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My passion for violin

By Piet Athmer, age 14 | June 25, 2023

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STRINGS OF SUCCESS Piet Athmer, an eighth grader at Westchester Academy for International Studies, has been playing the violin for nine years. This picture was taken in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart.

Violin has always been a big part of my life. I have devoted many hours to it, and often I struggle to perfect my pieces. But the effort is always worth it.

I began playing the violin when I was five years old. I was inspired by my mother, who is also a violinist. The moment I started playing, I loved it! I participated in the elementary strings program at Wilchester Elementary School, which has since been disbanded because of Covid. In seventh grade, I joined a small orchestra in The Heights called Houston Youth String Orchestra, in which I was concertmaster for both cycles. The year after that, I joined Houston Youth Symphony, where I made a lot of friends. My favorite piece that I have played with them is Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

Recently, I have also played with the Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra (ECHO), an orchestra consisting of both professional and amateur musicians. It is a nonprofit that works with other arts organizations in the area. This past concert, called Academic Festival, ECHO worked together with students from the Strake Jesuit and St. Agnes Academy orchestras. We played Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, and Brahms’ Academic Overture. We also featured ECHO’s Young Artist Concerto Competition winners: a pianist from Westside High School playing Liszt, and a harpist from Memorial High School performing Handel.

This summer, I am really looking forward to participating in ECHO’s camp for middle schoolers. I will also be busy preparing for auditions for Region Orchestra. My goal is to one day make it into All-State Orchestra.

I also enjoy listening to violin and classical music. I love Tchaikovsky because his pieces have impressive melodies. My favorite violinist is Hilary Hahn. She has very good intonation and tone. My favorite pieces that she has performed are Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major.

Violin is truly one of my passions and a great part of my life. From kindergarten to eighth grade, it has given me so many opportunities and friendships.

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