Growing up in a family entirely made up of musicians, I began taking flute lessons in the 4th grade at The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame – a community center in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama that offered free music classes. From 4th to 8th grades, I became a huge band nerd – I like to think that at a very young age I knew my love for the flute and that that is what I wanted to do with my life. In the 9th grade I began school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts – an amazing art school in Alabama – under the tutelage of Kim Scott. Being able to do this just secured the idea that I wanted to pursue music as a career. Now a third year performance major at Manhattan School of Music studying with Linda Chesis, I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to really pursue my dream. These past three years in New York City have been wonderful, and I owe a huge part to the New York Youth Symphony. Being able to perform alongside a selected group of talented musicians is an honor. Having the chance to perform great works such as Debussy’s “Mother Goose Suite”, Rachmaninov’s “Symphonic dances”, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake – on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – and for our last concert in May, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, with Joshua Gersen – Music Director of the NYYS and assistant conductor of the NY Phil – is beyond a blessing. I can truly say this past year I’ve grown so much musically and have made lots of musician friends on my New York Youth Symphony journey, and I will forever be grateful for such a wonderful opportunity.