Student Intern
Xavier Semien is a violinist and violist. He has been studying violin for 5 years, and recently started studying the viola with Susanne Rothaar. As a soloist, Xavier has earned awards in competitions including the AZ Musicfest Young Musician Competition, Chandler Symphony Orchestra Youth Competition, OPUS State Strings Competition, and the US New Star Music Competition. In addition to this, he has performed as a violinist in AZ Musicfest’s Young Musicians concert, as well as in masterclasses with Dr. Steven Moeckel and Andrea Segar. He has also had the honor of attending the Sphinx Performance Academy over the Summer in 2025.
Xavier is currently a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra. He has also participated in the All-State and All-Region AMEA Orchestra festivals. In addition to orchestral playing, he is a part of the SOUNDS Academy Collective as a violinist.
In addition to performing music, he is incredibly passionate about giving back to his community. He currently volunteers at his local library where he is presenting a music education program for kids. He is also the Outreach Manager for Bridge to Music, an organization that hosts free concerts at local senior communities. He is also a Teaching Assistant, and Student Intern with SOUNDS Academy this year.
