Appearances
Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, 2026; Lake George Music Festival, 2025–26; Long Island Flute Festival, 2018
What is your earliest memory of classical music?
My cousins and I were all in elementary school together, and both of them were pianists who competed in piano competitions for young kids and won 1st prize many times. Our school would even announce their achievements over the morning announcements before the school day would start. Watching them succeed like that is what pushed me to choose an instrument myself once I got to middle school. Originally, I wanted to be a string player because my sisters played violin and viola, but I was placed into a woodwinds class. My only option was to go get my schedule changed to a string class, but I was too lazy to go through the process, so I stayed in the class and chose the flute.
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
I was very fortunate to study with two teachers who were both similar and different in their approaches to teaching me. Professor Judy Mendenhall was my professor during my undergraduate studies, and she showed me the foundation needed as a flutist while providing me with a different process for learning different genres of music. She supported and believed in me while motivating me to pursue all types of opportunities. Professor Tara Helen O’Connor’s curiosity across all types of music and instruments pushed me to look beyond the surface of sheet music on a piece of paper. She showed me different ways to approach music, helping me embrace the process of chamber music.
What made you decide to become a musician? Was there a particular performance or person that influenced your decision?
Ever since I started playing flute in middle school, flute was on my mind well into high school. It was hard for me to concentrate in my other classes throughout the day because my thoughts kept drifting to melodies from the pieces I played in wind ensemble and marching band the day before, and to what I would play in rehearsals that day. All the aspects of music in high school exposed me to many opportunities I could enjoy, including orchestra, pit orchestra, jazz band, and music competitions. It got to a point where music was the only thing pushing me to be better each day.
How did you hear about TŌN? What inspired you to apply?
During the last year of my undergraduate studies, I was getting ready to apply to master’s programs. I had my list of schools to apply to all set, and I wasn’t thinking about any other programs or schools to apply to. My friend, who is very knowledgeable, told me to look into TŌN, but by that time it was too late to apply, and coincidentally, I ended up committing to Bard Conservatory anyway. I had the great opportunity of subbing for TŌN in a few concerts over the past two years here at Bard. I was familiar with some of the faculty and had friends in TŌN, and with the encouragement of my professor, I applied to TŌN.
What is the most memorable performance you ever had?
As of right now, my Bachelor’s degree recital is the performance I am most proud of. It was the first time I performed for such a long duration, and I prepared so much for the type of performance I wanted to give. I performed classical, romantic, jazz, and tango pieces, which was fun because it was my first time working with a guitarist and a jazz quartet. I love performing with instruments I’ve never played with before, so that made me very proud of the performance.
Is there a person or people you most respect in your field and why?
I have so much respect for my flute teachers and other instrumental teachers who show so much compassion in their teaching. They have so much to do within their busy week, but they always make an effort to help me and others become a better musician. I have so much respect for all the musicians I work with because we all know the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to reach these career positions in schools, orchestras, chamber ensembles, etc.
Can you share any memorable onstage mishaps?
In my undergraduate school, I played in a flute quintet for the graduation ceremony. My group walked on stage, and we were about to perform when my friend realized he had brought the wrong sheet music onto the stage. He left the stage and ran all the way to the practice room we had rehearsed in earlier in the day, which was on the second floor and on the other side of the building. We were on stage for five minutes, trying to stall the crowd until he came back. The other flutists were nervous but in a joking manner, which helped us relax a bit before we performed.
Do you have a favorite non-classical musician or band?
I love listening to Hubert Laws and his quintet, and my favorite artist is Michael Jackson.
What is a surprising part of playing your instrument that you think most people don’t know?
Flute has one of the worst postures to deal with among orchestral instruments. Flutists look effortless when they play, making the instrument seem as light as a piece of paper in terms of weight. Even though the flute weighs only a couple of pounds, we hold the instrument away from our body’s center, which puts more pressure on our shoulder and upper back muscles. Also, the flute uses a lot of air, even more than a trombone at times, because half of the air we put into the instrument is wasted—it goes in the flute, and the rest bounces off the embouchure hole into whatever space or room you are in.
What is the biggest challenge and/or surprise about playing in an orchestra?
As a musician in the orchestra, you may have multiple jobs to consider. In my case, I may be the principal flutist, the second flutist, or the piccolo player at any given point, and understanding each role is very important for the section. The principal’s job is to lead the flute section and, very often, the woodwind section as well. The second flutist must provide support to the principal and try to make their job easier if possible. There are many smaller jobs that we all do as musicians in the orchestra to sound like one cohesive ensemble!