How old were you when you started composing?
I first started composing at the age of 8.

What do you love most about composing music?
I love a quote from Martha Graham:

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

I'm lucky I can use composing to express creativity and uniqueness to the world.

Tell us a little about how the poetry influenced your IYWCC composition.
I love Leonore Hetrick's poem, "Nature's Music." When I first read it, it perfectly matched my summer trip to Alaska: the forest, the birds, and the wind. In the poem, "songs" and "throngs" rhyme so it is designed to both be on the same note: D. "The forest" is described by the strong, broad chords. The 16th notes represent "The wind plays the harp." This poem was originally written like a song with a lot of rhyming words, which inspired the smooth melody of my song.

What was your process/approach to composing your piece for IYWCC?
I first imagine a visual picture/scene in my head. Then, I search for pieces that have a similar motive for inspiration, "Spring Waters" by Sergei Rachmaninov. After that, I designed my structure, key signature, time signature, tempo, and texture.

What is your advice to someone who is interested in composing a piece but does not know where to start?
Listen to the type of music you like and rearrange it into another style/type of music. For example, I like Taylor Swift songs, so I changed her songs into string quartet pieces. It's a very interesting process that helps you improve your composition skills.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I'm a Christmas baby and I go to Houston Food Bank to volunteer with my friends on my birthday!