I Graduated!
So, many people have been asking me about my time at BYU, what I experienced, and what was the value of my education. While so many others have asked what I will be doing next! There is so much to tell and so much I probably don't remember. But here are some answers to your questions!
The last five years at BYU have been life-changing. I am ever grateful for my education, professors, roommates, friends, sister, and family who have supported me on this journey. Here are some of my favorite memories from my time around BYU!
Fall 2019 - Winter 2020
Joined the BYU Philharmonic as a non-music major! (This is huge!)
I declared a minor in statistics. Honestly, I still can't tell you why I did it. But I enjoyed my classes!
I enjoyed lots of fun dinner dates with my big sis!
I took my first ballroom dance class! I competed at BYU on the Cha Cha and made it to the quarterfinals
I performed with master violinist Itzhak Perlman and the Philharmonic. He performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto.
I took a class on music psychology and how the brain reacts to music, anxiety, stage fright, etc. And learned tools to help overcome those struggles and rewire your brain.
Some of my hobbies this year were knitting, painting, and photography.
Another interesting class I took this year was about acoustics. I learned how concert halls are built and how certain structures affect the overall sound.
I took a Latin ballroom dance class. I competed on the Samba this time and made it to the semifinals.
On Friday, March 13th, 2020 BYU announced campus was closing due to COVID-19. I moved out of my apartment a few days later.
Finishing the semester remotely, having not experienced this before was crazy difficult! Be sure to read the paper I wrote about my experience as a musician during the pandemic. [Insert link to page]
The biggest accomplishment of this year is being accepted to the BYU School of Music as an Instrumental Music Education major.
Fall 2020 - Winter 2021
During Fall 2020, due to the pandemic, I was not assigned a roommate and had the room to myself! It was epic! But I will say, when Summer came and joined me in January, I was overjoyed to have a friend and someone to talk to until all hours of the night!
Over the summer I got a job as a research assistant with the BYU Family History Center as a researcher on the Nauvoo Project. With this project, we researched every individual that passed through Nauvoo during the time the pioneers were traveling.
School during COVID was extremely difficult. A majority of my classes were held online and I went to camps 2-3 times per week max. It was scary and stressful. Every element of life was different and difficult. Hit me up if you want to hear more!
Hobbies I kept busy with this year were drawing and baking.
As few as the visits were, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my sister and cousins during the semesters. They sure made quarantine more fun!
In January 2021, I had COVID for the first time. This meant starting the semester in isolation. While I did appreciate sleeping for 16 hours a day, I sure did struggle.
I took a tap class this year! I absolutely loved it. I had so much fun dancing with friends and doing something I enjoy.
I put on a sophomore recital this spring! Check out some of my videos from that performance!
Also this spring, I placed 1st in the WSU ASTA Stringfest with the Khachaturian Violin Concerto.
To end the year, my big sis graduated and there were many fun celebrations!
Spring 2021
This spring term was a great intensive study for me on my Violin. It also helped me to catch up on my work from COVID.
I sang with the BYU Spring Chorale. This choir was so fun to be a part of. We sang the favorite songs of every prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is also where I first met my husband!
Following this term, I participated as an orchestra fellow for the Miami Classical Music Festival.
Fall 2021 - Winter 2022
My time as a music education major is now in full swing at this point. I was taking all kinds of classes to learn the brass, string, percussion, and woodwind instruments! My favorite instruments to learn were the tuba, clarinet, cello, and snare drum.
I was heavily involved in the music program and was acing my classes. Music theory was a breeze and I loved it!
Being a part of this major was huge as I had a cohort of friends and a built-in support system. While learning how to be an educator is daunting, I moved forward with a smile and tried my best.
I was so happy to be working with the New Horizons Orchestra as a teacher and conductor.
I participated in the BYU Women's Chorus and had the most amazing time making beautiful music!
This is the year my fight with performance injuries and such began. I will write a post later discussing my experience with injury as a professional musician.
I performed in and attended so many great concerts and had a really solid year as a music major!
My husband and I started officially dating in January 2022!
I placed 1st in the WSU ASTA Stringfest with the Beethoven Violin Concerto 3rd Movement.
For a final project, I composed a duet for violin and cello. I am really proud of it, even if it is still a work in progress.
To end this school year, I went on tour with the BYU Chamber Orchestra to the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy.
Summer 2022
I took Organ lessons this summer and had a blast. I am so proud that I was able to learn a classical piece and not just all the hymns!
This term I focused on working, finishing a few generals, running, and my boyfriend. I took a writing class and really enjoyed researching music and learning how to craft a professional paper.
Fall 2022 - Winter 2023
This year I continued learning other instruments and improving my skills as a teacher and conductor. One of my favorite skills I acquired was drawing music maps!
One of my best baking concoctions of the year was the development of a French toast casserole!
I got engaged right before Christmas!
It was super snowy one night and I enjoyed going out and playing in the snow with one of my roommates!
Wedding planning took up most of winter semester. It was a crazy busy time but was so much fun! Looking back I sometimes wish I could do it all again.
In January, I spent a week in Southern Arizona at a chamber music festival learning and performing!
I put together and performed my junior recital. This was a huge project for me. I really wanted to showcase music that isn't performed as often as more popular pieces. It was so much fun to research every composer and piece and put together an amazing program that featured Spanish composers.
BYU Philharmonic and combined choirs performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.
One of my favorite classes this semester was a diamond and gems class. I didn't know that rocks could be so pretty! I had such a fun time studying with microscopes, tools, and precious stones.
The new BYU music building opened and we had our first concert there in April! (I can't remember what we performed! Phil friends help me out!)
To end the semester, I got married!
Fall 2023 - Winter 2024
My final year!!! This year was filled with many field experiences to help me practice and execute my teaching skills! I became the professional I always dreamed of becoming!
This fall semester was a semester of lasts. My final few classes, my final concerts at BYU, my final certifications, etc. It was huge to see the culmination of all my work done at BYU.
Over the summer I got a job as an office secretary in the mechanical engineering department. I absolutely loved this job and the friends that I made there!
Itzhak Perlman returned to BYU for another concert with the Philharmonic. This time he performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
In January, I began student teaching at a local high school. This experience meant the world to me. I learned so much and grew as a conductor, musician, teacher, and leader. My students were so fun, kind, helpful, and motivating for me to do my best so I could get my license and graduate. I will forever cherish that time. My culminating moment was when I conducted "Jupiter" from "The Planets" by Holst. It was thrilling and inspiring to see what kind of professional I have become.
Finally, graduation. This day was bittersweet. I knew that my time at BYU was ending, but I was excited about new opportunities and experiences. While entering into the post-college world has been scary, it has pushed me to be an independent learner and helped me to take charge of my studies. Graduation was so fun as I was able to spend time with friends and colleagues, get my scores for the PPAT, and enjoy some final moments at BYU.
What's next?
Well, it's sad for me to say I won't be teaching in a high school anymore. But that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future! My degree in education has meant everything to me and I have learned so much along the way. But, I miss performing, competing, and being a part of the orchestra. So I decided to accept a position in the Violin Performance and Pedagogy Master's Program at the University of Utah! I could not be more thrilled to be spreading my wings and experiencing music in new ways!
Before I start this program I will participate in the Texas Music Festival at the University of Houston. Here I will take lessons from various faculty and guest artists, participate in master classes, perform in a chamber ensemble, and serve as a member of the Symphony Orchestra.
Later on this summer, I will assist as an Orchestra teacher at a festival for young musicians in Montana as they get ready for school again!
And then it’s grad school! Stay tuned for more updates and posts to come!
