- My name is Sophia Jiang, and I am an 11th grader
at Vel Phillips Memorial High School.
I started the piano when I was four years old.
I originally loved it because of its size.
As a little girl, I felt like I was bigger than my body
when I was playing the piano.
I love the beautiful tone that it makes.
It can laugh, cry, roar.
I can experiment a lot with the piano.
I also play the violin... - Conductor: One, one.
- Sophia: ...in the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras.
The thing that got me interested in music
was hearing my sister play.
My sister, Jessica, also plays the piano and violin.
She's been an integral part of helping me
develop my musical skill.
*
I am a tennis player.
And I think sports and music, in general,
in terms of mentality, they really do overlap.
I founded a club called COSHA,
which stands for Coalition of Student Health Advocates.
Last year, I addressed the school board.
And I'm here today to advocate
for the inclusion of water access...
It was kind of nerve-wracking at first,
but I think it really opened my eyes
to the value of being brave and engaging your community.
- Bill Lutes: I think at the beginning...
- Sophia: My instructor is Bill Lutes.
He always brings background knowledge
into the pieces I'm playing.
- Bill: It's a poco rallentando; it's pretty poco...
- Sophia: He also has an amazing sense of humor.
- Bill: That's my motto: Always blame the piano.
- Sophia: And that just makes my lessons way more enjoyable,
and I look forward to them every week.
- Bill: Very, very lovely.
*
- Sophia: I'll be performing the Piano Concerto in A minor
by Edvard Grieg.
The second movement is a serene world of tranquility.
And then the third movement, *
it's a thrilling, dance-like movement.
*
Two years ago, I wasn't able to perform
with the Madison Symphony,
and there was also no live audience.
I am looking forward to having that communication
and connection while performing this concerto
with the Madison Symphony.
[ending note]