Get to know Expo Park Clarinetist Sheila
This month, Harmony Project had the pleasure to sit down with Expo Park senior Sheila, who has been in the program for nine years crafting her clarinet skills. Sheila talked about the impact Harmony Project has had on her development and her mindset as she begins to navigate the next chapter in her life.
HP: Can you share a specific way Harmony Project has benefited you, and how it’s prepared you for this next chapter in your life? What skills or experiences do you feel you gained from Harmony Project that are valuable?
Sheila: Throughout my time at Harmony Project, I have learned valuable skills such as time management, patience, and perseverance. In high school, time management was essential as I learned to balance rigorous academic classes and longer rehearsals. Furthermore, I have learned patience and perseverance in rehearsals and practice time as I learn complex or tricky sections from our music pieces. As I grew older playing the clarinet, I learned that perseverance and patience is important in order to figure out what learning technique works best for me. For me this took trial and error and having the patience to slow down in order to focus on one element at a time.
HP: During your time at Harmony Project, you’ve taken on leadership roles. Tell us about a time you stepped up as a leader within the program and what motivated you to take on that responsibility?
Sheila: One time I stepped up as a leader was when Ms. Kristine gave me and my brother matching parts for a recital where ESO and ECYO was playing together. This was a memorable experience as my brother and I prepared for the concert by practicing together at home. I was excited to help my brother and teach him the practicing skills I had learned.
HP: As a young woman, what do you think is the importance of female leadership, especially in fields like music and education?
Sheila: As a young woman, I believe female leadership is important in order to support and empower others. As a first generation woman pursuing higher education in STEM, female leadership is important as it empowers me seeing other women with similar backgrounds achieve their goals. During a summer pre college program, a female professor encouraged and empowered me to continue my passion for research and science in college.
HP: What message do you hope to send to other young women in the performing arts?
Sheila: To other young women, follow your passions. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing what you love.
HP: How do you envision your college experience shaping your future?
Sheila: My goal is for my college experience to open new career pathways. In college I hope to network and narrow down my career choices within STEM.
HP: Why is HP important to you?
Sheila: Harmony Project is important to me because it has given me a welcoming environment to develop my musicianship skills while also building long lasting friendships. Since starting Harmony Project in 4th grade, as a senior I can definitely reflect back on the various teachers and remember the immense support they have given me as I began my clarinet journey.
About Harmony Project:
Harmony Project is a nonprofit that provides high-quality music instruction and social support to children year-round at no cost throughout community hubs in Los Angeles. As one of Los Angeles’ largest music education organizations, Harmony Project is dedicated exclusively to serving children from low-income families and under-resourced communities. Harmony Project envisions a world in which all students have equal access to opportunities to learn how to play music and the resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. Harmony Project’s holistic approach to student success has resulted in impressive outcomes with 98 percent of the graduating high school class accepted to a college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year.