Congrats to all of our seniors
We wish you all the best on this next chapter of your life and will miss you all so dearly
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"The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse.” — Ed Koch


Minh Nguyen
Violin
David Ehrlich
Grace Lee
Piano
Teresa Ehrlich
Hello! I'm Minh Nguyen. I've been a violin student at the Renaissance Music Academy for 13 years.
As I prepare to graduate, I know I’ll truly miss learning from the incredible teachers at the RMA, especially Mr. David, Mr. Vladimir, and Ms. Susan. They’ve taught me so much, not only about playing my instrument and interpreting music, but also about approaching life with discipline, creativity, and strong communication skills. I'm also incredibly grateful for all the support I received from the RMA, from the invaluable scholarship to the many opportunities to perform for diverse audiences.
One of the highlights of my experience at the RMA has been playing in the Chamber Orchestra. I've loved performing exciting pieces and have made countless cherished memories-- from big performances with dramatic endings and fun harmonies to meaningful moments practicing with Clara and Jules, running through pieces with the orchestra, chatting with other students about our passion for music and our day-to-day lives, and laughing backstage while some of the younger violinists hid in the lockers.
A particularly special moment for me was serving as concertmaster for the first time. Rehearsing for weeks had its challenges, and on the day of the performance, I was worried that I would let everyone down. But in the end, everything came together, and the experience turned out to be unforgettable and deeply rewarding. I'm also excited for our upcoming spring concert to perform Spring and the Holberg Suite.
I'm planning to study Engineering Physics at Cornell in the coming fall. I hope to continue playing music through Cornell’s orchestras and other music groups, and possibly take private lessons or join a quartet if my schedule allows. No matter what, the skills, experiences, and deep love for music that I’ve gained at RMA will always stay with me and continue to shape my journey.
Thank you so much for everything.
I'm going to UVA to study Human Biology! Since I was five, I'd go to my weekly piano lesson with Mrs. Teresa. Whether we were adding "sparkle" to the pieces of music I was learning, or just chatting about life, it would always be a good time in her cozy studio. As I close out this chapter of my life, I'm going to miss my lessons with Mrs. Teresa, but I'm excited to continue playing piano for fun and bringing my music to the UVA community!

Marina Li
Piano
Sonya Ho
I plan to study international business at Georgetown University, and hope to continue playing piano in my personal time, and growing my musical skills. I will miss spending time with Ms. Sonya during piano lessons, and my favorite memories from RMA are playing duets with my friends and fellow students.

Clara Guo
Violin
David Ehrlich
I plan to study neuroscience at Duke University and hope to continue practicing violin at school. I'm so grateful for all the experiences that RMA has given me in music, particularly Mr. David and the appreciation he's given me to all the small details that really bring a piece to life. He's long emphasized that playing the right notes means nothing without the emotion behind it, and I'll carry that lesson with me into the music that I take with me to Duke.