Alumni Association
Alumni Stories
Three Generations of SDYS Family
Daniel Pate
Being a musician has been one of the most deeply rewarding choices I have made. Music has a way of becoming the cornerstone to every single important moment that we live.
Enrico Lopez-Yañez
One thing I have learned in my journey is that the people around you are not your greatest competition but in fact your greatest asset.
Victoria Bietz
My SDYS experiences shaped me as a person and ultimately paved my decision to major in violin performance.
Jonathan Piper
One of the strongest lessons I learned from SDYS was personal responsibility. Show up to rehearsal on time, fully practiced, and ready to focus for however long the group needs you.
Sophie Graf
The point of an orchestra is to explore all of the rich textures available in classical music. You, as an individual instrumentalist, are just one texture in this vast array.
Flora Li
I love music because it is a way for me to express my feelings freely. I have been involved in musical activities for over half of my life, and it has become a part of me.
Alex Wong
It’s always amazing to me that no matter where you’re from or what language you speak, music is universal.
Greg Hix
Working personally with him (Yo-Yo Ma) was sort of a trip to be honest. His brain is always, ALWAYS thinking of how to tweak musical ideas- whether it was phrasing, dynamics, seating, dress etc. He seems to exist a few seconds in the future at all times.
Tanya Solomon
My advice to younger musicians is to learn how to play (and get along) with a section. This skill helps you learn to work with others, which is helpful in whatever career you choose.
Janet Hwu
My musical upbringing taught me diligence and patience. Also, it helped me put fear into perspective, as nothing is as scary as playing solo in front of a large group of people.
Jessica Reinis
I adored playing Principal Flute in SDYS my senior year of high school. There was a lot of pressure with college applications and conservatory audition tapes, but leading the flute section was my fantasy all through high school and I had to pinch myself that whole year when it finally became a reality.
