1. How did your musical career begin?
When I was in the fifth grade at John S. Jones Elementary and a strings class was offered to me. A cello and bass were too big and my sister was playing violin at the time, and I didn't want to play the same thing as her, so I chose viola. I started percussion in the sixth grade at Rainbow Middle School were it was offered to me in a band class. I loved both almost instantly and have been playing them since.

2. Who are your primary musical influences?
Probably my biggest influence would be Yo-Yo Ma. Even though he plays the cello, I aspire to be the equivalent in viola. In percussion, Brian Slawson. He is a Julliard School of Music graduate in mallet percussion. He arranges all kinds of classical music pieces for mallet percussion.

3. What do you like to listen to when you aren't playing your instrument?
I listen to alot of classical music. I never liked it at all until I started playing it. I also have all of Brian Slawson (who I mentioned above)'s CDs. Aside from classical though, I like Billy Joel, Led Zepplin, and Widespread Panic.

4. What are your hobbies outside of music?
Basketball and art (I really can't paint or sculpt or anything but I admire it and it interests me, so I guess you could say that's a hobby).

5. What has been your greatest opportunity provided to you because of your musical talent?
Being in the Alabama All-State Orchestras four years in a row. My first year I was principal viola in the Premier String Orchestra. My second year, I was principal viola in the Sinfonietta String Orchestra. Last year, I was 6th chair viola (out of 12) in the Festival Orchestra. Finally, this year, I was 5th chair viola (out of 8) in the Festival Orchestra.

6. What are your favorite movies or television shows?
(TV)- Family Guy, The Simpsons, all the different Law and Order's, all the different CSI's, and yes I know it's cheesy, but American Idol. I enjoy watching all the bad singers. (MOVIES)- Forrest Gump, Lord of the Rings series, Harry Potter series, The Sixth Sense, The Green Mile, and Together(it's a foreign Chinese film, but it features one of the best violin players I've ever seen, and he's only like eleven or twelve)

7. You can have dinner with any four people, living
or dead. Who would they be?
(J.S. Bach) - my favorite composer of all time (Yo-Yo Ma) - my primary musical role-model Leonardo Da Vinci) - my favorite artist, plus I find his life very interesting (Paganini) - in my opinion, one of the most talented violin layers in history, plus he seemed like a very interesting person

8. What are your plans after high school?
Well I would like to either get a degree in Accounting (or) go into law school. However, I want to still keep music in my life. Therefore, I want to minor in music and hopefully play in a successful orchestra on the side wherever I end up living.

9. Who is your favorite historical figure?
Ummm.... I'd say John Adams because it was his idea to write the Declaration of Independence and he dared to be the one to promote breaking away from England to make the U.S. independent.

10. Describe yourself in four words.
kind, friendly, optimistic, down-to-earth