Composing His Destiny

Composing His Destiny: Israel’s Experience at Interlochen                  Five new compositions, including a fifth symphony!

For Israel, the summer of 2026 was one of remarkable growth. Thanks to the SOUNDS Academy Fellowship, he spent six weeks at the Interlochen High School Composition Summer Camp in Michigan. While there, he collaborated with fellow student composers, learned from experienced faculty, and challenged himself to explore new musical possibilities.

“It was incredible,” Israel said. “I think we should send more kids to Interlochen because it’s amazing. There’s so much you can learn.”

Expanding His Compositional Skills                                                        At camp, Israel developed his skills in writing for brass and percussion, opening the door to new creative opportunities.

“Before this, I mostly did strings, so entire symphonic compositions were out of my range. Now I’m much better prepared for my symphonies to have a fuller and richer sound when completed,” he explained.

Israel wrote five compositions:

Lovers at a Distance — piano solo
Five Pearl Cloud — brass quintet
After the Rain — woodwind quintet
Impetus — solo cello
Entelechy — his fifth symphony

His creative process for naming pieces is especially fascinating. “Often I begin with a word or concept that interests me. Then I research its meaning, begin composing, and I develop a title as the music takes shape.”

Piano remains his favorite instrument to write for, but Israel discovered a special appreciation for the French horn while composing Five Pearl Cloud.

Working alongside other student composers and learning from experienced instructors gave Israel fresh perspectives on composition, and he’s excited to see where it takes him. 

SOUNDS Academy’s Character Values                        Israel’s summer experience reflected several of SOUNDS Academy’s core character values, particularly creativity, resilience, and perseverance.

Exploring unfamiliar instruments and techniques challenged him to think creatively and expand his abilities. He had to think outside the box and return to especially difficult pieces. 

Composing also took a lot of perseverance. “I  had to push through and keep composing, even when I didn’t want to do it.” He experienced the SOUNDS Academy values firsthand. 

Inspiring the Next Generation                              Israel isn’t just excited to apply what he learned to his own music. He’s also eager to share his knowledge with younger students at SOUNDS Academy, especially those entering high school who are still discovering their interests and goals.

“I really want to help kids coming into high school figure out what they want to do. I’ve found my calling to compose, and I want to help them find theirs!” Israel said.

Israel’s desire to mentor younger musicians reflects SOUNDS Academy’s commitment to developing tomorrow’s leaders. He hopes to help other students discover their talents and explore opportunities they may not have considered.

An Exciting Next Chapter                                                                            The SOUNDS Academy Fellowship strengthened Israel’s leadership skills, helped him build meaningful connections, and carried him toward his future as a composer. The Phoenix Symphony even performed Israel’s fifth symphony, Entelechy.

We’re incredibly proud of Israel and excited to see his music reach new audiences. Thank you to our donors for making this possible.

Today’s Musician, Tomorrow’s Composer!