SOTM: Brian Yuan

As the end of the school semester approaches, junior Brian Yuan in Concert Orchestra is this October Student of the Month! Generally, students who are nominated demonstrate qualities that relate to responsibility, musicianship, effort, positive attitude, and leadership. Upon taking a closer look into his life, music was not an interest he actively pursued. That was, until in 6th grade, Brian’s parents signed him up for his school’s orchestra program. 

“[My parents] thought it would be a good hobby for me, and at the time, I was super unmotivated to practice, being the bratty and non-compliant 6th grader I was, but eventually came around and joining orchestra has definitely paid off since then.” Brian explains. With his parents pushing him to excel, his instrument choice was settled on the violin.

“My parents just thought that the violin was the epitome of the classical world, with a beautiful sound and with an endless selection of repertoire to learn and play.” Brian Yuan describes. His parents' emphasis on the violin’s characteristics eventually led him to prevail on violin lessons and practices.

Whilst committing to his instrument through the years of middle school, Brian, stated his thoughts on the impact of music on his life, recalling, “I thought that I'd get nothing from becoming a violinist because the prodigies had all started years before me, but understanding melodies and how a piece, or modern song becomes ‘complete’ made me enjoy listening to it much more. Sudden appreciation for the lesser pronounced parts in a piece, like the bass, or drums, or any other element besides the melody was there, and obviously it extends far beyond classical music.” Winning 2nd place at the annual Satori Summer Music Festival in a duet, he sets his bars high, hoping to complete the ninth level of Certification of Merit whilst achieving at level eight just last year in 2023.

Though, Yuan’s life isn’t entirely subjected to his musical aspects. He spends his free time on activities such as badminton, exploring creative engineering projects, listening to music, and playing video games. Yuan’s skills as a violinist, earned through rigor and self discovery, can be said to be brought by new experiences. And just as capable as any other, perhaps something just as simple as opening up to different perspectives to new things can change one person’s course of experiences.