Alumni

I believe that learning how to perform is an essential skill that I gained through music. I learned the value of practice and discipline, how to calm my nerves while onstage, and how to think on my feet if something did not go as planned. All of these skills have served me well so far and I am sure will be invaluable in the future.

I still love listening to music. Medical school was demanding, so it was important to have a way to relax. I always listened to the radio during my commute and I even sing along sometimes!

I have also been fortunate to meet some of my closest friends through music, with whom I am still in touch today. I remember learning in college that the heart rates of the ensemble singers accelerate and decelerate simultaneously. In a way, the singers’ hearts “beat as one” while they are performing together.

University of Oxford, Master of Science by Research (2020)

Emory University School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (2020)

Bachelor of Arts, Harvard University (2014)

Thinking back on PCM, I really treasure the two master classes I played in: one with Caroline Oltmanns, where she scolded me for having a bad edition of a Bach invention, and one with Norman Krieger, where he really helped transform my approach to playing Brahms’ Intermezzo in A major. I still have a recording of the masterclass with Norman Krieger that I listen to every now and then to remember what I played like then and to keep working on applying his advice!

The opportunity to play chamber music and make music with others provided wonderful training. It taught me that you will often have other people relying on you to do your work, so you better prepare! It taught me how to do your best even when you’re not as prepared as you should be. And of course, it taught me how to collaborate: how to assert your own ideas and listen to others. This early exposure to collective music-making was so useful when I went on to conduct musicals in college and the lessons still apply now to my choral conducting and teaching.

University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts in Music (2016)

I recently interned for composer Catherine Joy and her score preparation and production company last summer. Prior to interning for Catherine, I completed a mentorship for film composer Michael A. Levine and received a producing credit in his recently released short film, The Aspirant. At school, I am working on quite a few student films for NYU filmmakers and animators in the Tisch School of the Arts. In addition, I hope to finish my string quartet inspired by my home state of California this fall. 

My violin training here at PCM created an invaluable foundation for my studies. There were so many opportunities at PCM that I am incredibly grateful to have had and experienced, including performing at art nights, group lessons, and even juries, that helped prepare me for college and placement exams throughout my high school career.

New York University, Music Theory and Composition, Screen Scoring (2023)