2023 Senior Appreciation

This year five Seniors graduated from SOUNDS Academy!

We talked with them to see what plans they have for their future and how SOUNDS Academy helped them prepare for this next chapter of their lives.

Aaron Barrett 

Aaron has been playing cello for 8 years and is currently studying under Jamie Kellogg. He has been in SOUNDS Academy for almost 5 years. 

In addition to music he enjoys riding mountain bikes and playing video games. Aarons favorite thing about SOUNDS Academy is “The lessons they provide. Without them I know I wouldn’t be where I am today”. His favorite piece to perform was Allegro Appassionato Saint-saens.

Future aspirations: “For the future I want to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The location is not set yet but it could be anywhere around the world. Then I plan on going to college. I plan to continue playing the cello and join the orchestra at my college.”

Calvin Worthen 

Calvin has been playing viola for 7 years and is currently studying under Julian Nguyen. He has been in SOUNDS Academy for almost 6 years. He was a member of Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra for 2 years. 

In addition to music he enjoys playing video games and cooking. His favorite things about SOUNDS Academy are the student Success Planning Workshops and volunteering at events like the Speakeasy. His favorite piece to perform is Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude by Bach.

Future aspirations: Calvin is planning to pursue a degree in music business as well as start his own restaurant among many others.

Chloe Olson 

Chloe has been playing violin for 11 years and is currently studying under Karen Bea. She has been in SOUNDS Academy since 2014, when we first started! 

In addition to music she enjoys dancing “ I did all sorts of styles of dancing, mostly jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. I was on my high school’s Pom team for 3 years.”

Her favorite thing about SOUNDS Academy is “The community work that we did such as petting zoos or playing at a homeless shelter”. Her favorite pieces to perform have been Secret Gardens, Carnival of the Animals, or the piece she’s playing right now, Duet. 

Future aspirations: “My biggest aspiration is to become an RN and a nurse practitioner in mental health.”

Juan Rojas

Juan has been playing violin with SOUNDS Academy for 4 years and is currently studying under Julian Nguyen. 

In addition to music he enjoys playing video games and making jigsaw puzzles. His favorite piece to perform was Concerto in G Minor Opus 12 No.1. He said “ It was a challenge for me but I was able to play through it at my concert and I just really loved the piece.”

Future aspirations: “My plans for the future are probably becoming a commercial pilot or joining the AirForce.”

Liam Boik

Liam has been playing the guitar for 7 years and is currently studying under Alex Muela He has been in SOUNDS Academy since 2019. 

When asked about his hobbies he said “Music is the majority of what I do in my free time. It has become a form of expression and a medium to share my feelings and thoughts with my friends. I love performing music and sharing that love with others. Music has helped me grow as a performer and as a person”. In addition to music he enjoys playing video games. 

Liam said his favorite thing about SOUNDS Academy is “The different musicians and perspectives I got to learn from, it furthered my ability as a musician and helped me grow”.

Future aspirations: Liam is hoping to teach music at a highschool level. He said ”My band director, Randal George was my inspiration for wanting to teach”