Kirusha Lanski

Kirusha Lanski also enjoys playing piano and baritone saxophone. Currently a freshman at Canyon Crest Academy, Kirusha has played in a number of musical organizations, including San Diego Youth Symphony (SDYS), school bands, various jazz groups and—most notably—a national honor band that recently performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. Kirusha values the many friendships that have arisen through musical connections. “My absolute favorite thing about participating in music programs is the amazing music we create as an ensemble. [It] is so beautiful and mind-blowing, I feel like it has opened my mind to an entire new world.” A motivated self-starter, Kirusha approached his school’s music teacher in second grade and requested private lessons. Upon observing this enthusiasm, Kirusha’s parents have wholeheartedly supported his musical goals ever since. Along with SDYS’s weekend rehearsals, school band commitments and weekly private lessons—for marimba, timpani, snare drum and, on occasion, the drum set—Kirusha also practices about an hour each day. “Music is my relax time, when I get to do what I enjoy and forget everything else,” he says. Kirusha has also played competitive soccer, earns straight As and recently placed in both the Math Olympiad and GeoBee. “Meeting and playing with people who are more experienced musicians than I am inspires me to work even harder in achieving my music and academic goals,” Kirusha says.