Age: 13 

1. When and how did you get started practicing your art form?
   When I was younger, I’d sometimes hear classical piano music playing on the radio, or my parents would turn it on for me a few times. Or, I’d watch videos of piano instrumental versions of my favourite popular pop songs online. I’d also hear piano in some songs I really enjoyed listening to. As a kid, I always wanted to be able to play all these songs I loved myself on the piano. So, my mom signed me up for lessons when I was 7 and I’ve been playing ever since. I’m now able to play a lot of the songs on the piano and hope to be good enough to be able to play any song I set my mind to.  

1. How does winning this scholarship help you achieve your goals?  
   My goal is to be good enough to be able to play any song I want on the piano for myself and for my loved ones, especially my mom and family friend. They both have a song that they want me to play for them and I want to be skilled enough to play those pieces for them in the future. This scholarship is a big help to me because it can give me more classes, which helps me learn this intricate instrument even more. I’m extremely grateful for this contribution to my learning and will work hard to achieve my goal in the near future.  

1. How has your teacher helped you achieve your goals?  
   My piano teacher, Ms. Irina Jilina, has been a huge supporter of me during my journey of learning the piano. She’s always been patient and kind with me, even if I’m struggling. She’s a big contributor to the fact that I’ve been able to make it this far and without her, I could’ve never won this scholarship. She taught me all the basics I needed to be able to play, teaching me harder and harder things as we progressed. Thanks to her, I’m starting to be able to reach my goal and I’m so thankful for all the help, support, and love she’s given me so far and I am forever grateful for her.  

1. Share a story about your time at Place des Arts. It can be about an inspiring moment, an impactful relationship or your fondest memory.  
   I have a lot of wonderful memories at Place des Arts, but my favourite is definitely when I’d explore the building and play outside in the sun with a close friend. We both have younger sisters who were in the same ballet class at Place des Arts, and my friend and I would play and explore the building or go outside and look at the flowers when it was sunny. When we went outside, something we did a lot was look at the many roly-polies that were hiding in the small flowerpots outside. We’d always play with them until our parents dragged us home when our sisters’ class ended. This is a core memory that crosses my mind first whenever I think about Place des Arts.  

1. Who is your role model and why? 
   There are a lot of people I look up to, but one of the many that I especially love is Malcolm James McCormick, a.k.a. Mac Miller. He’s an American rapper and songwriter who is well known and loved around the world. One of the songs that I want to be able to play on the piano is his song, ‘Congratulations’. The song’s melody is played by the piano and I really love this song. I’ve already started learning it on the piano and I’m very proud of my progress so far. The reason I look up to Mac Miller so much is because he, like me, loved music and played the drums, piano and guitar since the young age of 6. He was also very open about his struggles with depression and substance use and raised awareness for people struggling with the same issues he did. Mac Miller sadly passed away in September 2018 from an accidental drug overdose. Even though he passed, he’s still loved and remembered by many across the globe, including me, and his music and story are still an inspiration for many people in the world.