Hi, my name is Christina! I am a senior in high school and an avid music enthusiast. Currently, I really enjoy classical, jazz, rock, and Korean folk and R&B. My musical journey took root in childhood with classical music — I started piano lessons in elementary school and quickly became hooked. As I spent more time at the piano, I realized that truly understanding the intentions of the composers added a new layer to my performance. Without knowing the context and history behind each work, I felt I wasn’t truly appreciating the composer’s efforts, and my playing felt incomplete and almost inauthentic. 

My affinity for musical Impressionism eventually led me to discover the relevance of jazz within the classical world. I learned that composers like Ravel and Shostakovich were influenced by jazz, sparking my own interest in the genre. I soon found that “jazz” isn’t just one style — it’s an umbrella term that encompasses hundreds of subgenres, though even the idea of “subgenres” can feel limiting when so many styles bleed into one another.

I am especially drawn to artists like Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Yusef Lateef, and Hiromi (can you tell that I’m a pianist yet?). Still, I enjoy the playing of countless other jazzers and am always hungry to discover more.

All in all, I think my attraction to jazz stems from its exciting spontaneity (improvisation), rich blend of sounds and influences, and unique evolution.