By CHARLOTTE CLEARY
Life editor
Senior Akemi Leung is one of the most talented young musicians on the Poly campus. A violinist for almost twelve years, she began playing at the age of five, inspired by her cousins who are professional musicians and by close family friends who play in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Violin is a major part of Leung’s life, and she has invested substantial time and energy to accomplish much.
At home, Leung practices her violin every day, along with taking private lessons two times a week and participating in a quartet with three other teenagers. The quartet, which consists of two violins, a cello, and a viola, practices three hours a week together. Leung is largely involved with the Colburn School, a music and performing arts school in downtown Los Angeles, where she performs both solo and with her quartet. The quartet has participated in a radio broadcast from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and last February the four members traveled to Carnegie Hall and were taped for the television show “From the Top,” which aired in August.
Apart from participating in these numerous violin-related activities, Leung is also able to tie her passion of music into helping others through community service. She devotes two days a week to aiding Mrs. Scheidemantle after school with the 4th and 5th grade orchestra rehearsals. When asked what it’s like working with young children who are just starting their musical careers, Leung remarks, “Some are pretty new at this, so they need some fundamental teaching.” When the students need help tuning their instruments, or they simply get lost following the music, Leung is right there to help them. She also takes part in community outreach with the Colburn School by giving concerts at inner city schools. Leung’s impressive resume, including being concertmaster for all of the orchestras at Colburn, has even earned her a scholarship from the Ahmanson Foundation, a merit scholarship that rewarded her for her astounding talent.
Her hectic schedule, which revolves around the violin, has been “tough” says Leung, but “I’ve worked very hard to get where I am now. I’ve also made many friends and it’s a lot of fun.” She plans to continue her violin lifestyle by attending a music conservatory for college.
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