I want to cap off my senior year with a great spring concert.”
Wingspan: What is your favorite thing about orchestra?
Sahin: “My favorite aspect about orchestra is the community experience of making music together. I like the way music bonds us all together, which became even more important during this pandemic. I feel privileged to be part of a team of such talented, caring and hardworking musicians in my orchestra.”
Wingspan: How do you balance orchestra, school, and any other extracurriculars?
Sahin: “It’s all about advanced planning. Planning ahead to combine curricular work with extracurricular activities helps me achieve a healthy school-life balance.”
Wingspan: What’s your favorite memory of the orchestra?
Sahin: “In my sophomore year, our orchestra performed Beethoven’s Finale for UIL. Our performance was flawless, the atmosphere was electric, and in retrospect, it was quite an