Recording SessionCheng Hao (Sam) Wu
I was on my way to school when our choral director texted me, “Sam, I am too sick to come.”
Later that day was the recording session for my newest composition, Narnian Soliloquy. Written for our choir and my string orchestra, it will be premiered on a choral festival concert in January. I man the piano part.
My heart sank thinking about how hectic things would be...
Two of my heroes taught me my most valuable music lesson. One a science writer, the other a composer and conductor; the former someone I only know from his writings, the latter someone I am honored to work closely with. Both are stellar communicators. Both create. Carl Sagan and Tan Dun: from them I learn that being a musician entails multitudes beyond simply making music...
Late at night, my phone rang.
“Hi?”
“Sam, Matt here… why’s it so dark?”
“Matt, it’s nighttime…”
“Sam… medication… I fell asleep early… I’m confused…”
“Calm down. Everything’s fine,” I managed groggily.
Matt then was rehabilitating at home for a semester, dosed with antidepressants and forced into therapy. Months before, mere weeks into our junior year, he had confided to me his innermost fears...
A MEDIUM FOR DIVERSITY IN THREE ACTS
PROLOGUE
How would you find focus to convey messages when you have a diverse range ofinterests? I do it through film. I like that the medium is figurative and visceral. Film hasthe ability to raise awareness, influence action, and give voice to different perspectives...
We always hear about the starving children in Africa and about the plight of the citizens of third-world countries many of us can’t even find on a map. We feel sorrow and sympathy for these families who can’t afford food for dinner every night. We’re concerned, with good reason, that so many people in these third-world countries can’t provide themselves with the basics needed to sustain basic life. But neither can so many of our fellow Americans...
“Men’s youth lightweight eight. Finals.” The loudspeaker ruptured the still silence and intense concentration that had permeated the air. “Lane one. Friends of Port Rowing A.” Oh, we so have them. “Lane two. Wayland-Weston Rowing Association A.” That’s me. That’s my race. Okay. Okay. “Lane three. Community Rowing A.” No way. They got this in the bag.“Lane four. New Canaan A.” They beat us yesterday, but it was just by two seconds. I bet we can take them...
"C'mon. Let's get up." I offer my hand to the boy writhing in the snow, one ski off, for the umpteenth time. Again he refuses, continuing to shriek and cry, immobile. A ski instructor's nightmare. But for me, it's just another lesson.
Evan, the severely autistic 12-year-old I'm teaching, is one of my many students—all suffering from some sort of disability—at Waterville Valley Adaptive Snowsports...
Northwestern may not have been my first word, I may not have worn little purple wildcat booties when I was little, and I may not have been dreaming of going to Northwestern my whole childhood, but that does not mean that my resolve to attend the university is any weaker. In fact, being in New Jersey, I had not even heard of Northwestern until the middle of my junior year in high school...
Shay Butler is a man that many people would consider their role model. Although I have not had the pleasure of personally meeting Shay, he has a tremendous effect on my character. Without him I would not be the man I am today. Shay seems to have everything; he has a wonderful family, loyal friends, and a job he loves. What else would a person want? Despite having it all, Shay is a role model for me not because of what he has but because of how he has gotten to where he is. Shay is a YouTube “celebrity,"..
Back