At first glance, the mix of music on my phone seems like some sort of mistake. Songs in four languages and at least five distinct musical styles are scattered throughout. To me, however, the amalgamation makes perfect sense once I hit play. At the top of my playlist, songs titled "Papaoutai" or "Merci" appear. French artists came into my life when I began taking French in middle school. My teachers often would have us sing along to popular French songs,...

When I first got the admittance letter for the Old Globe’s Summer Shakespeare Intensive, I was simultaneously thrilled and trepedacious. Though I had done theater for years, this would be my first time delving into the world of Shakespeare. I had always admired Shakespeare’s dexterity with words, but my mind was a bit slow on formulating them into stories I could understand. At the start of camp, we spent two days getting to know the nuances of Shakespearian...

Dear Roommate, I apologize in advance for the sheer number of books I will attempt to cram into our room. Already this year I have resorted to making stacks two books deep on the one unused shelf in our apartment in an attempt to keep novels from taking over the floor. Prepare for a real-life game of Tetris when I try to fit them all in our dorm room. Sometimes, I can enter into a state of heightened fangirl, so...

From the maternal side of my family there comes a list of commandments appropriately dubbed the “Wicks Four Rules to Live By”. These cardinal edicts were created by my grandpa many years ago in order to ensure that the Wicks family always made the world a better place while they were in it. The first rule: “Don’t Die”. Aside from, as my grandpa likes to say, discouraging “general stupidity”, this rule provides guidance in times of strife. For example,...

This past summer, my sister Cece and I ran the theater portion of a summer camp in Washington, DC. The camp was for children in Mary House, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing for families. We started out by teaching acting games and songs. The games helped get the kids excited about an avenue of art many were experiencing for the first time. Although most of the kids were reluctant to sing at first, by the end, everyone was...

Since the advent of the internet, people are beginning to view any controversial opinion as a personal attack. Tolerance for differing opinions is dropping as people become convinced that only they are correct. The internet has created an avenue where people can post anonymous criticisms without apparent consequences.

Performing with my Wind Ensemble at the Midwest Clinic remains an experience unparalleled by any other in my musical career. I also loved watching the Mary House kids perform “Aesop’s Fables” after directing them. Finally, viewing Othello at San Diego’s Old Globe was the culmination of all my Shakespearian dreams.

I have always wanted to see the debut of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. The ballet was reportedly so avant-garde that the audience actually started rioting. The impact of the music on the audience as well as the fantastic bassoon solo would have been incredible to see and hear.