Junior Sophie Yang has been playing the piano for 10 years and the viola for five, and talks about the influence of music in her life.
Sophie Yang
Name: Sophie Yang
Grade: 11th
Years of Experience: piano for 10 years and viola for 5 years
Future job: anesthesiologist
Wingspan: What made you choose your instrument?
Yang: “I chose viola because I love the deeper sound of the instrument compared to violins. It is also pretty portable compared to some other instruments.”
Wingspan: What made you want to join orchestra?
Yang: “I wanted to join orchestra because I have always really loved the sounds of string instruments. I knew I wanted to play an instrument in middle school, and talking to a lot of older students who were in orchestra convinced me to join.”
Wingspan: Are you considering continuing your instrument beyond high school? Why?
Yang: “I am definitely considering continuing my instruments beyond high school. Especially since music has been such a large part of my life from a young age, I hope to at least join an orchestra in college. I think continuing to play and instrument beyond high school could also be a great form of relaxation and a great way to meet new people.”
Wingspan: How does music impact your life?
Yang: “Music impacts my life because it allows me to express myself and have fun! I love to make music with a group of students in orchestra and playing instruments can help me destress from academics!”
Wingspan: What’s your favorite memory in orchestra?
Yang: “My favorite memory in orchestra was playing at the Winter Extravaganza.”
Wingspan: What life lessons has orchestra/playing instruments taught you?
Yang: “Playing instruments has taught me the importance of perseverance. When I look at a piece for the first time, it often looks extremely hard, but after lots of practice, the final performance always pays off and feels very fulfilling.”