“In my favorite CAM seminar, “Is it music to your ears?” we had a particularly interesting discussion on the use of profanity in music, its purpose, and its ultimate effect. Coming from many diverse backgrounds, my peers had very different opinions on the issue and their perspectives made me reflect on my own views.”
Prior to attending YYGS, I had been practicing the Third Movement of Beethoven’s Sonata #14. I thought I was playing it well until I heard one of my peers play the same piece. His performance inspired me to set a higher standard for how I approached this song and helped me realize I needed to play with more passion. After returning home from the program, I practiced this piece with a different purpose; I wanted to be personally proud of my performance. In December 2019, I auditioned for an international piano competition with this piece and just found out that I was accepted to perform in the final round at Carnegie Hall in New York City in February 2020! Thank you YYGS for the inspiration to work harder and realize my dreams.