I’m seven years old, my twenty-dollar blue ukulele in hand, sitting on the ledge of a footpath at a public park. I’m strumming the newest addition to my two-song set list: “Hawaiian Superman.” A family friend had taught it to me earlier that day, and I’ve been practicing it non-stop for hours, attempting to remember every detail from his short lesson. My head down, watching my fingers on the fretboard, I’m oblivious to the people walking by. After a long while I look up, and I’m surprised to see someone standing still on the path, watching me. He smiles, says “keep it up,” and sets a $1 bill on the ground by my feet. I’m surprised and thrilled. The stranger didn’t know it, and I didn’t even know it at the time, but with his kind gesture, he had demonstrated to me the most important lesson of musicianship: through learning, practice, repetition, and performance, you can connect with anyone. Four years later, a fully kitted out white Gibson Guitar in hand, playing in front of over two thousand people, I’m performing as Zack Mooneyham on the Broadway National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “School of Rock”. Standing on the stage, watching faces light up in the front row, that same feeling of elation I felt at the park courses through me. I’m electrified by the thought of connecting with all of those people in the audience using nothing but sound waves. However, while performing on stage was exhilarating, I soon discovered another powerful role music could play: creating real change beyond the spotlight. In 2017 I became an Ambassador for Imagine Dragons’ Tyler Robinson Foundation, a charity benefiting pediatric cancer families, and I was asked to perform music to raise money for their organization. I organized the concert, gathering unique donations such as musical instruments and lessons that I could auction off at the event. I ended up raising over $7,500, and I was thrilled, but the most valuable takeaway wasn’t the money—it was realizing that I could use music to directly benefit those in need. That lesson is exactly why music is so important to society. I have seen firsthand the power of music, and I want to explore the limits of how music performance can change hearts and change lives around the world. Since that concert, I've found new ways to give back to my community through performance. For example, I love volunteering at local assisted living centers, where I play the residents' favorite oldies on piano, then sit down and have conversations with them when my set ends. Through these conversations, I've heard eye-opening stories from people with rich, fulfilling lives, and I always find a musician or two who thank me for playing, and it always moves me on a level I can't describe. Along with using music as a bridge to the community, it also serves as a bridge between musicians themselves. Exploring music with other performers helps create a magical community for musicians, something that I hope to contribute to in my journey through college. I’ll be able to hone my musicianship skills and expand my influence as a performer, helping me reach people all over the world and make more of those meaningful connections that mean everything to me. Whether it's through charity concerts, volunteer performances, or advocacy events, I will always strive to share the joy of music with those who need it most.

Although music has always been a huge part of my life, my commitment to a music career truly began at eleven, when I was cast on the Broadway National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “School of Rock”. This incredible opportunity allowed me to travel to over 30 cities in 20 different states, performing live on electric guitar and piano with an extraordinary cast—all while balancing my schoolwork. As a “swing,” I covered five lead roles, always prepared to step onstage at a moment’s notice. One night, the pit orchestra conductor invited me to sit beside him during a performance. From the first downbeat, I was completely transfixed, watching his every move and marveling at the synergy among the musicians. In that moment, I knew that the rest of my life would be dedicated to becoming a Broadway music director. When I returned to middle school after the tour, I sought mentorship from my dedicated music teachers, absorbing their conducting techniques and teaching styles. Through my hard work, in my junior year, I became the first student ever to conduct my high school’s chamber orchestra. I led the ensemble from the first rehearsal to the final performance, shaping the music and gaining invaluable teaching experience. In my senior year, I further honed my directing skills by composing and conducting an arrangement of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" for our chamber choir. Along with doing everything I could to become a better music director, I’ve spent my entire high school career making an effort to explore our music department through many lenses. I’ve played in a variety of ensembles on multiple instruments: clarinet in beginning band, saxophone in the symphonic band, piano in the wind symphony and jazz band, and many more. I also started studying viola in hopes of gaining just enough skill to join one of our orchestras this year, and I was thrilled to learn recently that I was accepted into our advanced-level orchestra for my second semester. My diverse approach to music and my extensive practice has allowed me to become a resident pianist for a five star hotel, perform in big bands with music legends like Wayne Bergeron and Steve Smith, win a global competition where I got to send a 1-pound working electric guitar into space, play gigs across the US and so much more. By using the earnings from my performances, I’ve been able to purchase new instruments, which has helped me become a multifaceted musician, something that will help me make my way into pit orchestras down the road. With these earnings, I also purchased Logic Pro X a few years ago, and since, I have developed production skills that ultimately landed me a job as a sound technician for my high school, in charge of the complex mixing and programming involved with our school performances and theatre productions. In all, music has not only shaped my artistic journey but has also been instrumental in developing my discipline and leadership. It has taught me to balance rigorous practice with academic demands, to collaborate with diverse groups, and to approach challenges with creativity and determination, all of which are necessary in a conducting career. I am so excited to continue this journey in college, meeting musicians from all over the world, each with a unique perspective on music. My goal is to foster seamless communication between actors and musicians, elevating productions with dynamic, heartfelt performances. I believe the foundation I’ve built will enable me to bring new vibrancy to the world of musical theater, inspiring audiences and fellow artists alike.